JP2008162797A - Pipe connection separating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To separate a pipe without scattering powder sticking to the pipe inside to an external part, in the pipe for flowing a tablet or the powder. <P>SOLUTION: A shutter plate 11 is arranged in the vicinity of an end part of a connecting part 2 of the pipes P1 and P2. The shutter plate 11 can freely enter and retreat from the outside of the pipes P1 and P2. The pipes P1 and P2 are energized so as to be mutually joined in close contact by the so-called catch grip having springs 64 arranged on the respective outer peripheries. The shutter plate 11 is pushed in until the shutter plate 11 covers an end part opening surface of the pipes P1 and P2 from the outside of the pipes P1 and P2. Since the shutter plate 11 is joined in close contact to the pipes P1 and P2 when covering the end part opening surface of the pipes P1 and P2, the inside of the pipes P1 and P2 becomes a blocked-up state. This joining state is maintained, and the pipes P1 and P2 are separated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection / separation device capable of connecting and separating ends of pipes for transferring tablets, powders, and the like, for example.

  For example, a tablet is manufactured by shaping a powder as a material into a predetermined shape. And in order to send to the process of coating sugar coating around the tablet, a packaging process, etc., the tablet is distributed and filled in a predetermined container. The tablet distribution facility will be specifically described with reference to FIG. A bucket lifter 100 is provided in the distribution facility. The bucket lifter 100 includes a tower-like main body 101, a bucket 102 that is provided so as to be movable up and down, and that is tilted at the upper end, and a pipe 103 that allows a tablet delivered from the bucket 102 to flow downward (Patent Document 1). . The tablet lifter 100 lifts the tablet once to a high place, and feeds it downward by its own weight using a drop to be distributed.

  A distributor 110 for distributing tablets is provided at the lower end of the pipe 103. Below the distributor 110, for example, three pipes 111 for flowing tablets downward are provided, and further, a buffer charging device 120 is provided at the lower end of the pipe 111. The buffer throwing device 120 includes a cylindrical case 121 and multi-stage chute bodies 122 that are alternately mounted in the case (Patent Document 2). A container 130 is provided below the buffer charging device 120. The tablet is filled in the container 130 without being damaged by the impact of the dropping by the chute body 122 inside the buffer charging device 120.

  After the tablet dispensing operation is completed, the dispensing facility is disassembled and cleaned. For example, in order to clean the pipe 111, as shown in FIG. 15, the pipe 111a is separated from the pipe 111 and the inside thereof is cleaned.

  During the work of separating the pipe 111a, fine powder adhering to the inside of the pipes 111 and 111a may be scattered around and adversely affect the human body. For this reason, conventionally, workers wear dust-proof clothing, dust-proof masks, and the like to perform the work of separating the pipe 111a.

  However, it is troublesome to wear the dust-proof clothing, the dust-proof mask and the like each time the pipe 111a is disconnected. In addition, there are extremely fine powders among the powders, and even if dust-proof clothing, dust-proof masks, etc. are worn, the adverse effects on the human body may not be prevented.

  In view of this, a method has been proposed in which both ends of the pipe 111 and the pipe 111a are covered with, for example, vinyl bugs, the inside is sealed, and the pipe 111a is separated. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, before disconnecting the pipe 111a, the vicinity of both ends of the pipe 111 and the pipe 111a is hermetically sealed with a bug 113 so as to cover the connection portions 112 and 112 of the pipe 111 and the pipe 111a. To be crowned. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17, when the pipe 111a is cut off, the bug 113a, while thermally welding the bug 113 by heat sealing or the like so as not to scatter the fine powder adhering to the inside of the pipe 111, 111a, 113b. Thereby, both ends of the piping 111 and the piping 111a are covered with the bugs 113a and 113b, respectively, and the inside of the piping 111 and 111a is sealed.

JP 2001-97523 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-338318

  However, even in this method, each time the pipe 111a is separated, it is troublesome to thermally bond and separate the bug 113 and cover both ends of the pipe 111 and the pipe 111a. In addition, there is a problem that a heat seal device for separating and thermally welding the bug 113 is required, which increases costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to easily separate a pipe in a pipe through which tablets or powder flows without scattering powder adhering to the inside of the pipe to the outside.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the present invention, in pipe connection / separation devices that can connect and separate the ends of pipes through which tablets or powder flows, the pipes are provided at the ends of the pipes. Each of the shutter mechanisms is provided so as to cover the end opening surface of the pipe and close the inside of the pipe, and the shutter mechanism has a shutter plate that can enter and exit from the outside of the pipe between the connecting portions of the pipe. It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, before the pipes are separated, the shutter plate is inserted between the pipe connection portions to cover the end opening surfaces of the pipes. As a result, since the inside of the pipe is closed, the powder adhering to the inside of the pipe is not scattered outside when the pipe is separated.

  The connection part of the said piping may be urged | biased so that it may mutually join with a spring. As a result, while the pipes are connected, the ends of the pipes are in close contact with each other, and the pipes are open even when the end openings of the pipes are covered with the shutter plate before the pipes are separated. And the shutter plate can be closely bonded.

  The shutter plate is supported by a shutter support member fixed to the pipe, and the shutter plate is perpendicular to the axial direction of the pipe and is slidable along the shutter support member. May be. Accordingly, the shutter plate can be stably slid in a predetermined direction, and can accurately enter between the connection portions of the pipe.

  The shutter support member is provided with guide holes penetrating in the thickness direction of the shutter support member and extending in the sliding direction of the shutter plate in parallel with both sides of the pipe, A guide member that passes through the guide hole may be provided, and a cam follower having a width larger than the width of the guide hole may be provided at a protruding end portion of the guide member from the guide hole. Accordingly, the shutter plate can be slid along the guide hole of the shutter support member guided by the guide member.

  The length of the guide hole in the shutter support member in the thickness direction is such that there is a gap between the cam follower and the surface of the shutter support member at the guide hole portion when the shutter plate is retracted to the outside of the pipe. In the guide hole portion when the shutter plate covers the end opening surface of the pipe, the gap may be set between the cam follower and the shutter support member surface. . When the shutter plate covers the end opening surface of the pipe, the cam follower is locked to the shutter support member, so that the shutter plate and the end of the pipe are firmly joined without rattling.

  A taper step portion may be formed at a position where the thickness is changed on at least the shutter plate side or the cam follower side surface of the shutter support member. As a result, when the shutter plate enters between the connection portions of the pipe, the cam follower is not applied to the portion where the thickness is changed, and the shutter plate can smoothly enter between the connection portions.

  The surface of the cam follower on the guide hole side may be a shape curved convexly toward the guide hole or spherical. When the shutter plate slides inside the pipe, the cam follower is in contact with the surface of the shutter support member. Thus, the cam follower has a curved shape or a spherical shape convex toward the guide hole side, so that the cam follower is on the surface of the shutter support member. You can slide on the top smoothly.

  According to the present invention, before the pipe is separated, the end of the pipe is covered with the shutter mechanism to close the inside of the pipe, so that the pipe can be easily connected without scattering the powder adhering to the inside of the pipe. Can be separated.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connection / separation device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The connection / separation device 1 has a shutter plate 11. The shutter plate 11 is provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the connecting portion 2 between the pipe P1 and the pipe P2 through which the tablet flows. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shutter plate 11 has a rectangular planar shape, and the length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the shutter plate 11 are longer than the diameter of the pipe P1. Yes. The base end portion of the shutter plate 11 is bent at 90 degrees to form a handle 11a for applying an external force to the shutter plate 11 when the shutter plate 11 is slid. The tip of the shutter 11 forms a sharpened tip 11b.

  A first shutter support member 20 that supports the shutter plate 11 is provided on the outer periphery near the end of the pipe P1. The first shutter support member 20 has a rectangular planar shape as a whole, and the length in the width direction is the same as the length in the width direction of the shutter plate 11. The first shutter support member 20 is formed with a circular hole 20a that matches the outer diameter of the pipe P1, and the peripheral edge of the hole 20a and the surface of the pipe P1 are fixed by, for example, welding. The shutter plate 11 is disposed on the lower surface side of the first shutter support member 20, and the first shutter support member 20 and the shutter plate 11 are disposed so that the longitudinal directions thereof are the same direction.

  The first shutter support member 20 is provided with two rows of cam grooves 21 and 21 extending in the sliding direction of the shutter plate 11 in parallel on both sides of the pipe P1. A guide hole 22 that penetrates the first shutter support member 20 in the thickness direction is formed at the bottom of the cam groove 21. The width of the guide hole 22 is smaller than the width of the cam groove 21.

  For example, two guide members 12 provided in the shutter plate 11 are inserted into the guide holes 22 and 22, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 12 is a cylindrical female screw having a through hole 12a, and a groove is formed on the inner surface of the through hole 12a. At the tip of the guide member 12, a part of the opposed peripheral surface is cut out to form a convex portion 12b. A cam follower 13 is provided at an end of the guide member 12 protruding from the guide hole 22. The cam follower 13 has a cylindrical shape with a substantially semicircular cross section, and the surface of the cam follower 13 on the guide hole 22 side is convexly curved toward the guide hole 22 side. The cam follower 13 is wider than the guide hole 22 and smaller than the cam groove 21. The cam follower 13 is formed with a through hole 13a penetrating in the thickness direction. A concave portion 13 b that matches the convex portion 12 b of the guide member 12 is formed on the lower surface of the cam follower 13. A bolt 14 is provided at the upper end of the cam follower 13. The bolt 14 passes through the through hole 13 a of the cam follower 13 and is screwed with the through hole 12 a of the guide member 12 to fix the cam follower 13.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of the cam groove 21 or the guide hole 22 is a position where the shutter plate 11 is retracted to the outside of the pipe P1, and the cam follower 13 and one end of the cam groove 21 come into contact with each other, or one end of the guide member 12 and the guide hole 22 Are provided at the positions where they contact each other. On the other hand, the other end of the cam groove 21 or the guide hole 22 is provided at a position where the shutter plate 11 covers the end of the pipe P1. That is, the range in which the shutter plate 11 slides is from the position where the shutter plate 11 is retracted to the outside of the pipe P1 to the position where the shutter plate 11 covers the end opening surface of the pipe P1, and this slide range is the cam groove 21 or It is regulated by the guide hole 22.

  The length in the thickness direction of the guide hole 22 is set so that there is a gap between the cam follower 13 and the surface of the cam groove 21 in the guide hole 22 portion when the shutter plate 11 is retracted to the outside of the pipe P1. In the guide hole 22 portion when the shutter plate 11 covers the end opening surface of the pipe P1, the gap is set between the cam follower 13 and the cam groove 21 surface. That is, when the shutter plate 11 covers the end opening surface of the pipe P1, the cam follower 13 is locked to the surface of the cam groove 21, and the shutter plate 11 and the end of the pipe P1 are firmly bonded. A tapered step portion 23 is formed at a portion where the length of the guide hole 22 in the thickness direction is changed.

  On the lower surface of one end of the first shutter support member 20, there is provided a storage portion 24 in which the shutter plate 11 is stored when the shutter plate 11 is retracted to the outside of the pipe P1. The storage portion 24 is provided outside the pipe P <b> 1, has the same thickness as the shutter plate 11, and extends in the width direction of the first shutter support member 20. The front end 24 a of the storage portion 24 is sharpened to the same shape as the front end portion 11 b of the shutter plate 11.

  In the other end of the first shutter support member 20, insertion holes 25 are provided, for example, at two locations. The insertion hole 25 is provided through the first shutter support member 20.

  A second shutter support member 30 is fixed to the outer periphery near the end of the pipe P2. As shown in FIG. 6, the second shutter support member 30 supports the shutter plate 11, and the shutter plate 11 is provided with the guide member 12, the cam follower 13, and the bolt 14. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second shutter support member 30 is provided with positioning shafts 31 at two positions, for example, at positions corresponding to the insertion holes 25 of the first shutter support member 20. The positioning shaft 31 is inserted into the insertion hole 25 of the first shutter support member 20 and is adjusted so that the connection positions of the pipe P1 and the pipe P2 are matched. In the second shutter support member 30, the configuration other than the positioning shaft 31 is the same as the configuration of the first shutter support member 20.

  The shutter plate 11, the guide member 12, the cam follower 13, the bolt 14, the first shutter support member 20, and the second shutter support member 30 constitute a shutter mechanism.

  The connection / separation device 1 further includes a fixing member 40. The fixing member 40 includes a first fixing tool 50 provided in the pipe P1 and a second fixing tool 60 provided in the pipe P2.

  The first fixture 50 is provided above the first shutter support member 20 provided in the vicinity of the end of the pipe P1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first fixture 50 is composed of four rectangular frames 51a, 51a, 51b, 51b surrounding the pipe P1, and the adjacent frames 51a, 51b are respectively They are joined so as to be orthogonal. The two opposing frames 51a and 51a are fixed in contact with the pipe P1. The other two opposite frames 51 b and 51 b are not in contact with the pipe P <b> 1 and are provided outside the first shutter support member 20. A hook 52 is fixed to the frame 51b.

  The second fixture 60 is provided below the second shutter support member 30 provided near the end of the pipe P2. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second fixture 60 includes frames 61 a, 61 a, 61 b, and 61 b having the same configuration as the frames 51 a, 51 a, 51 b, and 51 b that are the first fixture 50. Has been. The lengths of the frames 61a and 61b in the short direction are longer than the lengths of the frames 51a and 51b in the short direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a mounting plate 68 is fixed to the frame 61 b, and a rotating member 62 is provided outside the mounting plate 68. A hinge 69 is provided at the upper end of the mounting plate 68, and a support shaft 69 a of the hinge 69 passes through the upper portion of the rotating member 62. The rotating member 62 and the mounting plate 68 are connected by a hinge 69, and the rotating member 62 is rotatable about the hinge 69 as a fulcrum. A grip 62 a for applying an external force to the main body 62 for rotating the main body 62 is formed at the lower end portion of the rotating member 62.

  A spring 64, a spring receiving portion 66 at the lower end of the spring 64, and a spring receiving portion 67 at the upper end of the spring 64 are integrally provided on both side surfaces of the rotating member 62. Spring receiving portions 66, 66 at the lower ends of the springs 64, 64 are rotatably attached to both ends of a support shaft 63 that penetrates the rotating member 62. The spring receiving portions 67 and 67 at the upper ends of the springs 64 and 64 are fixed to a support shaft 65 that is locked to the hook 52. When the support shaft 65 is locked to the hook 52 and the grip 62a is rotated toward the mounting plate 68, the springs 64 and 64 are extended between the rotation member 62 and the hook 52, and the tension of the springs 64 and 64 is increased. Therefore, the pipe P1 and the pipe P2 are energized and connected. Further, when the grip 62a is moved outward, the spring 64 is loosened, whereby the support shaft 65 can be removed from the hook 52, and the pipe P1 and the pipe P2 are separated. The rotating member 62, the spring 64, the support shafts 63 and 65, the spring receiving portions 66 and 67, the attachment plate 68, the hinge 69, and the hook 52 constitute a so-called catch grip.

  The connection / separation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a method for connecting pipes by the connection / separation apparatus 1 and a method for separation will be described.

  While the tablets flow through the pipes P1 and P2 and the pipes P1 and P2 are connected, the connecting parts 2 of the pipes P1 and P2 are urged to each other by the tension of the spring 64 of the catch clip as shown in FIG. Have been tightly bonded. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the shutter plate 11 is outside the pipes P <b> 1 and P <b> 2 and is stored in the storage unit 24.

  Next, when the flow of the tablet stops and the pipes P1 and P2 are separated for the purpose of maintenance or the like, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an external force is applied from the handle 11a to the shutter plate 11, and the shutter plate 11 is moved to the cam groove. 21 and the guide hole 22 are pushed and slid in the direction of the connecting portion 2 of the pipes P1 and P2. Until the shutter plate 11 reaches the pipes P1 and P2, the cam follower 13 is not in contact with the surface of the cam groove 21, and the shutter plate 11 is guided by the guide member 12 and slides in a predetermined direction. When the shutter plate 11 enters the inside of the pipes P1 and P2, the cam follower 13 contacts the surface of the cam groove 21, and the shutter plate 11 is guided by the guide member 12 and the cam follower 13 and slides in a predetermined direction. Then, the shutter plate 11 is pushed in until the cam follower 13 and the cam groove 21 contact each other or until the guide member 12 and the guide hole 22 contact each other. At this time, since the cam follower 13 is in contact with the surface of the cam groove 21, the shutter plate 11 and the cam follower 13 are stable without swinging in the vertical direction across the first and second shutter support members 20 and 30. .

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the rotating member 62 is rotated upward and outward to loosen the spring 64, and the support shaft 65 is removed from the hook 52. Then, the pipes P1 and P2 are separated. Even when the pipes P1 and P2 are separated, since the cam follower 13 is locked to the surface of the cam groove 21, the ends of the pipes P1 and P2 and the shutter plates 11 and 11 are in close contact with each other. Therefore, even if the pipes P1 and P2 are separated, the powder adhering to the inside of the pipes P1 and P2 is not scattered outside. Thus, the pipes P1 and P2 can be easily sealed by the shutter plate 11, and can be easily separated into the pipe P1 and the pipe P2 by turning the turning member 62 while maintaining this state. Even when the pipes P1 and P2 are connected again after cleaning, it is only necessary to rotate the rotating member 62 and then retract the shutter plate 11, so that the pipes P1 and P2 can be hermetically connected quickly and easily. .

  In addition, in the connection part 2, when the shutter plate 11 enters, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pipes P1 and P2 that are in contact with the tip part 11b may be curved inward as shown in FIG. Thus, a tapered insertion portion 71 is formed with respect to the entrance of the shutter plate 11. Therefore, the shutter plate 11 can be easily entered between the connection portions 2.

  The pipes P1 and P2 may be steel pipes or resinous, and the cross section thereof may be, for example, a square.

  Moreover, although the above connection / separation apparatus 1 can connect and isolate | separate the piping P1 and the piping P2, installing the connection separation apparatus 1 in the connection part of piping and apparatuses, such as a tableting machine and an inspection machine. It is also possible to connect or separate the pipe and the apparatus.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be made within the scope of the ideas described in the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful, for example, in a pipe connection / separation device that enables pipes for transferring tablets, powders, and the like to be connected to and separated from each other.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the shutter board | plate of the connection separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has covered the edge part opening surface of piping. It is a top view when the shutter board | plate of the connection separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has covered the edge part opening surface of piping. It is a side view when the shutter plate of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has covered the edge part opening surface of piping. It is the perspective view which showed the structure of the guide member on a shutter board, a cam follower, and a volt | bolt. It is a top view when the shutter board | plate of the connection separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has covered the edge part opening surface of piping. It is a side view when the shutter plate of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has covered the edge part opening surface of piping. It is explanatory drawing when piping is isolate | separated with the connection isolation | separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the shutter plate of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment has withdrawn from piping. It is a side view when the shutter board of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment withdraws from piping. It is a side view when the shutter board of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment withdraws from piping. It is a side view when the shutter plate of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment is sliding. It is a side view when the shutter plate of the connection / separation apparatus concerning this Embodiment is sliding. It is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of piping concerning other embodiment. It is explanatory drawing when piping is connected with the distribution equipment of a tablet. It is explanatory drawing when piping is isolate | separated by the tablet distribution equipment. In tablet distribution equipment, it is explanatory drawing at the time of isolate | separating piping by the apparatus concerning conventional embodiment. In tablet distribution equipment, it is explanatory drawing at the time of isolate | separating piping by the apparatus concerning conventional embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connection separation apparatus 2 Connection part 11 Shutter board 12 Guide member 13 Cam follower 20 1st shutter support member 21 Cam groove 22 Guide hole 30 2nd shutter support member 40 Fixing member 64 Spring 71 Insertion part P1 piping P2 piping

Claims (7)

In the pipe connection / separation device capable of mutually connecting and separating the ends of the pipes through which the tablets or powders flow,
At the end of each pipe, a shutter mechanism that covers the end opening surface of the pipe and closes the inside of the pipe is provided, respectively.
The pipe connection / separation device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter mechanism includes a shutter plate that can freely enter and exit from the outside of the pipe between the pipe connection portions. The pipe connection / separation device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe connection portions are biased so as to be joined to each other by a spring. The shutter plate is supported by a shutter support member fixed to the pipe,
The pipe connection / separation according to claim 1, wherein the shutter plate is perpendicular to an axial direction of the pipe and is slidable along the shutter support member. apparatus. The shutter support member is provided with guide holes penetrating in the thickness direction of the shutter support member and extending in the sliding direction of the shutter plate in parallel on both sides of the pipe,
The shutter plate is provided with a guide member through which the guide hole is inserted, and a cam follower having a width larger than the width of the guide hole is provided at a protruding end portion of the guide member from the guide hole. The connection / separation device for piping according to claim 3, wherein: The length of the guide hole in the shutter support member in the thickness direction is such that there is a gap between the cam follower and the surface of the shutter support member at the guide hole portion when the shutter plate is retracted to the outside of the pipe. In the guide hole portion when the shutter plate covers the end opening surface of the pipe, the gap is set between the cam follower and the shutter support member surface. The pipe connection / separation device according to claim 4, wherein The pipe connection / separation device according to claim 5, wherein a taper step portion is formed at a portion where the thickness is changed on at least a surface of the shutter support member on the shutter plate side or the cam follower side. The pipe connection / separation device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a surface of the cam follower on the guide hole side is convexly curved toward the guide hole side or spherical.

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