JP2007246151A - Apparatus for opening and closing flow channel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for opening and closing a flow channel by which work related to sanitary such as washing, cleaning or the like and maintenance can be conveniently performed. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for opening and closing the flow channel 1 is connected to a part of the flow channel through which fluid passes, is provided with a damper 3 for opening and closing the flow channel having an opening and closing mechanism 10 for the flow channel, and also provided with a supporting body 4 to support the damper 3 for opening and closing the flow channel outside the damper 3 for opening and closing the flow channel, and the damper 3 for opening and closing the flow channel connected so as to be freely attachable and detachable to the flow channel is supported so as to be rotatable defining the supporting body 4 as the central axis(or fulcrum) on the surface vertical to the passing direction A of fluid by the supporting body 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow path opening / closing device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flow path opening / closing device capable of simply performing hygiene operations and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning.

  Conventionally, many granular materials are used for product processing and product manufacture in a wide industrial field such as foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. These granular materials are usually accommodated in containers and equipment such as a granular material storage hopper and chute, and a necessary amount is taken out and used as necessary. For example, the granular material discharge device used in such a case includes a granular material storage hopper having a discharge port at the bottom, and an on-off valve disposed at the discharge port of the granular material storage hopper. And a flow path opening / closing device having a flow path opening / closing damper having the same (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a conventional flow path opening / closing device is configured to discharge the granular material stored in the granular material storage hopper by controlling the opening / closing of the open / close valve of the flow path opening / closing damper. Has been. Such a channel opening and closing device moves, for example, a predetermined amount of granular material to the next process when a granular material is introduced into a mixer (mixer) for mixing granular raw material and liquid raw material. It is used when transporting.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-76395

  However, such a conventional flow path opening / closing device used by being connected to a part of the flow path through which the fluid passes is, for example, a discharge port of the granular material storage hopper constituting the flow path and the flow path opening / closing Even if the damper is simply fixed with a flange or the like, or has a detachable structure, the two are connected by a very complicated disassembly type mechanism, so the flow path can be opened and closed. There has been a problem that a great deal of labor and labor is required when performing hygiene work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of the damper.

  In particular, when the flow path opening / closing device is large or installed in a high place, the flow path opening / closing damper also becomes large, so cleaning, cleaning, etc. with the conventional flow path opening / closing damper removed Hygiene work and maintenance has become extremely difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and performs hygiene work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of a flow path opening / closing damper having a flow path opening / closing mechanism through which a fluid passes. Provided is a flow path opening / closing device that can be easily performed.

  The present invention provides the following flow path opening / closing device.

[1] A flow path opening / closing device including a flow path opening / closing damper connected to a part of a flow path through which a fluid passes and having a flow path opening / closing mechanism, on the outside of the flow path opening / closing damper, A support for supporting the flow path opening / closing damper is further provided, and the flow path opening / closing damper detachably connected to the flow path is formed on the surface perpendicular to the fluid passage direction by the support. A flow path opening / closing device that is rotatably supported around a support.

[2] The flow path opening / closing apparatus according to [1], wherein the flow path opening / closing damper uses a butterfly type or flap type valve as the opening / closing mechanism.

[3] The flow path opening / closing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the flow path opening / closing damper further includes an expansion / contraction portion that increases or decreases a length in the fluid passage direction.

[4] The flow path opening / closing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the support includes a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position for supporting the flow path opening / closing damper.

[5] The flow path opening / closing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the flow path opening / closing damper is connected by a fastening member.

[6] The above-mentioned [1] to [5], further comprising a second channel opening / closing damper having an opening / closing mechanism upstream or downstream of the channel opening / closing damper (first channel opening / closing damper). The flow path opening and closing device according to any one of the above.

  In the flow path opening / closing device of the present invention, the flow path opening / closing damper, which is detachably connected to a part of the flow path through which the fluid passes, is supported by the support on the surface perpendicular to the fluid passing direction. Since the shaft is rotatably supported, hygiene operations and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of the flow path opening / closing damper can be easily performed.

  That is, when performing work or maintenance related to the hygiene of the flow path opening / closing device, after disconnecting the flow path through which the fluid passes and the flow path opening / closing damper, the support is used as the central axis or fulcrum for opening and closing the flow path. By rotating the damper, each operation can be easily performed in a state where the channel and the channel opening / closing damper are separated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with appropriate reference to the drawings, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes, modifications, improvements, and substitutions can be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the drawings show preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited by the modes shown in the drawings or the information shown in the drawings. In practicing or verifying the present invention, the same means as described in this specification or equivalent means can be applied, but preferred means are those described below.

  FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an embodiment of a flow path opening / closing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a rear view of the channel opening / closing apparatus shown.

  4 and 5 are enlarged views of the flow path opening / closing damper in the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows the flow path opening / closing damper of the powder storage hopper. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which the flow path opening / closing damper is rotationally moved. FIG. 6 is a top view for explaining the rotational movement state of the channel opening / closing damper in the channel opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment is connected to a part of a flow path through which a fluid passes and has a flow path opening / closing damper 3 having an opening / closing mechanism 10 for the flow path. The channel opening / closing device 1 includes a support 4 for supporting the channel opening / closing damper 3 outside the channel opening / closing damper 3, and the channel opening / closing unit detachably connected to the channel. The damper 3 is supported by a support 4 on a surface perpendicular to the fluid passing direction A about the support 4 as a central axis (or fulcrum). 1 to 3, the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment includes a flow path 6 on the discharge port side of the powder storage hopper 2 and a flow path 32 on the input port side of the horizontal mixer 31. However, the position where the flow path opening / closing device 1 is disposed is not particularly limited, and it may be connected to a part of a normal flow path through which a fluid passes. Good. Moreover, although the case where a granular material is used as the fluid which passes a flow path has been described, the type of fluid is not particularly limited.

  Even if a conventional flow path opening / closing device has a flow path through which a fluid passes and a flow path opening / closing damper are simply fixed by a flange or the like, or has a detachable structure, maintenance can be performed. Because both are connected by a mechanism that firmly fixes to the flow path without much consideration, it takes a lot of labor and labor when performing hygiene work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of the flow path opening / closing damper. There was a problem. However, as described above, the flow path opening / closing device 1 according to the present embodiment is formed in a part of the flow path (in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the flow path 6 on the discharge port side of the granular material storage hopper and the horizontal type). The flow path opening / closing damper 3 detachably connected to the flow path 32 on the inlet side of the mixer 31 is supported by the support 4 on the surface perpendicular to the fluid passage direction A. It is rotatably supported as a central axis (or fulcrum). For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is removed from the flow path 6 on the discharge port side of the granular material storage hopper and rotated to a predetermined position with the support body 4 as the central axis. By doing so, hygiene work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can be easily performed.

  5 and 6 show a state in which the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is rotated about 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, but the angle at which the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is rotated is particularly limited. There is nothing. Further, an arrow B in FIG. 6 indicates the rotation direction of the flow path opening / closing damper 3.

  The granular material storage hopper 2 to which the flow path opening and closing device 1 of the present embodiment is connected is a storage container for temporarily storing a fluid (in this case, granular material), and the granular material is contained therein. A space for storing the body is formed, and a discharge port 6 is provided at the bottom thereof.

  Moreover, the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a flow path on the inlet side of a horizontal mixer 31 for mixing a powder material and a liquid material to form a kneaded dough. 32 shows the state of being installed at the top, but depending on the purpose of use, other equipment, for example, the outlet of the blender mixer of powder and oil, the damper on the steamer, the reaction tank It can also be used by installing it at an inlet or the like.

  Examples of the fluid that passes through the flow path in which the flow path opening / closing device 1 according to the present embodiment is installed include flour such as flour and buckwheat flour, powder for food such as sugar, starch, fragrance, and cereal, and cement. And powders for chemical industry such as resins and chemicals. Further, it may be a slurry-like substance in which the granular material is suspended in a liquid. Further, the fluid may be a liquid or a gas.

  In particular, the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment is a granular material for discharging a granular material for food that needs to be frequently cleaned and cleaned from the viewpoint of hygiene and contamination (contamination). It can be suitably used as a channel opening / closing device used in a discharge device or the like.

  Specifically, for example, when the powder is put into a mixer (for example, the horizontal mixer 31 shown in FIG. 1) for mixing the powder raw material and the liquid raw material, although not shown, It can be used when a fixed amount of granular material is moved and transported to the next process.

  Hereinafter, the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment will be described more specifically for each component.

[Damper for channel opening / closing]
The flow path opening / closing damper 3 used in the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a part of the flow path through which the fluid passes (in FIGS. 1 to 3, the discharge side of the powder storage hopper It is detachably connected to the flow path 6) and has an opening / closing mechanism 10 for the flow path.

  The flow path opening / closing damper 3 used in the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is provided in a part of the flow path (in FIGS. 1 to 3, the powder storage hopper It further has an upstream damper channel 8 and a downstream damper channel 9 for detachable connection (between the outlet side channel 6 and the horizontal mixer inlet side channel 32). The upstream and downstream damper channels 8 and 9 are connected to the channels 6 and 32. In addition, there is no restriction | limiting in particular about the structure of the site | part connected to the flow path in the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of this Embodiment, as long as it can connect detachably to a part of flow path.

  Further, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 has a support body 4 installed on the outside of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 on the surface perpendicular to the fluid passage direction A with the support body 4 as a central axis (or fulcrum). For example, when performing hygiene work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning of the flow path opening / closing damper 3, the flow path (in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a granular material storage hopper is supported. After the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is removed from the flow path 6 on the discharge port side of the horizontal mixer and the flow path 32 on the input side of the horizontal mixer, the flow path 6 is rotated and moved around the support 4 as a central axis. , 32 can be separated from each other. In the present embodiment, a state is shown in which the fluid is connected to a part of the flow path through which the fluid passes in the vertical direction (that is, from the top to the bottom of the paper). It can also be used by being connected to a part of the flow path through which.

  As the opening / closing mechanism 10 of the flow path opening / closing damper 3, for example, a butterfly type or flap type valve can be used, but the structure is simple and lightweight, and the fluid flow characteristics are good. It is preferable to use a butterfly type. In addition, about the structure of the opening / closing mechanism 10, it is not limited to the said butterfly type, flap type valve, etc., A conventionally well-known opening / closing mechanism may be sufficient.

  Further, there is no particular limitation on the opening / closing method of the opening / closing mechanism 10 of the flow path opening / closing damper 3. For example, a conventionally known opening / closing method such as an air cylinder type, a control motor type, or a manual type such as a lever handle should be adopted. Can do.

  The flow path opening / closing damper 3 in the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 has a control motor type opening / closing mechanism 10 having a control motor 22. The flow path opening / closing damper 3 having such an opening / closing mechanism 10 can accurately open and close the flow path.

  Further, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is formed in a part of the flow path (in FIGS. 1 to 3, the flow path 6 on the discharge port side of the powder storage hopper and the flow path 32 on the input side of the horizontal mixer) The connection method is not particularly limited, but is preferably connected by a clamping member 11 such as a clamp band or a coupling. With this configuration, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 and the flow paths 6 and 32 can be easily attached and detached, and a highly reliable connection can be realized. The method for connecting the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is not limited to the above method, and may be connected to the flow path by other methods.

  Further, when the flow path opening / closing damper 3 used in the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment further includes the upstream damper flow path 8 and / or the downstream damper flow path 9 as described above, The upstream damper flow path 8 and / or the downstream damper flow path 9 may be formed with a stretchable portion 13 that increases or decreases the length of the damper flow path in the direction in which the fluid passes. With this configuration, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can be rotated more smoothly.

  For example, a part of the upstream damper flow path 8 and / or the downstream damper flow path 9 of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is made of a flexible material such as cloth. Can be realized. In the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment, the expansion / contraction part 13 is provided in the downstream damper flow path 9. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the expansion / contraction part described above may be, for example, an expansion / contraction part in which the flow path of the flow path opening / closing damper has a double-pipe structure.

  The configuration of the inlet side of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can be appropriately determined according to the shape of the flow path to be connected. Further, the configuration on the outlet side of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can also be appropriately determined according to the shape of the portion connected thereto.

[Support]
The support body 4 used in the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment is installed outside the flow path opening / closing damper 3, and is for rotatably supporting the flow path opening / closing damper 3. Here, FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view in which the support in the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged rear view in which the support in the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged. .

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support body 4 includes a shaft body 14 for rotating and moving the flow path opening / closing damper 3, and a mounting bracket 15 for mounting the flow path opening / closing damper 3 to the support body 4. And a support base 16 for fixing the shaft body 14. The support 4 used in the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration as long as the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can be rotatably supported. Absent.

  The shaft body 14 is constituted by a trapezoidal screw 17 having a rod shape, and the mounting bracket 15 is rotatably connected to the shaft body 14 using a trapezoidal screw nut 18. In addition, since the shaft body 14 supports the damper 3 for opening and closing the flow path, the position where the shaft body 14 is appropriately installed is adjusted in accordance with the fluid passing direction. The mounting bracket 15 connected to the shaft body 14 is fixed to the flange portion 12 of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 by bolts and nuts, thereby supporting the flow path opening / closing damper 3. 7 and 8, the movable joint 19 is used for the mounting bracket 15. However, the shape of the mounting bracket 15 is not particularly limited to this.

  Further, in the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the support base 16 constituting the support 4 is an inlet of the horizontal mixer 31 in which the flow path opening / closing device 1 is installed. For example, the support base 16 may be directly fixed to another structure, an installation surface, or the like.

  Further, in the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment, the support 4 may have a position adjusting mechanism 20 for adjusting the position where the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is supported. The flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a position adjusting mechanism 20 for adjusting the height of the flow path opening / closing damper 3.

  With this configuration, when the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is rotationally moved, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 is lowered as shown in FIG. Therefore, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 can be favorably rotated. Further, in the case where the position adjusting mechanism 20 is provided, the flow path opening / closing damper 3 that has been rotationally moved for hygiene-related operations and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning is reflowed (see FIGS. 3, when connecting to the flow path 6) on the outlet side of the powder storage hopper, height adjustment and position adjustment in the rotation direction are facilitated, and a gasket, packing, etc. The sealing material (not shown) can be easily inserted. Here, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the support in the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is an enlarged side view showing a state where the flow path opening / closing damper is lowered by the position adjusting mechanism.

  In the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as the position adjusting mechanism 20, the mounting handle 15 connected to the shaft body 14 is rotated by rotating a flat handle 21 disposed on the upper portion of the shaft body 14. A movable position adjusting mechanism 20 is used to move up and down. The position adjustment mechanism 20 may be, for example, a conventionally known electric type or cylinder type position adjustment mechanism.

  In addition, when the support body 4 has the above-described position adjustment mechanism 20, it is preferable that the flow path opening / closing damper 3 has the expansion / contraction part 13. With this configuration, the position adjustment mechanism 20 can easily move the flow path opening / closing damper 3 up and down.

[Other configurations]
The flow path opening / closing device 1 according to the present embodiment is opened / closed upstream or downstream of the flow path opening / closing damper 3 (hereinafter, also referred to as “first flow path opening / closing damper 3”). A second flow path opening / closing damper 5 having a mechanism may be further provided. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably open and close the flow path. 1 to 5 show a flow path opening / closing device 1 further including a second flow path opening / closing damper 5 on the downstream side. Of course, the channel opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment may have only the first channel opening / closing damper 3.

  This second flow path opening / closing damper 5 is a flow path 32 on the inlet side of the apparatus in which the flow path opening / closing device 1 is installed (the flow path on the inlet side of the horizontal mixer 31 in FIGS. 1 to 3). In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the support is supported on the surface perpendicular to the fluid passage direction by the support, like the first flow path opening / closing damper. May be supported rotatably around the center axis.

  In the flow path opening / closing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the first flow path opening / closing damper 3 is rotatably supported by the support 4, so that the second flow path opening / closing damper 5 is assumed to be a horizontal mixer. Even if it is fixed to an existing flow path 32 such as a flow path 32 on the inlet side such as 31, sanitation work and maintenance such as cleaning and cleaning are extremely easy.

  Further, the flow path opening / closing device 1 of the present embodiment described so far is configured to manually rotate and move the first flow path opening / closing damper 3, but for example, illustration is omitted. However, as a support for the first flow path opening / closing damper, a support further having a drive mechanism for rotating the mounting bracket is used, and the first flow path opening / closing damper is a method other than manual operation, for example, It may be configured to be electrically rotated.

  The flow path opening and closing device of the present invention is, for example, a powder for food such as flour, buckwheat flour, sugar, starch, fragrance, cereal, etc., and a powder for chemical industry such as cement, resin, medicine, etc. Moreover, it can be used as a channel opening / closing device that opens and closes a channel by connecting to a part of the channel through which fluids such as various liquids and gases pass. For example, it can be suitably used for a granular material discharging device for discharging the granular material from a container in which a fluid such as the granular material is temporarily stored, particularly from the viewpoint of hygiene. It can be suitably used as a channel opening / closing device for a channel through which a granular material for food that needs to be frequently washed and cleaned frequently passes.

It is a front view showing typically one embodiment of a channel opening and closing device of the present invention. It is a side view of the flow-path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the flow-path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. It is the enlarged view which expanded the channel opening-and-closing damper in the channel opening-and-closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is an enlarged view which shows the state by which the channel opening-and-closing damper is arrange | positioned at the flow path by the side of the discharge port of the granular material storage hopper It is a front view. It is the enlarged view which expanded the channel opening / closing damper in the channel opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is the enlarged side view which shows the state which rotationally moved the channel opening / closing damper. It is a top view explaining the rotational movement state of the damper for channel opening / closing in the channel opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. It is the expanded side view which expanded the support body in the flow-path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear view in which a support body in the flow path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged. It is the enlarged view which expanded the support body in the flow-path opening / closing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is the enlarged side view which shows the state which lowered | hung the flow-path opening / closing damper by the position adjustment mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

1: channel opening / closing device, 2: hopper for storing granular material, 3: channel opening / closing damper (first channel opening / closing damper), 4: support, 5: second channel opening / closing damper, 6: flow path (flow path on the outlet side of the powder storage hopper), 7: support, 8: upstream damper flow path, 9: downstream damper flow path, 10: opening / closing mechanism, 11: tightening member, 12: flange part, 13: telescopic part, 14: shaft body, 15: mounting bracket, 16: support base, 17: trapezoidal screw, 18: trapezoidal screw nut, 19: movable joint, 20: position adjusting mechanism, 21: Flat handle, 22: control motor, 31: horizontal mixer, 32: flow path (flow path on the inlet side of the horizontal mixer), A: fluid passage direction, B: rotation direction.

Claims (6)

A flow path opening / closing device provided with a flow path opening / closing damper connected to a part of a flow path through which a fluid passes and having a flow path opening / closing mechanism,
A support for supporting the flow path opening / closing damper is further provided outside the flow path opening / closing damper,
The flow path opening / closing damper detachably connected to the flow path is rotatably supported by the support on a surface perpendicular to the fluid passage direction about the support. Switchgear.   The channel opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the channel opening / closing damper uses a butterfly type or flap type valve as the opening / closing mechanism.   The flow path opening / closing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow path opening / closing damper further includes an expansion / contraction portion that increases or decreases a length in the fluid passage direction.   The channel opening / closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support has a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position for supporting the channel opening / closing damper.   The flow path opening / closing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flow path opening / closing damper is connected to the flow path by a fastening member.   The flow according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second flow path opening / closing damper having an opening / closing mechanism upstream or downstream of the flow path opening / closing damper (first flow path opening / closing damper). Road switchgear.

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