CN114481337B - Electrospinning device and method for cleaning electrospinning head - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrospinning device and a method for cleaning an electrospinning head. The present invention aims to provide an electrospinning device and a method for cleaning the electrospinning head, which can effectively and properly clean the electrospinning head with a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction. According to an embodiment, an electrospinning device includes an electrospinning head and a rotating brush. The electrospinning head includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row, and a discharge port capable of discharging the supplied raw material liquid is formed in each of the plurality of nozzles. The rotary brush is capable of contacting the plurality of nozzles from a side where the ejection port is opened, and is capable of rotating about a rotation axis along an arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of contacting the plurality of nozzles.

Description

Electrospinning device and method for cleaning electrospinning head

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrospinning device and a method for cleaning an electrospinning head.

Background

There are the following electrospinning apparatuses: by the electrospinning method (also referred to as charge-induced spinning method, etc.), fine fibers are deposited on the surface of a collector or a substrate to form a film of fibers. In the electrospinning device, a raw material liquid containing a polymer material is supplied to an electrospinning head provided with a nozzle. Then, by applying a voltage to the nozzle and supplying the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head, the raw material liquid is charged, and the charged raw material liquid is ejected from the ejection port of the nozzle toward the collector or the surface of the substrate. Thereby, the fibers are piled up on the surface of the collector or the substrate.

When the film forming operation of the fiber is performed by the electrospinning device as described above, the fiber, the droplets of the raw material liquid, the polymer material of the raw material liquid, and the like may adhere as attachments to the vicinity of the discharge opening in the nozzle. Therefore, after the operation of forming the fiber film, the cleaning operation of the electrospinning head is performed by removing the attached matter from the nozzle.

As the electrospinning head, there is an electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction. In the cleaning operation of the electrospinning head, even in the electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged, efficient and appropriate cleaning is required.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide an electrospinning device and a method for cleaning the electrospinning head, which can effectively and properly clean the electrospinning head with a plurality of nozzles arranged in the arrangement direction.

According to an embodiment, an electrospinning device includes an electrospinning head and a rotating brush. The electrospinning head includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row, and a discharge port capable of discharging the supplied raw material liquid is formed in each of the plurality of nozzles. The rotary brush is capable of contacting the plurality of nozzles from a side where the ejection port is opened, and is capable of rotating about a rotation axis along an arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of contacting the plurality of nozzles.

According to the electrospinning device, the electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction is efficiently and appropriately cleaned.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the electrospinning apparatus according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing one electrospinning head of the electrospinning apparatus according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which a film of a fiber is formed by one electrospinning head of the electrospinning apparatus according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the cleaning unit is used to remove the attached matter from one electrospinning head of the electrospinning apparatus according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the suction head and the cleaning unit are connected in the electrospinning apparatus according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a rotary brush of the electrospinning device according to embodiment 1, as viewed from one side along the axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a rotary brush of the electrospinning device according to embodiment 1 in a cross-section parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction along the rotary shaft.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a brush section of a rotary brush of the electrospinning device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing a brush part of a rotary brush of the electrospinning device according to embodiment 1 in a state different from fig. 8, such as a direction of observation and a region shown.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing an extended state of brush parts of a rotary brush of an electrospinning device according to modification 1.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a rotary brush of the electrospinning device according to modification 1, in a cross-section parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction along the rotary shaft.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which the cleaning unit is used to remove the attached matter from one electrospinning head of the electrospinning apparatus according to modification 2.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing a state in which gas is discharged from a discharge head to a rotary brush in the electrospinning device according to modification 2.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

(embodiment 1)

Fig. 1 shows an example of an electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 1. As shown in fig. 1, the electrospinning device 1 is defined with a depth direction (a direction indicated by an arrow X1 and an arrow X2), a lateral direction (a direction indicated by an arrow Y1 and an arrow Y2) intersecting the depth direction (vertical or substantially vertical), and a height direction (a direction indicated by an arrow Z1 and an arrow Z2) intersecting both the depth direction and the lateral direction (vertical or substantially vertical). The electrospinning device 1 includes one or more electrospinning heads 2, and in the example of fig. 1, 4 electrospinning heads 2 are provided. The electrospinning heads 2 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the height direction. The electrospinning heads 2 are arranged in the height direction. In the electrospinning device 1, films of fibers are formed by the electrospinning heads 2, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows an electrospinning head 2A as one of the electrospinning heads 2. The following describes the structure of the electrospinning head 2A and the like. In the present embodiment, the configuration and the like of the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A are the same as those of the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the structure of the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A and the like will not be described. As shown in fig. 2, the electrospinning head 2A includes a head main body 11, a plurality of (4 in the present embodiment) nozzles 12A, and a plurality of (4 in the present embodiment) nozzles 12B. A central axis is defined in the head body 11 (electrospinning head 2), and a direction along the central axis in the head body 11 is defined as a longitudinal direction. In the electrospinning head 2A, the longitudinal direction is aligned or substantially aligned with the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1. The head body 11 is provided to extend along the central axis and to extend along the longitudinal direction of the electrospinning head 2A. In the present embodiment, the head main body 11 and the nozzles 12A and 12B are each formed of a conductive material. The head body 11 and the nozzles 12A and 12B are preferably made of a material having resistance to the raw material liquid, for example, stainless steel.

In the electrospinning head 2A, nozzles 12A and 12B are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the head main body 11. The plurality of nozzles 12A, 12B protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the head main body 11 toward the outer peripheral side, that is, toward the side away from the central axis of the head main body 11. In the present embodiment, the plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged at the same or substantially the same angular position with respect to each other around the axis of the central axis of the head main body 11. Accordingly, in the electrospinning head 2A, a plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and one nozzle row is formed. In the present embodiment, the plurality of nozzles 12B are disposed at the same or substantially the same angular position with respect to each other around the axis of the central axis of the head main body 11. Accordingly, in the electrospinning head 2A, a plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and one nozzle row is formed. In the electrospinning head 2A, the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B are aligned or substantially aligned with the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1.

In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzles 12A are arranged so as to be separated from the nozzles 12B in the circumferential direction, that is, around the axis of the central axis of the head main body 11. Therefore, the nozzle rows of the nozzles 12A and the nozzle rows of the nozzles 12B are arranged apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the electrospinning head 2A. In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzles 12A protrude from the head main body 11 toward the other nozzles 12A in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1, and the nozzles 12B protrude from the head main body 11 toward the other nozzles 12A in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzles 12A are located on the side where the other nozzles 12A are located with respect to the central axis of the head main body 11 in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1, and the nozzles 12B are located on the side where the nozzles 12A and the other nozzles 12B are located with respect to the central axis of the head main body 11 in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1.

In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged in a zigzag pattern on the outer peripheral surface of the head main body 11. The nozzles 12A and 12B are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction (the direction along the central axis) of the electrospinning head 2A. Accordingly, a corresponding one of the nozzles (the 1 st nozzle) 12B is disposed between the nozzles (the 2 nd nozzle) 12A adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the electrospinning head 2A.

In the electrospinning head 2A, an internal cavity 13 is formed inside the head main body 11. The internal cavity 13 is formed along the longitudinal direction (central axis) of the electrospinning head 2A. In the electrospinning head 2A, a flow path 15 is formed inside each of the nozzles 12A and 12B. In each of the nozzles 12A, 12B, a flow path 15 is provided extending in a protruding direction from the head main body 11. Accordingly, in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the direction in which the flow path 15 extends is identical or substantially identical to the protruding direction in which the head main body 11 protrudes. In the electrospinning head 2A, one end (inner peripheral end) of each of the channels 15 is connected to the internal cavity 13.

In the electrospinning head 2A, ejection ports 16 are formed at the other ends (outer peripheral ends) of the channels 15, respectively. In each of the nozzles 12A, 12B, an ejection port 16 is formed on the outer surface. In the present embodiment, in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the ejection port 16 is formed at a protruding end (tip) protruding from the head main body 11. The flow paths 15 are open to the outside of the electrospinning head 2A at the ejection ports 16. In the electrospinning head 2A, the channels 15 are opened at the discharge port 16 toward the side where the other channels 15 are opened in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the discharge port 16 communicates with the internal cavity 13 of the head body 11 through the flow path 15. Accordingly, the nozzles 12A and 12B can discharge the raw material liquid supplied to the flow path 15 through the internal cavity 13 from the discharge port 16. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the raw material liquid can be discharged toward the side protruding from the head main body 11, that is, the side where the discharge port 16 is opened.

The nozzles 12A and 12B each include a needle portion 25 and a nozzle base portion 26. In each of the nozzles 12A, 12B, the nozzle base 26 is connected to the head main body 11, and forms a root of a protruding portion protruding from the head main body 11. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the needle portion 25 further protrudes from the nozzle base 26 toward the outer peripheral side of the electrospinning head 2, and forms a protruding end protruding from the head main body 11. Accordingly, the ejection port 16 is formed in the needle portion 25 in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the outer diameter of the needle portion 25 is smaller than the outer diameter of the nozzle base portion 26. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the area surrounded by the outer periphery of the needle portion 25 is smaller than the area surrounded by the outer periphery of the nozzle base portion 26 in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the flow path 15 extends.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which a film of the fiber 20 is formed by the electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2. The film formation of the fiber 20 by the electrospinning head 2A will be described below. In the present embodiment, a film of fibers is formed by the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A in the same manner as the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the film formation of the fibers by the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A is omitted. As shown in fig. 3, the electrospinning device 1 includes a supply unit 3 of a raw material liquid, a power source 4, and a collector 5 in addition to the electrospinning head 2. In fig. 1 and the like, the supply unit 3, the power supply 4, and the collector 5 are omitted.

The raw material liquid supply unit 3 can supply the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A. The supply unit 3 constitutes a supply source of the raw material liquid and a supply path of the raw material liquid from the supply source to the electrospinning head 2A. The supply unit 3 for the material liquid includes a housing unit 31, a supply driving unit 32, a supply adjusting unit 33, and a supply pipe 35. The housing portion 31, the supply driving portion 32, the supply adjusting portion 33, and the supply pipe 35 are each resistant to the raw material liquid, and in any one example, the housing portion 31 and the supply pipe 35 are each formed of a material having electrical insulation such as a fluororesin.

The storage unit 31 is a tank or the like for storing the raw material liquid. The raw material liquid is a liquid obtained by dissolving a polymer material in a solvent. The polymer and the solvent for dissolving the polymer contained in the raw material liquid are appropriately determined in accordance with the type of the fibers 20 deposited on the surface of the collector 5. The polymer material is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately changed according to the material of the formed fiber 20. As the polymer material, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, nylon, aramid, polyimide, polyamideimide, and the like can be used. The solvent used for the raw material liquid may be one capable of dissolving the polymer material. The solvent can be appropriately changed according to the polymer material to be dissolved. As the solvent, for example, water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, benzene, toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and the like can be used.

The supply pipe 35 connects the housing 31 and the electrospinning head 2A to form a supply channel for the raw material liquid. The supply driving unit 32 is driven, for example, to supply the raw material liquid from the storage unit 31 to the electrospinning head 2A through the supply pipe 35. In one example, the supply driving unit 32 is a pump. The supply adjustment unit 33 adjusts the flow rate, pressure, and the like of the raw material liquid supplied to the electrospinning head 2A. In one example, the supply adjustment unit 33 includes a control valve capable of controlling the flow rate, pressure, and the like of the raw material liquid. In this case, the supply adjustment unit 33 adjusts the flow rate, pressure, and the like of the raw material liquid to be appropriate based on the viscosity of the raw material liquid, the structure of the nozzles 12A, 12B, and the like. In addition, in any case, the supply adjustment unit 33 can switch between supply and stop of the raw material liquid from the storage unit 31 to the electrospinning head 2A. In this case, the supply adjuster 33 includes, for example, a switching valve.

The power supply 4 can apply a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A. By applying a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A, a voltage of a predetermined polarity is applied to the nozzles 12A and 12B via the head body 11. In the plurality of nozzles 12A, 12B, voltages of the same polarity are applied with respect to each other. As described above, the electric power source 4 applies a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A, and the raw material liquid is supplied to the electrospinning head 2A through the supply unit 3, whereby the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the nozzles 12A and 12B (electrospinning head 2A).

In one example, terminals (not shown) electrically connected to the nozzles 12A and 12B may be provided, and the power supply 4 may apply a voltage to the nozzles 12A and 12B via the terminals. In this case, the head main body 11 need not be formed of a conductive material. The polarity of the voltage applied to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B may be positive or negative. In an example of fig. 3, the power supply 4 is a dc power supply, and positive voltages are applied to the nozzles 12A and 12B, respectively.

The collector 5 is formed of a conductive material. The collector 5 is resistant to the raw material liquid, and is made of stainless steel in one example. The collector 5 is disposed on the side of the spinneret 2A where the nozzles 12A and 12B protrude, and on the side of the spinneret 2A where the discharge port 16 is opened. Therefore, the collector 5 is disposed on the side from which the raw material liquid is discharged from the nozzles 12A and 12B with respect to the electrospinning head 2A in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. In an example of fig. 3 and the like, the collector 5 is grounded, and the voltage to ground of the collector 5 is 0V or substantially 0V. In another example, a voltage of opposite polarity to the raw material liquid and the electrospinning head 2A (nozzles 12A and 12B) is applied to the collector 5 by the power source 4 or a power source different from the power source 4.

In the present embodiment, by applying a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A and supplying a raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the electrospinning head 2A. By charging the raw material liquid to the same polarity as the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is discharged from the discharge ports 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B toward the collector 5 by the potential difference between the raw material liquid and the collector 5 of the electrospinning head 2A (the nozzles 12A and 12B). By ejecting the raw material liquid from the electrospinning head 2 toward the collector 5, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the collector 5, and the deposited fibers 20 form a film of the fibers 20. That is, the film of the fiber 20 is formed by an electric field spinning method (also referred to as a charge induction spinning method or the like). The voltage applied to the nozzles 12A and 12B (the electrospinning heads 2A) and the voltage applied to the collector 5 are appropriately adjusted in accordance with the types of polymer materials contained in the raw material liquid, the distance between the electrospinning heads 2A and the collector 5, and the like.

The collector 5 is formed in a plate shape or a sheet shape, for example. When the collector 5 is formed in a sheet shape, the fibers 20 may be stacked on the collector 5 wound around the outer peripheral surface of a roll or the like. Further, the collector 5 may be movable. In one example, a pair of rotary drums and a driving source that drives the rotary drums are provided. The rotating rollers are driven by the driving source, and thereby the collection body 5 is moved between the pair of rotating rollers as in the case of the conveyor belt. By moving (transporting) the collector 5, the area where the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the collector 5 can be changed with time. The film of the fibers 20 formed on the surface of the collector 5 is taken out of the collector 5. The film of the fiber 20 is not limited to these, but is used for, for example, nonwoven fabrics, filters, and the like.

In addition, in a certain example, the collector 5 is not provided. In this case, a base material formed of a conductive material is used. Then, by applying a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A as described above and supplying the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is discharged from the discharge ports 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B toward the substrate. Thereby, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the base material, and a film of the fibers 20 is formed on the surface of the base material. In this case, the substrate may be grounded, or a voltage of polarity opposite to that of the electrospinning head 2A (nozzles 12A and 12B) and the raw material liquid may be applied to the substrate by the power source 4 or a power source different from the power source 4.

In another example, a base material is provided on the collector 5. Then, by applying a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A as described above and supplying the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is discharged from the discharge ports 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B toward the collector 5 and the base material. Thereby, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the base material provided on the collector 5, and a film of the fibers 20 is formed on the surface of the base material. In this case, even when the substrate has electrical insulation properties, a film of the fibers 20 can be formed on the surface of the substrate.

In the case where the base material is provided on the collector 5, the base material may be movable on the collector 5. In one example, a rotary drum around which a sheet-like substrate is wound and a rotary drum around which a film of fibers 20 is wound are provided. Then, the rotary drums are rotated, respectively, whereby the base material moves on the collector 5. By the movement (conveyance) of the substrate, the region where the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the substrate can be changed with time. The film of the fiber 20 formed on the surface of the substrate is not limited to this, and examples thereof include the production of a separator-integrated electrode of a battery. In this case, one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the electrode group is used as the base material. Then, the film of the fiber 20 formed on the surface of the base material becomes a separator integrated with the negative electrode or the positive electrode.

As shown in fig. 1 and the like, the electrospinning device 1 includes a cleaning unit 6, a unit moving section 7, and a suction head 8. In the electrospinning device 1, the film forming operation of the fibers 20 is performed as described above by the electrospinning head 2 including the electrospinning head 2A. When a film of the fiber 20 is formed by the electrospinning device 1 through the electrospinning heads 2, the fiber 20, droplets of the raw material liquid, and polymer materials of the raw material liquid may adhere as an adhesive substance to the electrospinning heads 2, particularly, to the vicinity of the discharge ports 16 on the outer surfaces of the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, after the film forming operation of the fibers 20 is performed, the attached matter to the nozzles 12A and 12B is removed from the respective electrospinning heads 2, and the respective cleaning operations of the electrospinning heads 2 are performed. The cleaning unit 6 and the like are used for cleaning the electrospinning head 2.

Fig. 4 shows a state in which the cleaning unit 6 is used to remove the deposit on the electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2. As shown in fig. 1, 4, and the like, the cleaning unit 6 includes a rotary brush 61, a housing case 62, and a rotary drive unit 63. In the cleaning unit 6, a housing cavity 65 for housing the rotary brush 61 is formed in the housing case 62. The rotary brush 61 is rotatable about the rotation axis P with respect to the housing case 62 and the like. The rotation axis P of the rotation brush 61 is along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles 12B. Thus, the rotation axis P of the rotation brush 61 is along the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1. Preferably, the width of the rotary brush 61 in the lateral direction is set so as to be in contact with all of the plurality of nozzles 12A (especially the needle portion 25) and all of the plurality of nozzles 12B (especially the needle portion 25) throughout the entire range from one end to the other end of the plurality of nozzles 12A and from one end to the other end of the plurality of nozzles 12B.

The rotation driving unit 63 includes a driving member such as an electric motor, and the driving member is driven by being supplied with electric power. The driving member of the rotation driving unit 63 is coupled to the rotation brush 61. By being driven by the driving member of the rotation driving section 63, the driving force from the driving member is transmitted to the rotation brush 61, and the rotation brush 61 rotates around the rotation axis P. Further, the housing hollow 65 of the housing case 62 is open to the outside of the housing case 62 at an opening 66. The housing hollow 65 of the housing case 62 is opened at the opening 66 toward the opposite side to the side from which the nozzles 12A, 12B of the electrospinning head 2 protrude in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. That is, the housing hollow 65 is opened at the opening 66 toward the side opposite to the side where the respective discharge ports 16 of the electrospinning head 2 are opened in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1.

Hereinafter, removal of the attached matter to the electrospinning head 2A will be described. In the present embodiment, the deposits on the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A are removed by using the cleaning unit 6 or the like, similarly to the deposits on the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the film formation of the fibers by the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A is omitted.

As shown in fig. 4 and the like, the rotating brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6 is brought into contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B during removal of the deposit to the electrospinning head 2A. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the rotary brush 61 is brought into contact with the side of the opening of the ejection port 16 in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. Then, the rotating brush 61 is rotated in a state where the rotating brush 61 is in contact with the nozzles 12A, 12B of the electrospinning head 2A. At this time, the rotary brush 61 rotates around the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B. In this way, the attached matter such as the fiber 20 and the droplets of the raw material liquid is removed by the rotating brush 61 from the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A.

The unit moving section 7 constitutes a mechanism for moving the cleaning unit 6 including the rotary brush 61 relative to the electrospinning head 2 (including the electrospinning head 2A) and the like. The cleaning unit 6 can be moved in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1 by the unit moving section 7. In an example of fig. 1 and the like, the cleaning unit 6 is movable in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1 between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the broken line. Therefore, the moving direction of the cleaning unit 6 including the rotary brush 61 intersects (is vertical or substantially vertical) the rotation axis P of the rotary brush 61. The cleaning unit 6 moves as described above, and therefore the rotary brush 61 can be brought into contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B of any of the electrospinning heads 2. In addition, at the position shown by the solid line in fig. 1, the rotary brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6 is in contact with the nozzles 12A, 12B of the electrospinning head 2A. The rotary brush 61 moves in a direction intersecting the rotation axis P, thereby moving to a position where it can contact the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A. At this time, if the width of the rotary brush 61 in the direction of the rotation axis P is set so as to extend over the entire needle portion 25 of each of the plurality of nozzles 12A and 12B, the rotary brush 61 contacts all of the nozzles 12A and 12B (in particular, the needle portion 25) provided in one electrospinning head 2 at a position where the rotary brush can contact. In this case, the rotary brush 61 rotates around the rotation axis P in a state where the rotary brush 61 is in contact with all the nozzles 12A and 12B (in particular, the needle portion 25) of the electrospinning head 2A.

The unit moving section 7 includes a movement driving section 71 and a driving force transmitting section 72. The movement driving unit 71 includes a driving member such as an electric motor, and the driving member is driven by being supplied with electric power. The driving force transmission unit 72 connects the movement driving unit 71 and the cleaning unit 6. The driving force transmission unit 72 transmits the driving force generated by the driving member of the movement driving unit 71 to the cleaning unit 6, thereby moving the cleaning unit 6.

In the electrospinning device 1, the suction head 8 is located at a position apart from any of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction. In an example of fig. 1 and the like, the suction head 8 is located below any of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1. In the example of fig. 1 and the like, the cleaning unit 6 is moved to the position indicated by the broken line by the unit moving unit 7, and the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6. At this time, the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6 from the side where the opening 66 of the housing cavity 65 opens in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1.

Fig. 5 shows a state in which the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6. As shown in fig. 5 and the like, a suction cavity 81 is formed inside the suction head 8. The suction cavity 81 is opened to the outside of the suction head 8 through the suction port 82. In a state where the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, the suction port 82 approaches the rotary brush 61. At this time, the suction port 82 approaches the rotary brush 61 from the side where the opening 66 of the housing cavity 65 opens in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1.

The electrospinning device 1 further includes a suction unit 9. The suction unit 9 constitutes a suction source for sucking from the suction port 82 of the suction head 8 and a suction path from the suction head 8 to the suction source. The suction unit 9 includes a suction driving unit 91, a collection unit 92, and a suction pipe 93. The suction driving unit 91 is driven to suck the suction object from the suction port 82 of the suction head 8. By driving (suction driving) the suction driving portion 91 as described above, suction force from the outside of the suction head 8 toward the suction cavity 81 through the suction port 82 is exerted. The suction driving unit 91 is a pump, a blower, or the like. By driving the suction driving unit 91 in a state where the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, that is, in a state where the suction port 82 is close to the rotary brush 61, suction force from the rotary brush 61 and the storage hollow 65 toward the suction port 82 of the suction head 8 acts.

The collection unit 92 is a box or the like that stores the suctioned objects suctioned from the suction port 82. In the suction unit 9, a filter (not shown) or the like is provided between the suction driving unit 91 and the collecting unit 92, and suction objects are prevented from flowing into the suction driving unit 91. The suction pipe 93 connects the suction head 8 and the collection unit 92 to form a suction flow path for the suction object. In the suction head 8 of an example of fig. 5, a suction pipe 93 is connected from the side opposite to the suction port 82.

In the suction head 8, a contact plate 83 is formed in the suction cavity 81. The contact plate 83 is located at a position away from any one of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1. In a state where the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotary brush 61. At this time, the contact plate 83 contacts the rotary brush 61 from the side of the receiving cavity 65 where the opening 66 opens in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1.

As described above, when the attachments to the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed by the rotary brush 61 in each electrospinning head 2, the removed objects from the nozzles 12A and 12B and the like adhere to the rotary brush 61. Therefore, the attached matter adhering to the rotary brush 61 needs to be removed periodically. When removing the attached matter from the rotary brush 61, the movement driving unit 71 is driven to move the cleaning unit 6 to a position where it can be connected to the suction head 8. Thereby, the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, and the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotary brush 61.

Then, the rotation driving unit 63 is driven in a state where the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotation brush 61, and the rotation brush 61 is rotated about the rotation axis P. The suction driving unit 91 is driven to apply suction force from the rotary brush 61 and the housing cavity 65 to the suction port 82. By rotating the rotary brush 61 in a state where the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotary brush 61, the adhering substance to the rotary brush 61 is removed. Further, by the suction force from the storage cavity 65 and the like toward the suction port 82, the removed object from the rotary brush 61 is sucked to the suction cavity 81 through the suction port 82 and the like. Then, the removed matter (suctioned matter) suctioned into the suction cavity 81 flows into a suction pipe or the like (arrow A1 in fig. 5) inside the suction pipe 93, and is collected in the collection unit 92.

As shown in fig. 3, 5, and the like, the electrospinning device 1 includes a control unit 21 and a user interface 22. In fig. 1 and 4, the control unit 21 and the user interface 22 are omitted. The control unit (controller) 21 is, for example, a computer or the like. The control unit 21 includes a processor or an integrated circuit (control circuit) including CPU (Central Processing Unit), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like, and a storage medium such as a memory. The control unit 21 may include only one integrated circuit or the like, or may include a plurality of integrated circuits or the like. The control unit 21 executes a program or the like stored in a storage medium or the like to perform processing. The control unit 21 controls driving of the supply driving unit 32, operation of the supply adjusting unit 33, output from the power source 4, driving of the rotation driving unit 63, driving of the suction driving unit 91, and the like. The control unit 21 controls the movement of the cleaning unit 6 by controlling the driving of the movement driving unit 71, and adjusts the position of the cleaning unit 6.

The user interface 22 is provided with an operation member. In the operation member, an operation command related to the operation of the electrospinning device 1 is input by an operator or the like. Examples of the operation member include a button, a dial, a display, and a touch panel. The control unit 21 performs control based on an operation instruction input through the operation member. The user interface 22 may also include a notification unit that notifies information to an operator or the like. In this case, the control unit 21 notifies the notification unit of information to be notified to the operator or the like. The notification unit notifies the user by screen display, transmission of sound, lighting of a lamp, or the like.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a rotary brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6. As shown in fig. 6 and 7, the rotary brush 61 is defined with a circumferential direction (a direction indicated by an arrow P1 and an arrow P2) which is a direction along the axis of the rotary shaft P (a direction indicated by an arrow C1 and an arrow C2) and a direction around the axis of the rotary shaft P. In fig. 6, the rotary brush 61 is shown in a state of being seen from one side in the axial direction, and in fig. 7, the rotary brush 61 is shown in a cross section parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction. Fig. 6 shows a state in which the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A are in contact with the rotary brush 61. The rotary brush 61 includes a rotary shaft 101 and a brush portion 102. The rotation shaft 101 extends in the axial direction about the rotation shaft P.

The brush 102 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 101. In each of the electrospinning heads 2, the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61 is brought into contact with the needle portions 25 of the nozzles 12A and 12B, and thereby the rotary brush 61 is rotated, whereby the deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed. The brush 102 is formed of a plurality of bristles. In the brush portion 102, bristles are provided so as to extend from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 101 toward the outer peripheral side of the rotary brush 61. The outer periphery of the rotary brush 61 is formed by the outer periphery of the brush part 102, that is, the end of the bristle on the side away from the rotary shaft 101.

The rotary shaft 101 has an outer diameter D1, and the rotary brush 61 has an outer diameter D2. The outer diameter D2 of the rotary brush 61 is larger than the outer diameter D1 of the rotary shaft 101. In an example of fig. 6 and 7, the outer diameter of the brush portion 102 is the same as or substantially the same as the outer diameter D2 of the rotary brush 61. Further, the brush portion 102 has a dimension L1 in the axial direction of the rotation shaft P, and the rotation brush 61 has a dimension L2 in the axial direction of the rotation shaft P. The dimension L2 of the rotary brush 61 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft P is larger than the dimension L1 of the brush portion 102 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft P. In an example of fig. 7 and the like, the dimension of the rotary shaft 101 along the axial direction of the rotary shaft P is the same as or substantially the same as the dimension L2 of the rotary brush 61 along the axial direction of the rotary shaft P.

In addition, a bristle diameter and a bristle length h are defined in each of the plurality of bristles forming the brush section 102. The diameter of the bristles is a parameter indicating the thickness of the bristle individual bodies. In addition, the bristle length h corresponds to the dimension from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 101 to the end on the side away from the rotary shaft 101 in each of the bristles. In each of the electrospinning heads 2, the nozzles 12A and 12B are pushed into the brush 102 from the outer periphery of the brush 102 (the outer periphery of the rotary brush 61) and inserted into the brush 102, respectively, while the deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed by the rotary brush 61. Accordingly, in the operation of removing the deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B by the rotary brush 61 in each electrospinning head 2, the press-in dimension (insertion dimension) α of the nozzles 12A and 12B to the rotary brush 61 is defined. The bristle lengths h of the bristles are shown in fig. 6 and 7, and the press-in dimensions α of the nozzles 12A and 12B are shown in fig. 6.

In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the outer diameter of the needle portion 25 is 0.6mm, and the size of the needle portion 25 along the extending direction of the flow path 15 is 5mm to 15 mm. In this case, the bristle diameter is preferably 0.2mm to 0.4mm, and the bristle length h is preferably 15mm to 20 mm. The press-fitting dimension α of the nozzles 12A, 12B to the rotary brush 61 is preferably 7mm to 12 mm.

Fig. 8 and 9 show the brush 102. In fig. 8 and 9, the direction of observation and the illustrated region and the like are different with respect to each other. As shown in fig. 8, 9, and the like, a plurality of tufts 103 are formed in the brush 102. A plurality of bristles are bundled in each tuft 103. In one example, one tuft 103 is formed by bundling about 10 bristles. In the brush 102, the tufts 103 are respectively implanted into the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 101. Tufts 103 each have tuft diameter r1. The tuft diameter r1 is a parameter indicating the thickness of the tufts 103, and is shown in fig. 9.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of tuft rows (1 st tuft row) 105A and a plurality of tuft rows (2 nd tuft row) 105B are formed in the brush 102. In each tuft row 105A, a plurality of tufts 103 are arranged at a predetermined pitch (1 st pitch) δa around the axis of rotation axis P. In each of the tuft rows 105B, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged around the axis of the rotation axis P at a predetermined pitch δa having the same size as the tuft row 105A. Accordingly, each of the tuft rows 105A and 105B is a circumferential tuft row in which the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotary brush 61. Tuft rows 105A and 105B are formed around the axis of rotation axis P over the entire circumference. Further, the number of tufts 103 in each of tuft rows 105A is the same as the number of tufts 103 in each of tuft rows 105B.

In the brush 102, the tuft rows 105A and the tuft rows 105B are alternately arranged in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. Accordingly, the tuft rows 105A are disposed adjacent to the corresponding one or both tuft rows 105B, respectively, in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. In addition, in the tuft row 105B, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged offset from the tuft row 105A about the axis of the rotation axis P (the circumferential direction of the rotary brush 61). The offset of the tuft row 105B with respect to the axis of the plurality of tufts 103 of the tuft row 105A about the rotational axis P is smaller than the above-described prescribed pitch δa. In an example of fig. 8 and the like, the offset of the tuft row 105B with respect to the plurality of tufts 103 of the tuft row 105A about the axis of rotation P is a value δa/2 which is half of the predetermined pitch δa. Since the tuft rows 105A and 105B are formed as described above, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged in a zigzag arrangement around the axis of the rotation axis P by the two tuft rows 105A and 105B adjacent to each other in the axial direction along the rotation axis P.

A plurality of tuft rows (3 rd tuft row) 106A and a plurality of tuft rows (4 th tuft row) 106B are formed in the brush 102. In each tuft row 106A, a plurality of tufts 103 are arranged at a predetermined pitch (2 nd pitch) δb in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. In each of the tuft rows 106B, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged at a predetermined pitch δb having the same size as the tuft row 106A in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. Accordingly, the tuft rows 106A and 106B are axial tuft rows in which the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged in the axial direction of the rotary brush 61. Tuft row 106A is formed of tufts 103 constituting tuft row 105A, respectively, and is constituted of the same number of tufts 103 as tuft row 105A. Further, tuft row 106B is formed of tufts 103 constituting tuft row 105B, respectively, and is constituted of the same number of tufts 103 as tuft row 105B.

In brush 102, tuft row 106A and tuft row 106B are alternately arranged around the axis of rotation axis P. Accordingly, the tuft rows 106A are disposed adjacent to the corresponding two tuft rows 106B in the axial direction along the rotation axis P, respectively. In addition, in tuft row 106B, a plurality of tufts 103 are arranged offset from tuft row 106A in the axial direction along rotation axis P. The plurality of tufts 103 of tuft row 106B are offset from tuft row 106A in the axial direction of rotary brush 61 by less than the predetermined pitch δb. In an example of fig. 9 and the like, the displacement of the tuft row 106B with respect to the plurality of tufts 103 of the tuft row 106A in the axial direction along the rotation axis P is a value δb/2 which is half of the predetermined pitch δb. Since the tuft rows 106A and 106B are formed as described above, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged in a zigzag arrangement along the axial direction of the rotary brush 61 by the two tuft rows 106A and 106B adjacent to each other about the axis of the rotary shaft P.

In the electrospinning device 1 of the present embodiment, the rotary brush 61 can be brought into contact with the plurality of nozzles 12A and 12B from the side where the discharge port 16 is opened in each electrospinning head 2. In each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotary brush 61 is rotatable about the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B in a state of being in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B. Accordingly, in each electrospinning head 2, the rotary brush 61 can be brought into contact with the plurality of nozzles 12A aligned in the alignment direction (the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1) and the plurality of nozzles 12B aligned in the alignment direction at the same time. Therefore, in each electrospinning head 2, it is not necessary to move the rotary brush 61 in the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A in removing the attached matter from the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation of removing the deposits to each of the electrospinning heads 2 can be performed in a short time, and the efficiency of the cleaning operation of each of the electrospinning heads 2 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotary brush 61 is rotated about the rotation axis P in a state where the rotary brush 61 is in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B, and the deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed. When the hair bundle 103 collides with either one of the nozzles 12A, 12B in a state in which the rotary brush 61 is rotating, the hair bundle 103 is deformed. Then, a force for returning the deformed hair bundle 103 to the original shape acts on either one of the nozzles (12A, 12B) that collide with the nozzle. Accordingly, the attachments to the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed by using the rotating brush 61 as described above, whereby the attachments to the nozzles 12A and 12B are properly removed by the force of returning the tufts 103 to the original shape. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation of removing the deposits to the respective electrospinning heads 2 is appropriately performed, and the cleaning operation of the respective electrospinning heads 2 is appropriately performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even the electrospinning head 2 in which the plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and the plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction can be cleaned effectively and appropriately. Since the deposits and the like on the nozzles 12A and 12B are properly removed, when the film of the fiber 20 is formed after cleaning the electrospinning head 2, the time required for the discharge of the raw material liquid from each nozzle 12A and 12B to stabilize is shortened. This improves the working efficiency in the process of forming the film of the fiber 20 using each electrospinning head 2.

In the present embodiment, a solvent or the like for dissolving the fibers 20 and the polymer material of the raw material liquid is not used for removing the adhering substances from the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, after cleaning of the electrospinning head 2, the solvent and the like do not remain in the flow paths 15 of the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, when the film of the fiber 20 is formed after cleaning the electrospinning head 2, the time required for the discharge of the raw material liquid from the nozzles 12A and 12B to stabilize is further suitably shortened.

In the present embodiment, the contact plate 83 is provided at a position distant from the electrospinning head 2, and the contact plate 83 can be brought into contact with the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61. The rotary brush 61 is rotatable about the rotation axis P in a state of being in contact with the contact plate 83. By rotating the rotary brush 61 in a state where the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotary brush 61, the adhering substance to the rotary brush 61 is appropriately removed.

In the present embodiment, the suction cavity 81 of the suction head 8 is provided with a contact plate 83. Then, by driving the suction driving portion 91 in a state where the suction port 82 of the suction head 8 approaches the rotary brush 61, suction force from the rotary brush 61 toward the suction port 82 is exerted. Therefore, the removed object removed from the rotary brush 61 by the contact plate 83 coming into contact with the rotary brush 61 is appropriately sucked into the suction cavity 81 through the suction port 82 and the like. Then, the removed matter (suction matter) sucked into the suction cavity 81 is appropriately collected in the collection unit 92.

In the rotary brush 61 of the present embodiment, the tuft row (1 st tuft row) 105A and the tuft row (2 nd tuft row) 105B are alternately arranged in the axial direction along the rotary shaft P. In the tuft row 105B, the plurality of tufts 103 are arranged offset from the tuft row 105A about the axis of the rotation axis P (the circumferential direction of the rotary brush 61). In the rotary brush 61, the plurality of hair bundles 103 are arranged in a zigzag arrangement along the axial direction of the rotary brush 61 by the two hair bundle rows 106A and 106B adjacent to each other about the axis of the rotary shaft P. Therefore, even if the nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged in a zigzag configuration along the longitudinal direction in each electrospinning head 2, the tufts 103 are easily brought into contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B, respectively. Accordingly, the attached matter to the nozzles 12A and 12B can be further appropriately removed from the electrospinning heads 2.

(modification)

In modification 1 shown in fig. 10 and 11, the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61 is formed by a linear brush in which a plurality of tufts 103 are arranged along the groove 110. Fig. 10 shows an extended state of the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61, and fig. 11 shows the rotary brush 61 in a cross section parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction. In the present modification, the brush portion 102 as the linear brush extends on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 101 in a spiral shape (arrow A2 in fig. 10) centered on the rotary shaft P. In the present modification, the rotating brushes 61 can also rotate around the rotation axes P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B in the state of being in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B in the respective electrospinning heads 2. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment and the like, even the electrospinning head 2 in which the plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and the plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction can be cleaned effectively and appropriately.

In modification 2 shown in fig. 12, two suction heads 8A and 8B are provided. In the present modification, the suction heads 8A and 8B move in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1 together with the cleaning unit 6. Fig. 12 shows a state in which the cleaning unit 6 is used to remove the deposit on the electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2. In the present modification, the plurality of nozzles 12A and 12B are also in contact with the rotary brush 61 from the side of the accommodating hollow 65 where the opening 66 is opened in each electrospinning head 2. Then, in the respective electrospinning heads 2, as in the above-described embodiments and the like, the rotating brushes 61 are rotated about the rotation axis P in a state where the plurality of nozzles 12A, 12B are in contact with the rotating brushes 61, whereby the deposits on the nozzles 12A, 12B are removed.

In the present modification, since the suction heads 8A and 8B move together with the cleaning unit 6, the suction ports 82 of the suction heads 8A and 8B are always positioned close to the rotary brush 61. However, the suction heads 8A and 8B are located at positions apart from the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 about the axis of the rotation shaft P (in the circumferential direction of the rotary brush 61). In an example of fig. 12 and the like, the suction heads 8A and 8B are located at a position 180 ° or substantially 180 ° apart from the opening 66 around the axis of the rotation axis P. Therefore, in each electrospinning head 2, even in a state in which the plurality of nozzles 12A, 12B are in contact with the rotary brush 61, the suction heads 8A, 8B (suction ports 82) are located at positions distant from the electrospinning head 2 (nozzles 12A, 12B) around the axis of the rotary shaft P.

In addition, in the electrospinning device 1 of the present modification, the ejection head 10 is provided instead of the contact plate 83. The ejection head 10 has an ejection port 111 capable of ejecting gas. The ejection head 10 is movable in the height direction of the electrospinning device 1 together with the cleaning unit 6 and the suction heads 8A and 8B. Further, the ejection port 111 of the ejection head 10 is always located close to the rotary brush 61. However, the discharge head 10 is located at a position away from the opening 66 of the receiving cavity 65 about the axis of the rotation axis P (in the circumferential direction of the rotation brush 61). In an example of fig. 12 and the like, the ejection head 10 is located at a position 180 ° or substantially 180 ° away from the opening 66 about the axis of the rotation axis P. Accordingly, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, even in a state where the plurality of nozzles 12A, 12B are in contact with the rotary brush 61, the ejection head 10 (the ejection port 111) is located at a position distant from the electrospinning head 2 (the nozzles 12A, 12B) around the axis of the rotary shaft P. Further, unlike the contact plate 83, the ejection head 10 is not in contact with the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61.

In this modification, the electrospinning device 1 includes an air supply unit 120. The gas supply unit 120 constitutes a gas supply source for supplying gas to the discharge head 10 and a gas supply path from the gas supply source to the discharge head 10. The air supply unit 120 includes a housing 121, an air supply driving unit 122, and an air supply pipe 123. The housing 121 is a box or the like that houses a gas. The air supply pipe 123 connects the storage portion 121 and the discharge head 10 to form an air supply flow path. The gas supply driving unit 122 is driven to supply gas from the storage unit 121 to the discharge head 10 through the gas supply pipe 123. In one example, the air supply driving unit 122 is a pump. In the present modification, the control unit 21 also controls the driving of the air supply driving unit 122.

In the present modification, the gas supply driving unit 122 is driven to supply the gas to the discharge head 10, thereby discharging the gas from the discharge ports 111 of the discharge head 10 to the rotary brush 61. Fig. 13 shows a state in which gas is ejected from the ejection head 10 toward the rotary brush 61. As shown in fig. 13, when gas is ejected from the ejection head 10 to the tufts 103 of the rotary brush 61 (arrow A4), the bristles 112 spread with respect to each other in the tufts 103 from which gas is ejected. Thereby, the attached matter such as the brush hair 112 attached to the rotary brush 61 is removed.

In the present modification, in removing the adhering matter from the rotary brush 61, the rotary driving unit 63 is driven, the rotary brush 61 is rotated about the rotation axis P, and the suction driving unit 91 and the air supply driving unit 122 are driven. As a result, in the storage cavity 65, a flow (arrow A3 in fig. 12) is formed from the discharge port 111 of the discharge head 10 toward the suction ports 82 of the suction heads 8A and 8B through the brush portion 102 of the rotary brush 61. The attached matter (removed matter) removed from the rotary brush 61 by the gas being discharged from the discharge head 10 is sucked into the suction cavities 81 of the suction heads 8A and 8B by the suction force from the storage cavity 65 and the like toward the suction port 82. Then, the removed matter (suctioned matter) suctioned into the suction cavity 81 flows into a suction pipe or the like inside the suction pipe 93, and is recovered in the recovery unit 92.

In the present modification, the rotary brush 61 is rotatable about the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B in the state of being in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B in each electrospinning head 2. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment and the like, even the electrospinning head 2 in which the plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and the plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction can be cleaned effectively and appropriately. In the present modification, the gas is discharged from the discharge head 10 to the rotary brush 61, whereby the bristles 112 are spread with respect to each other in the tufts 103 of the rotary brush 61, and the attached matter to the tufts 103 is removed from the rotary brush 61. Accordingly, the adhering matter to the rotary brush 61 can be further appropriately removed.

In the present modification, the suction heads 8A and 8B and the ejection head 10 move together with the cleaning unit 6. Then, the control unit 21 can drive the suction driving unit 91 and the air supply driving unit 122 while rotating the rotating brush 61 in a state where the nozzles 12A and 12B of one of the electrospinning heads 2 (2A) are in contact with the rotating brush 61. Therefore, in the present modification, the removal of the attached matter to the rotating brush 61 and the recovery of the removed matter from the rotating brush 61 can be performed in parallel with the removal of the attached matter to the nozzles 12A, 12B of one of the electrospinning heads 2 (2A).

In a modification, the suction head 8 and the contact plate 83 are also movable together with the cleaning unit 6 in a configuration in which the suction head 8 and the contact plate 83 are provided as in the example of fig. 5. In this case, as in the modification examples of fig. 12 and 13, the removal of the attached matter to the rotary brush 61 and the recovery of the removed matter from the rotary brush 61 can be performed in parallel with the removal of the attached matter to the nozzles 12A and 12B of one of the electrospinning heads 2 (2A).

In a modification, in the same manner as in the modification of fig. 12, the suction head 8 and the discharge head 10 may not be moved together with the cleaning unit 6. In this case, the suction head 8 and the discharge head 10 are located at positions apart from any one of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction. Then, the cleaning unit 6 is moved to a position that is connected to the suction head 8 and that can eject the gas from the ejection head 10 to the rotary brush 61 by driving the movement driving unit 71.

In addition, in a modification, the electrospinning device 1 includes all of the suction head 8, the contact plate 83, and the discharge head 10. In this case, the suction head 8, the contact plate 83, and the discharge head 10 may be movable together with the cleaning unit 6, or may not be movable together with the cleaning unit 6.

The number of nozzle rows formed by the nozzles (12A, 12B) and the shapes of the nozzles (12A, 12B) are not limited to the above embodiments and the like. In a modification, only one nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 in each electrospinning head 2. In another modification, three or more nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 in each electrospinning head 2. The number of electrospinning heads 2 is not limited to the above embodiment, either.

However, in any of the modified examples, one or more electrospinning heads 2 are provided, and a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the direction of arrangement in each electrospinning head 2. The rotary brush 61 is in contact with the plurality of nozzles arranged from the side where the ejection port 16 is opened. The rotary brush 61 is rotatable about a rotation axis P along the direction of arrangement of the plurality of nozzles while being in contact with the plurality of nozzles.

According to at least one embodiment or example, the rotary brush is rotatable about a rotation axis along an arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of being in contact with the plurality of nozzles. Thus, an electrospinning device that effectively and appropriately cleans an electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction can be provided.

Further, according to at least one of these embodiments or examples, the rotary brush is rotated about the rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state where the rotary brush is in contact with the plurality of nozzles. Thus, a cleaning method for effectively and appropriately cleaning an electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction can be provided.

While the present invention has been described with reference to several embodiments, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other modes, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

Claims (6)

1. An electric spinning device is provided with:

an electrospinning head having a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, wherein each of the plurality of nozzles has a discharge port capable of discharging a supplied raw material liquid; and

a rotary brush which is capable of contacting the plurality of nozzles from a side where the discharge port is opened and is capable of rotating about a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of contacting the plurality of nozzles,

In the electrospinning head, the first nozzles are arranged so as to be separated from the second nozzles in the circumferential direction, that is, around the axis of the central axis of the head main body, whereby the nozzle rows of the first nozzles and the nozzle rows of the second nozzles are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the electrospinning head,

the electrospinning device further includes a movement driving unit that is driven to move the rotary brush in a direction intersecting the rotation axis, thereby moving the rotary brush to a position where the rotary brush can come into contact with the plurality of nozzles of the electrospinning head,

the movement driving unit is included in a unit movement unit, the unit movement unit further includes a driving force transmission unit including a driving member driven by a supplied electric power, the driving force transmission unit connects the movement driving unit and a cleaning unit including the rotary brush, the driving force transmission unit transmits a driving force generated by the driving member of the movement driving unit to the cleaning unit, thereby moving the cleaning unit,

the brush portion of the rotary brush is a linear brush extending on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and is spirally formed around the rotary shaft.

2. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a suction head having a suction port, the suction port being accessible to the rotary brush; and

and a suction driving unit that is driven in a state where the suction port of the suction head is close to the rotary brush, thereby acting a suction force from the rotary brush toward the suction port.

3. The electrospinning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

further comprising a contact plate disposed at a position distant from the electrospinning head and capable of contacting the rotary brush.

4. The electrospinning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the electric field nozzle is provided with a discharge head which is disposed at a position away from the electric field nozzle and discharges gas toward the rotary brush.

5. The electrospinning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the rotary brush includes a plurality of 1 st hair bundle rows and a plurality of 2 nd hair bundle rows, and the 1 st hair bundle rows and the 2 nd hair bundle rows are alternately arranged in a direction along the rotation axis,

the 1 st and 2 nd hair bundle rows each include a plurality of hair bundles, and in each of the 1 st and 2 nd hair bundle rows, the plurality of hair bundles are arranged at a predetermined pitch around an axis of the rotary shaft,

In the 2 nd tuft row, the plurality of tufts are offset from the 1 st tuft row about the axis of the rotary shaft.

6. A cleaning method of an electric field spinneret having a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, each of the plurality of nozzles having a discharge port capable of discharging a supplied material liquid, wherein a first nozzle is arranged so as to be separated from a second nozzle in a circumferential direction, that is, around an axis of a central axis of a head body, whereby a nozzle row of the first nozzle and a nozzle row of the second nozzle are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the electric field spinneret, the cleaning method comprising:

contacting a rotary brush with the plurality of nozzles from a side of the nozzle opening; and

rotating the rotating brush around a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state where the rotating brush is in contact with the plurality of nozzles,

by driving the movement driving unit, the rotary brush is moved in a direction intersecting the rotary shaft, and the rotary brush is moved to a position where the rotary brush can contact the plurality of nozzles of the electrospinning head,

The movement driving unit is included in a unit movement unit, the unit movement unit further includes a driving force transmission unit including a driving member driven by a supplied electric power, the driving force transmission unit connects the movement driving unit and a cleaning unit including the rotary brush, the driving force transmission unit transmits a driving force generated by the driving member of the movement driving unit to the cleaning unit, thereby moving the cleaning unit,

the brush portion of the rotary brush is a linear brush extending on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and is spirally formed around the rotary shaft.