JPH07329182A - Tube connection device and tube connection - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce labor and time required for tube connection and thereby improve productivity by providing a pair of openable holding members which hold each tube as it is piled up by a closing action under pressure and an operating mechanism of the holding member, on a holding means of tubes. CONSTITUTION:A cutting means 4 is provided which melts and cuts each tube 7, 8 held by a first and a second flexible tube-holding means 2, 3. In addition, a moving means 5 is provided which moves the first tube holding means 2 and/or the second tube holding means 3 in a direction in which the means intersect the axis of the tube so that the junctioning sections of the tubes which are cut by the cutting means 4 and different from each other come into contact tightly with the other. The first and the second tube holding means 2, 3 are equipped with a pair of openable holding members 21, 22 which hold each tube as it is piled up by a closing action under pressure and an operating mechanism (cylinder 23) which opens the holding means 21, 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tube connecting device and a tube connecting method for melting, cutting and connecting flexible tubes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tube connecting device is known which melts and cuts flexible tubes to aseptically connect them (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-30582).

This tube connecting device is provided with a pair of holders (blocks) capable of holding two tubes to be connected in parallel with each other, and a wafer (a plate-shaped plate) installed between the holders and movable across the tubes. Heating element) and heating the wafer while moving the two tubes while holding the two tubes in parallel and in opposite directions in the grooves formed in both holders. Melt and cut, then move one holder in the radial direction of the tube to match the cut ends of the connecting tubes, remove the wafer, fuse both tubes,
To connect.

By the way, in this tube connecting device, the width of the groove is set smaller than the outer diameter of the tube so that the groove formed in both holders can surely hold the tube. When loading the tube, it was necessary to push the tube into the groove by hand or pull the tube with both hands to reduce its outer diameter before inserting it into the groove.

However, such work takes time and labor and is not suitable for automation of tube connection and mass production.

Further, as a further improvement of the tube connecting device, a holding means is provided between both holders for flattening the tube by pressing and closing it, and a device for melting and cutting the flattened portion of the tube and connecting it. Is also disclosed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-11234).

However, in this tube connecting device, in addition to the operation of loading the tubes into the grooves formed in both holders, the operation of opening and closing the holding means for pressing and closing the tubes must be performed manually. It has the drawback of taking a lot of time and effort.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube connecting device and a tube connecting method which can reduce the labor and time required for connecting tubes and improve productivity.

[0009]

These objects are achieved by the present invention described in (1) to (5) below.

(1) First tube holding means and second tube holding means for holding at least two flexible tubes and provided at intervals in the axial direction of the tubes; and the first tube holding means. Means and said second
The cutting means for melting and cutting the tubes held by the first tube holding means and the second tube holding means in the gap with the tube holding means, and the tubes cut by the cutting means are different from each other. A tube connecting device comprising: a moving means for moving the first tube holding means and / or the second tube holding means at least in a direction intersecting the axis of the tube so that the cut ends to be joined of the tubes come into close contact with each other. The tube holding means and the second tube holding means of
Each of the tubes is provided with a pair of openable and closable holding members for holding, pressing and closing the tubes in a stacked state, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the holding members. Tube connection device.

(2) The cutting means melts and cuts each of the tubes by raising the temperature, heating means for heating the cutting board, the cutting board for the first tube holding means and the first cutting means. (2) The tube connecting device according to (1) above, which is composed of a cutting plate moving unit that is inserted into and retracted from the gap between the tube holding units.

(3) The moving means moves the first tube holding means relatively to the second tube holding means in the direction in which the tubes are stacked, and the second moving operation. The above-mentioned (1) or (2) configured to perform a second movement operation of relatively moving the holding means in a direction of approaching the first tube holding means.
The tube connecting device described in.

(4) Further, the above (1) has a positioning means for positioning the tubes in a stacked state.
The tube connection device according to any one of (1) to (3).

(5) In a state where the flexible first tube and the second tube are overlapped with each other, they are sandwiched and pressed at a position apart from each other in the axial direction of the tubes to form a flat shape between the sandwiched portions. A step, a step of cutting by inserting a heated cutting plate in the flat portion, and one clamping portion relative to the other clamping portion in a direction in which the first and second tubes are stacked. Moving and connecting the cut end of the first tube and the cut end of the second tube to be connected to each other; removing the cutting plate from the flat-shaped portion, and cutting the cut end of the first tube and the second cut end of the second tube. And a step of connecting with a cut end.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tube connecting device and tube connecting method of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the tube connecting device of the present invention. Each of the three-dimensional directions in the figure is represented by symbols X, Y and Z.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tube connecting device 1 of the present invention comprises a first tube holding means 2 and a second tube holding means 3 for simultaneously holding two flexible tubes 7 and 8, and The first tube holding means 2 and the second tube holding means 3 are moved so that the cutting means 4 for melting and cutting the tubes 7, 8 and the cut edges of the tubes 7, 8 cut by the cutting means 4 are in close contact with each other. It has a moving means 5 and a positioning means 6 for positioning both tubes 7, 8. Hereinafter, each of these components will be described.

The first tube holding means 2 has a base 20.
And a pair of openable / closable holding members 21 and 22 installed on the base 20, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the holding members 21 and 22.

The base 20 is mounted along the rail 51 along the Y line in FIG.
It is installed so that it can move in any direction. One holding member 21
Is fixedly installed on the base 20, and the other holding member 22 is installed so as to be movable with respect to the base 20 along a rail 25 parallel to the rail 51. In this case, the moving direction of the holding member 22 with respect to the base 20 is the same as the moving direction of the base 20.

A cylinder 23, which is operated by air pressure or hydraulic pressure, is installed on the base 20 as a drive source for moving the holding member 22, and the tip of the piston rod 24 of the cylinder 23 has the holding member 22. Fixed to the back of the. The cylinder 23 and the rail 25 constitute an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the holding members 21 and 22. That is, the operation of the cylinder 23 causes the piston rod 24
When is extended, the holding member 22 moves closer to the holding member 21 and is closed, and when the piston rod 24 is contracted, the holding member 22 is moved away from the holding member 21 and is opened.

The sandwiching members 21 and 22 have convex portions 210 and 220 facing each other, and when the sandwiching members 21 and 22 are in the closed state, the convex portions 210 and 220 allow the two tubes 7 and 8 to move. It is configured to be clamped, pressed and held in a stacked state.

A second tube holding means 3 is installed on the side of the first tube holding means 2 with a predetermined gap. The second tube holding means 3 has a base 30.
And a pair of openable and closable holding members 31 and 32 installed on the base 30, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the holding members 31 and 32.

The base 30 is placed along the rail 54 along the line X in FIG.
It is installed so that it can move in any direction. One holding member 31
Is fixedly installed on the base 30, and the other holding member 32 is installed on the base 30 so as to be movable along a rail 35 orthogonal to the rail 54. in this case,
The moving direction of the holding member 32 with respect to the base 30 is the Y direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the base 30.

A cylinder 33 similar to the cylinder 23 is installed on the base 30 as a drive source for moving the holding member 32, and the tip of the piston rod 34 of the cylinder 33 has the holding member 32. Fixed to the back of the. The holding member 3 is formed by the cylinder 33 and the rail 35.
An opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing 1, 32 is configured. That is, similarly to the above, when the piston rod 34 is extended by the operation of the cylinder 33, the holding member 32 moves so as to approach the holding member 31 and is in the closed state, and when the piston rod 34 contracts, the holding member 32 moves. Holding member 31
It moves so as to separate from and becomes an open state.

The sandwiching members 31 and 32 have convex portions 310 and 320 facing each other, and when the sandwiching members 31 and 32 are in the closed state, the convex portions 310 and 320 allow the tubes 7 and 8 to come in contact with each other. It is configured to be clamped, pressed and held in a stacked state.

In the first tube holding means 2 and the second tube holding means 3 as described above, when the holding members 21, 22, 31 and 32 are in the open state, the end portions of the convex portions 210 and 310 and the convex portion 220, The ends of 320 are set to be located on the same XZ plane.

The moving means 5 carries out a first moving operation for moving the first tube holding means 2 with respect to the second tube holding means 3 in the direction in which both tubes 7 and 8 are stacked (Y direction). It is composed of a mechanism 5A and a second moving mechanism 5B that performs a second moving operation of moving the second tube holding means 3 in a direction to approach the first tube holding means 2.

The first moving mechanism 5A includes the rail 51 and
As a drive source for moving the base 20, a cylinder 52 operated by air pressure or hydraulic pressure is used. The tip of the piston rod 53 of the cylinder 52 is fixed to a locking portion 202 formed on the side portion of the base 20.

When the piston rod 53 is extended by the operation of the cylinder 52, the base 20 is clamped by the holding member 2 in the Y direction.
When the piston rod 53 contracts in parallel to one side (hereinafter referred to as "retraction") and the piston rod 53 contracts, the base 20 moves in parallel in the opposite direction (hereinafter referred to as "forward movement") and returns to the original position. It should be noted that when the piston rod 53 contracts, the base 20 has the convex portion 21.
The end portions of 0 and 310 and the end portions of the convex portions 220 and 320 are set so as to be located on the same XZ plane.

The second moving mechanism 5B includes the rail 54 and
As a drive source for moving the base 30, it is composed of a pair of cylinders 55 operated by air pressure or hydraulic pressure. The tips of the piston rods 56 of both cylinders 55 are fixed to the side surfaces of the base 30, respectively.

When the piston rods 56 are extended by the operation of both cylinders 55, the base 30 moves in parallel so as to approach the base 20 in the X direction, and both piston rods 5
When 3 contracts, the base 30 translates in the opposite direction and returns to its original position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view showing the structure of the cutting means 4. As shown in the figure, the cutting means 4 includes a cutting plate 41 that is heated to melt and cut both tubes, and the cutting plate 4
1 for heating 1 to a desired temperature, and a cutting plate 41
Of the first tube holding means 2 and the second tube holding means 3 and the cutting plate moving means 43 for inserting and retracting.

The cutting plate 41 is fixed at its lower end to a heat source block 421, which will be described later, and at its upper end,
A sharp cutting edge 410 is formed. This cutting plate 41
Is composed of a plate material (wafer) made of a single plate or a laminated plate of a metal or alloy such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, brass, aluminum and titanium.

The thickness of the cutting plate 41 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably about 0.1 to 1.0 mm, particularly about 0.3 to 0.4 mm. Further, the surface of the cutting plate 41 is preferably smoothed. As a result, the frictional resistance at the time of cutting and extracting the tubes 7 and 8 by the cutting plate 41 is reduced, and the adhesion of the molten resin or the like to the surface of the cutting plate 41 is suppressed.

The heating means 42 includes a heat source block (heating die) 421 made of metal, a heat source (heater) 425 installed in the heat source block 421, and a temperature sensor installed near the side of the cutting plate 41. And 426.

A slit 422 is formed on the top of the heat source block 421, and the lower end of the cutting plate 41 is fitted and fixed in the slit 422. In addition, the inclined surface 4 is provided on each side of the top of the heat source block 421 in FIG.
23 and 424 are formed, and cutting plate moving means 43 described later
When the heat source block 421 is raised by the operation of the above, the both inclined surfaces 423 and 424 are configured to abut or approach the cutout inner surfaces 201 and 301 formed in the lower portions of the bases 20 and 30, respectively.

The heat source 425 is composed of, for example, an electric heater and heats the heat source block 421 to a temperature of 300 to 360 ° C., for example. Thereby, the cutting plate 41 fixed to the heat source block 421 is heated to about 260 to 340 ° C. which is the melting temperature of the tubes 7 and 8 in a short time (for example, within 3 to 4 seconds) after the heat source 425 is operated. To do.

The temperature sensor 426 is composed of, for example, a thermocouple and detects the temperature of the cutting plate 41 at any time. The temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 426 is used for temperature management of the cutting plate 41. That is, the detection signal from the temperature sensor 426 is input to the control means (not shown) configured by a microcomputer, and the control means turns on / off or the power of the heat source 425 based on the input information. Control. As an example of this control method, an appropriate temperature range is set in advance, and when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 426 reaches the upper limit value of the appropriate temperature range, the heat source 425 is turned off or powered down to the lower limit value of the appropriate temperature range. Once reached, the heat source 425 is controlled to turn on or power up.

The heating means 42 having such a structure is fixed to the elevating table 45 via a heat insulating material 44. The cutting plate moving means 43 is an elevating mechanism that elevates and lowers the cutting plate 41, the heating means 42, the heat insulating material 44, and the elevating table 45, and is configured by a cylinder (driving source) 431 that is operated by air pressure or hydraulic pressure. The rear end of the cylinder 431 is grounded, and the tip of the piston rod 432 of the cylinder 431 is connected to the lift table 4.
It is fixed to the lower surface of No. 5.

From the state shown by the solid line in FIG.
When the piston rod 432 is extended by the operation of No. 1, the cutting plate 41, the heating means 42, the heat insulating material 44, and the elevating table 45 ascend, and both the inclined surfaces 42 of the heat source block 421.
3, 424 come into contact with the inner surfaces 201, 301 of the notch and stop. At this time, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, the cutting plate 41 is inserted between the sandwiching members 21 and 31 and between the sandwiching members 22 and 32 to cut the tubes 7 and 8 sandwiched between them. it can.

When the piston rod 432 of the cylinder 431 contracts, the cutting plate 41, the heating means 42, the heat insulating material 44, and the elevating table 45 descend and return to their original positions. At this time,
The cutting plate 41 is provided between the holding members 21 and 31 and the holding member 2
Evacuate between 2 and 32.

In the cutting means 4 having the above structure, the cutting plate 41 is not of a type that self-heats but the heat source block 4
Since it is heated by 21, the cutting plate 41 can be composed of a metal single plate (or a laminated plate), its cost is low, and the cutting plate 41 is frequently replaced every time a tube is connected. Since it is not necessary to do so, for example, when the tube connection is repeatedly and continuously performed in a factory or a medical institution, the work efficiency is good and the mass productivity is excellent. Moreover, no gas is generated by heating, and safety is high.

As shown in FIG. 1, the positioning means 6 has a pair of positioning members 61 fixed to the bases 20 and 30, respectively. These positioning members 61 are
Insertion space 62 into which two tubes 7 and 8 can be inserted in an overlapping manner
And a lid 63 that covers the upper portion of the insertion space 62 is installed at one end thereof by a hinge 64 so as to be openable and closable. Further, in both the positioning members 61, the insertion space 62 has a predetermined height in the Z direction by the arm 65 (the tubes 7 and 8 inserted through the insertion spaces 62 so as to overlap each other are between the convex portions 210 and 220 and the convex portion 310, It is fixed to the bases 20 and 30 so as to have an appropriate height that can be sandwiched between 320.

When setting the tubes 7 and 8, the lids 63 of both positioning members 61 are opened automatically or manually, the tubes 7 and 8 are inserted into the insertion space 62, and the lids 63 are closed. As a result, the tubes 7 and 8 are aligned in the horizontal direction, that is, on the same XY plane in a state where they are in contact with each other, and therefore, a position shift or the like occurs when being sandwiched by the sandwiching members 21, 22, 31, 32. Disconnect and connect properly.

The positioning means 6 may not have the lid 63. Thereby, the opening / closing operation of the lid 63 is omitted, and the tube connecting operation is further simplified.
Further, in the present invention, the positioning means 6 itself may be omitted. In this case, when connecting the tubes 7 and 8,
The tubes 7 and 8 may be aligned by using a positioning jig (not shown) provided separately.

The constituent materials of the tubes 7 and 8 connected according to the present invention are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyvinyl chloride,
Polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (P
ET), polyester such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane, polyamide, silicone, polyester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer such as styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, various rubbers, or a combination thereof as appropriate. Etc., but among them, in particular,
Polyvinyl chloride is preferable because it is suitable for mass production by automation. In addition, the dimensions of the connected tubes 7 and 8 (outer diameter,
The inner diameter) is also not particularly limited.

Next, a preferred example of the tube connecting method of the present invention using the tube connecting device 1 will be described. Figure 3-
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a tube connecting step by the tube connecting device 1. Of these, Figure 3,
4, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 are plan views of the first and second tube holding means, respectively, and FIG.
7 is a view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is a view taken along line XX in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 is shown in FIG.
It is a XII-XII line view in 1. Hereinafter, description will be sequentially made based on these drawings.

[1] As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder 23
And 33, the piston rods 24 and 34 are contracted to open the sandwiching members 21 and 22 and the sandwiching members 31 and 32, and the tubes 7 and 8 are positioned by the positioning means 6 as necessary, and both The tubes 7 and 8 are located between the convex portions 210 and 220 and between the convex portions 310 and 320.

[2] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cylinders 23 and 33 are operated to extend the piston rods 24 and 34, and the holding members 21, 22 and the holding members 31, 32 are closed. As a result, the tubes 7 and 8 are clamped and closed at two points by the opposing convex portions 210 and 220 and the opposing convex portions 310 and 320, respectively, and the two clamping portions of the tubes 7 and 8 are on the XZ plane. It becomes a flat shape (hereinafter, referred to as “flat portion 9”) that spreads over the entire surface.

[3] The heating means 42 is operated to move the cutting plate 41 to a temperature above the melting temperature of the tubes 7 and 8 (for example, 2).
While heating to about 60 to 340 ° C.), the cylinder 431 is operated to extend the piston rod 432 and raise the cutting plate 41, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As a result, both flat portions 9 of the tubes 7 and 8 are melted and cut.

In this state, the cut end of the flat portion 9 has a high temperature when the resin is melted or softened, and does not communicate with the outside, so that the sterility of the lumens of the tubes 7 and 8 is maintained. It

[4] As shown in FIG.
Is operated to extend the piston rod 53, and the holding member 2
1, 22 are retracted in the Y direction together with the base 20. in this case,
The moving distance of the holding members 21 and 22 is a distance corresponding to the thickness of the flat portion 9 for one tube. As a result, the cut end of the flat portion 9 of the tube 7 and the cut end of the flat portion 9 of the tube 8 face (match).

[5] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,
The piston rod 432 of the cylinder 431 is contracted, the cutting plate 41 is lowered, and both cylinders 55 are operated to extend the piston rod 56, so that the holding members 31, 3
2 is moved in the X direction for each base 30. As a result, the cut portion of the flat portion 9 of the tube 7 and the cut portion of the flat portion 9 of the tube 8 are joined.

[6] After the cutting plate 41 descends to the retracted position and is pulled out from the flat portion 9, FIG. 11 and FIG.
As shown in FIG.
When it is further brought closer to 2, the cut ends of the joined flat portion 9 are also brought closer to each other and crimped. As a result, the joint portion 91 between the cuts is firmly adhered, and airtightness and sterility are surely obtained. For example, when the soft polyvinyl chloride tubes 7 and 8 are connected, the joint strength (breaking strength) at the joint portion 91 during cooling is 75% or more of the tensile strength (breaking strength) of the tube itself, particularly 85 Achieve at least%.

[7] The holding members 21 and 22 and the holding members 31 and 32 are opened, and the connected tubes 7 and 8 are connected.
Take out. The flat portion 9 returns to the original circular cross-sectional shape due to the restoring force of the tube itself. In addition, the connection portion 91
In some cases, the inner surfaces of the connection part 91 are in close contact with each other and the lumen is occluded or narrowed. In this case, the inner surfaces of the connection part 91 are peeled off by using, for example, a predetermined tube shaping device, and Communicate the cavity.

[8] The clamping members 21 and 22 are moved forward,
The holding members 31 and 32 are moved in a direction away from the holding members 21 and 22 to return them to the original state shown in FIG.
As a result, the next tube can be connected. In addition, after connecting the tube, if necessary, the cutting plate 4
It is preferable to remove the resin, foreign matter, oxide, etc. attached to the surface of 1.

In the tube connecting device and method as described above, as shown in the above step [2], the tubes 7 and 8 are inserted, and the holding members 21 and 22 and the holding members 31 and 32 are inserted.
Since it is possible to hold the tubes 7 and 8 in a shape suitable for cutting and connecting by simply closing, the labor and time required for connecting the tubes can be reduced. Further, as shown in the above step [4], the holding member 3 of the holding members 21 and 22.
Since the moving distance with respect to 1 and 32 is a short distance corresponding to the thickness of the flat portion 9, the moving time is short and the tubes can be connected more quickly. Also, the joint strength of the tube connection portion 91 is high, and the airtightness and sterility are excellent. Furthermore, it is also suitable for the case where the tube connection is repeatedly and continuously performed, and even in that case, the above effect is kept constant.

In the tube connecting device 1 described above, an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the holding members 21, 22 and the holding members 31, 32, and a movement for moving the first tube holding means 2 and / or the second tube holding means 3. Each of the means and the cutting plate moving means 43 is configured to use a cylinder as a drive source, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may use other drive sources such as various motors and solenoids. Further, it may have an arbitrary power transmission mechanism, conversion mechanism, or the like.

Further, the moving form of the first tube holding means 2 and the second tube holding means 3 by the moving means 5 is not limited to that of the above-mentioned embodiment, but the first tube holding means 2 and the second tube holding means. Only one of the three may be moved, and the moving direction may be one-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The same applies to the movement form of the cutting plate moving means 43. For example, the cutting plate 41 may move in the Y direction or in the Y and Z directions.

Further, as the cutting means, there is used a cutting plate (wafer) having a resistor installed inside a metal plate via an insulating layer and generating heat by itself when the resistor is energized. It may be one. In the case of such a self-heating type cutting plate, it is preferable that the cutting plate is exchanged and used after each tube connection.

The tube connecting device and the tube connecting method of the present invention have been described above based on the illustrated configuration example.
The present invention is not limited to this.

[0061]

As described above, according to the tube connecting device and the tube connecting method of the present invention, the tubes can be reliably connected, particularly aseptically, and the labor required for connecting the tubes is reduced. And you can save time and improve productivity. In particular, when the cutting means is composed of the cutting plate, the heating means and the cutting plate moving means, the cutting plate can be freely exchanged.

The moving means moves the first tube holding means relatively to the second tube holding means in the tube stacking direction, and the second tube holding means moves the first tube holding means to the first tube. When it is configured to perform a second moving operation of relatively moving in the direction of approaching the holding means, the position of the second tube holding means with respect to the first tube holding means is freely changed two-dimensionally. It is possible to connect the tube more reliably.

Further, when the positioning means is provided, the positioning when the tube is mounted can be performed easily and surely, the workability is improved, and the positional deviation etc. when the tubes are overlapped and pinched is surely prevented. Can make proper disconnection and connection.

Further, according to the tube connecting method of the present invention, since movement of the cut surface of the tube is suppressed as much as possible during cutting, sterility can be surely maintained, and connection of the tube for connecting while pressing can be surely performed. You can do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a tube connecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view showing a configuration of a cutting means in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

5 is a view taken along line VV in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line XX in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view schematically showing a tube connecting step in the tube connecting method of the present invention.

12 is a view taken along line XII-XII in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tube Connecting Device 2 First Tube Holding Means 20 Base 201 Cutout Inner Surface 202 Locking Part 21, 22 Clamping Member 210, 220 Convex 23 Cylinder 24 Piston Rod 25 Rail 3 Second Tube Holding Means 30 Base 301 Notch Inner surface 31, 32 Clamping member 310, 320 Convex portion 33 Cylinder 34 Piston rod 35 Rail 4 Cutting means 41 Cutting plate 410 Blade edge 42 Heating means 421 Heat source block 422 Slit 423, 424 Inclined surface 425 Heat source 426 Temperature sensor 43 Cutting plate moving means 431 Cylinder 432 Piston rod 44 Heat insulating material 45 Elevating table 5 Moving means 5A First moving mechanism 5B Second moving mechanism 51 Rail 52 Cylinder 53 Piston rod 54 Rail 55 Cylinder 56 Piston rod 6 Positioning means 61st position Positioning member 62 Insertion space 63 Lid body 64 Hinge 65 Arms 7 and 8 Tube 9 Flat part 91 Connection part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first tube holding means and a second tube holding means which hold at least two flexible tubes and are provided at intervals in the axial direction of the tubes, and the first tube holding means. And a cutting means for melting and cutting the tubes held by the first tube holding means and the second tube holding means in a gap between the tube holding means and the second tube holding means, and the cutting means cut by the cutting means. A tube connecting device comprising: a moving means for moving the first tube holding means and / or the second tube holding means at least in a direction intersecting with the axis of the tube so that cut ends of different tubes of the tube to be joined come into close contact with each other. The first tube holding means and the second tube holding means are respectively connected to the tubes. A tube connection device comprising a pair of openable and closable holding members for holding, pressing and holding them in a stacked state, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the holding members. . 2. A flexible first tube and a second tube
Clamping them in a position apart from each other in the axial direction of the tubes in a state of stacking the tubes, compressing and closing them to form a flat shape between the clamping parts, and interposing a heated cutting plate in the flat shape part. A step of cutting, and a holding portion of the first tube and the second tube which are connected to each other by moving one holding portion relative to the other holding portion in a direction in which the first and second tubes are stacked. And a step of facing the cut end of the second tube, and a step of removing the cut plate from the flat-shaped portion and connecting the cut end of the first tube and the cut end of the second tube. .