JP2010269231A - Apparatus for washing agitator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for washing an agitator, which can wash the agitator with a relatively small amount of cleaning liquid. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for washing the agitator is used for washing with the cleaning liquid the agitator having a rotary drive shaft connected to a rotary drive source and an agitating blade fixed to the rotary drive shaft, and comprises a double structured-container body having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder with a gap, in which the cleaning liquid is housed, a lower side opening provided on the lower side of the double structured-container body and carrying out a communication between an inner side space of the inner cylinder and the gap, and an upper side opening provided on the upper side of the double structured-container body and carrying out a communication between the inner side space of the inner cylinder and the gap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus used for cleaning a stirrer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to mix and stir an object to be processed such as a liquid material or a gel-like material, various stirrers configured to rotate a stirring blade are used. When a stirring operation is performed using such a stirrer, the object to be processed adheres to the stirring blade, the rotary drive shaft, and the like, and if left as it is, the object to be processed may be hardened and difficult to remove. For this reason, at the end of the agitation work, it is necessary to clean the agitation blade, the rotary drive shaft, and the like.

  In the prior art, as disclosed in the following patent document, when performing a cleaning operation such as a stirring blade or a rotary drive shaft, for example, the cleaning liquid is ejected from a cleaning nozzle provided in the treatment tank, A method is disclosed in which cleaning is performed by constantly changing the action location of the cleaning water by raising a slider that moves the treatment tank up and down. In addition, when handling an object to be processed with high viscosity and adhesion, the slider is raised, the lid and the processing tank are brought into close contact with each other, and the reservoir is cleaned in an operating posture in which the rotor blade is completely located in the processing tank. In addition, as a cleaning posture in which the rotor blade is completely removed from the inside of the processing tank, a method is disclosed in which a cleaning liquid is ejected from a cleaning nozzle and finish cleaning is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2006-122773, A ([0024]-[0025], Drawing 3 (a)-(c))

  By the way, in consideration of cost and environmental measures, it is desired that the amount of the cleaning liquid used for cleaning the stirring blade or the like or the amount of the waste liquid after use is reduced as much as possible. However, as described in Patent Document 1 In the cleaning method in which the cleaning liquid is ejected from the cleaning nozzle, a relatively large amount of cleaning liquid is required. Further, in the cleaning method described in Patent Document 1 in which the cleaning liquid is stored in the processing tank, all the parts to be cleaned such as the stirring blade and the rotary drive shaft must be immersed in the cleaning liquid. May be required.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive studies, the inventors of the present invention have found that the above-described problems can be solved by setting a container for storing a cleaning liquid used for cleaning a stirrer, and completed the present invention. Is. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a stirrer cleaning device capable of cleaning a stirrer with a relatively small amount of cleaning liquid.

  According to the present invention, in a stirrer washing apparatus used for washing a stirrer having a rotary drive shaft connected to a rotary drive source and a stirring blade fixed to the rotary drive shaft with a cleaning liquid, the inner space is separated. A double-structure container body having a cylinder and an outer cylinder and containing cleaning liquid; a lower opening provided on the lower side of the double-structure container body and communicating between the inner space of the inner cylinder and the gap; and the double structure An apparatus for washing a stirrer provided with an upper opening provided on an upper side of a container body and communicating with an inner space of an inner cylinder and a gap is provided, and the above-described problems can be solved.

  Further, in configuring the stirrer cleaning device of the present invention, it is preferable that the total cross-sectional area of the upper opening is larger than the total cross-sectional area of the lower opening.

  Moreover, when comprising the apparatus for washing | cleaning the stirrer of this invention, it is preferable that an upper side opening part opens a part of wall surface of an inner cylinder.

  Further, in constituting the stirrer cleaning device of the present invention, the lower side of the inner space of the inner cylinder or the lower side of the inner space of the inner cylinder, the radial cross-sectional area of the inner peripheral surface as it goes downward. It is preferable to provide a tapered portion that gradually decreases.

  According to the apparatus for cleaning a stirrer of the present invention, the stirrer blade is immersed in the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder and the stirrer is driven, so that the cleaning liquid flows from the lower opening to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder by liquid pressure. It is pushed out into the gap between them and returned from the upper opening to the inner space of the inner cylinder. Therefore, the rotary drive shaft and the like are washed away by the cleaning liquid discharged from the upper opening only by storing the cleaning liquid in an amount sufficient to immerse at least the stirring blade in the double structure container. Therefore, the stirrer can be cleaned with a relatively small amount of cleaning liquid.

  Further, in the apparatus for cleaning an agitator of the present invention, if the total cross-sectional area of the upper opening is larger than the total cross-sectional area of the lower opening, the cleaning liquid pushed into the gap by the hydraulic pressure is The risk of overflowing to the outside is reduced.

  In the stirrer cleaning device of the present invention, the upper opening is formed by opening a part of the wall surface of the inner cylinder, so that the cleaning liquid discharged from the upper opening is directed toward the inner space of the inner cylinder. Can be released. Therefore, the object to be processed attached to the rotary drive shaft or the like is easily washed away.

  Further, in the apparatus for cleaning a stirrer of the present invention, the predetermined taper portion is provided on the lower side of the inner cylinder so that when the stirrer provided with a casing or the like around the stirring blade is cleaned, the size of the casing is affected. The agitator can be stabilized by bringing the casing into contact with the tapered portion. Further, in the case of a stirrer provided with such a casing, it is possible to use the stirrer cleaning device as a mounting table for the stirrer even when not being cleaned.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the apparatus for washing | cleaning of the stirrer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the stirrer wash | cleaned with the apparatus for washing | cleaning which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example of the apparatus for washing | cleaning which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example of the apparatus for washing | cleaning which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows another structural example of the apparatus for washing | cleaning.

  The stirrer cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, this embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in each figure, what has attached | subjected the same code | symbol has shown the same member, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

1. Basic Configuration of Cleaning Device FIGS. 1A to 1B are diagrams showing a basic configuration example of an agitator cleaning device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning apparatus 10, and FIG. 1B is a horizontal sectional view of the cleaning apparatus 10, and is an AA of the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the cross section in the arrow direction.

  The cleaning apparatus 10 includes a double-structure container body 12 having an inner cylinder 11 and an outer cylinder 21 with a gap S therebetween, and a bottom portion fixed to the base plate 5 attached to the lower ends of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21. And a material 13. The inner cylinder 11, the outer cylinder 21, and the bottom member 13 constituting the cleaning apparatus 10 of the present embodiment are all made of an aluminum material, and a coating for improving the liquid repellency of the workpiece is applied to the surface. A typical example of the surface coating is coating with a fluororesin. However, a part or all of the material constituting the cleaning apparatus 10 may be formed of a resin material.

  In the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A, the upper side of the gap S formed by the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21 is open to the outside. Further, the lower sides of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21 are both fitted to the bottom member 13. The bottom member 13 is fixed to a rectangular base plate 5. By attaching the base plate 5 to the bottom member 13, the cleaning apparatus 10 is stabilized, and the cleaning apparatus 10 is prevented from falling.

  The bottom member 13 has a stepped columnar shape whose diameter is gradually increased from the upper side to the lower side, and each part having a different diameter is an inner cylinder fitting portion 13a, a passage forming portion 13b, an outer cylinder fitting from the upper side. The joint portion 13c and the large diameter portion 13d are configured. Of these, the inner cylinder fitting portion 13 a is press-fitted into the lower end of the inner cylinder 11, and the outer cylinder fitting portion 13 c is press-fitted into the lower end of the outer cylinder 21.

  The lower end portion of the inner cylinder 11 is brought into contact with a step formed by the inner cylinder fitting portion 13a and the passage forming portion 13b. Moreover, the lower end part of the outer cylinder 21 is made to contact | abut to the level | step difference formed with the outer cylinder fitting part 13c and the large diameter part 13d. An O-ring groove 14 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder fitting portion 13c, and an O-ring (not shown) is arranged so that the cleaning liquid does not leak from the outer cylinder 21.

  The inner cylinder fitting portion 13a and the passage forming portion 13b of the bottom member 13 are formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. Among these, the inner cylinder fitting portion 13a has a gradually increasing radial cross-sectional area on the inner peripheral surface as it goes downward. The taper portion 17 becomes smaller. By providing such a tapered portion 17, when washing a stirrer provided with a casing or the like covering the periphery of the stirring blade, the casing can be brought into contact with the tapered portion 17 to stabilize the stirrer. There is no need for the operator to lift the agitator and perform the cleaning operation.

Here, the cleaning apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a lower opening 15 for allowing the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder 11 to flow through the gap S.
In the present embodiment, the inner cylinder fitting portion 13a and the passage forming portion 13b of the bottom member 13 are formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the lower opening that communicates the hollow inner region and the outer region with the passage forming portion 13b. A flow hole 15 a as 15 is provided. In the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A, four circulation holes 15a are provided radially.

Further, the cleaning apparatus 10 includes an upper opening 16 for returning the cleaning liquid circulated through the gap S through the lower opening 15 to the inner space of the inner cylinder 11.
In the present embodiment, an outflow hole 16 a as the upper opening 16 is provided on the wall surface on the upper end side of the inner cylinder 11. In the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1B, four outflow holes 16a are provided.

  In the cleaning apparatus 10, the cleaning liquid stored in the inner cylinder 11 is reduced by the pressure of the liquid flow generated by rotating the stirrer in the inner cylinder 11. The cleaning liquid pushed into the gap through the side opening 15 flows out into the inner space of the inner cylinder 11 through the upper opening 16 and circulates.

  Since a plurality of flow holes 15a as the lower openings 15 and outflow holes 16a as the upper openings 16 are formed around the axial center of the double-structured container body 12, the inner cylinder is interposed via the flow holes 15a. The cleaning liquid stored in the lower part of the inner space of the cylinder 11 is pushed out into the gap, and the washing liquid pushed out into the gap through the outflow hole 16a easily flows out into the inner space of the inner cylinder 11.

  Further, in the cleaning apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the size of the outflow hole 16a as the upper opening 16 is relatively large, and the total area of the flow holes 15a as the lower opening 15 is equal to the upper opening. 16 is smaller than the total area of the outflow holes 16a. Therefore, the cleaning liquid pushed out into the gap S does not overflow from the upper end of the gap S as it is.

  Further, since the upper opening 16 includes an outflow hole 16 a provided in a part of the wall surface of the inner cylinder 11, the cleaning liquid discharged from the upper opening 16 flows out toward the inner space of the inner cylinder 11. Therefore, the cleaning liquid is easily applied to the rotary drive shaft and other members constituting the stirrer. Therefore, the object to be processed attached to the rotary drive shaft or the like is easily washed away by the cleaning liquid.

  The length (height) and thickness (diameter) of the double structure container body 12 can be appropriately changed according to the length of the rotary drive shaft of the stirrer to be cleaned and the diameter of the stirring blade. The size of the gap S formed between the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21 can be appropriately changed depending on the hydraulic pressure generated by the rotation of the stirrer. For example, if the width of the gap S is increased, the cleaning liquid is relatively less likely to be guided upward through the gap S. In the present embodiment, the width of the gap S is designed to be 2 mm.

2. Usage Example of Cleaning Device Hereinafter, usage modes of the cleaning device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
First, a stirrer cleaned using the cleaning device 10 will be briefly described. FIGS. 2A to 2B show the stirrer 50 including the casing connection support frame 60 that covers the periphery of the stirring blade 55. FIG. 2A is a side view of the stirrer 50, and FIG. 2B shows a state of stirring the workpiece by the stirrer 50.

  The stirrer 50 is attached to a drive unit main body 51 in which a motor 52 as a drive source is accommodated, a rotary drive shaft 54 connected to an output shaft 53 that is rotationally driven by the motor 52, and a tip of the rotary drive shaft 54. This is a portable agitator 50 provided with the agitated blade 55.

  The drive unit main body 51 is provided with a grip unit 56 that is manually gripped and a chuck 57 to which the rotation drive shaft 54 can be attached and detached. The casing connection support frame 60 includes a fixed portion 61 provided on the drive unit main body 51 side (base end side), a cylindrical casing 62 provided on the stirring blade 55 side (tip end side), a fixed portion 61 and a cylindrical shape. Three support frames 63 for connecting the casing 62 are provided. The cylindrical casing 62 is disposed at a position covering the periphery of the stirring blade 55, and the fixing portion 61 of the casing connection support frame 60 is attached to the drive unit main body 51.

  The cylindrical casing 62 is a cylindrical member having an internal hole with a diameter larger than the diameter of the stirring blade 55. At the base end side of the cylindrical casing 62, the anti-blur portion 64 of the rotation drive shaft 54 having the rotation hole 64a of the rotation drive shaft 54 at the center is provided, and the anti-blur portion 64 and the support frame 63 are provided. It is fixed by an anti-blur support plate 64b provided therebetween.

  In this stirrer 50, as shown in FIG. 2B, a swirl flow T1 centering on the rotation drive shaft 54 is generated, and a downward flow from the inside of the cylindrical casing 62 toward the bottom surface of the container 65 of the object to be processed. Will occur. This downward flow flows as an upward flow along the side wall from the bottom surface side of the container 65, and when it reaches the vicinity of the liquid level, it flows as a downward flow from the center of the upper surface, and the upper opening of the cylindrical casing 62. Then, it is guided into the cylindrical casing 62. In this way, not only the swirling flow T1 but also the circulating flow S1 in the vertical direction is generated, whereby the stirring force is increased.

  In order to generate the circulating flow S <b> 1 in the vertical direction in the stirrer 50, the liquid level of the object to be processed needs to be positioned at least above the upper end portion of the cylindrical casing 43. Further, the upper space of the cylindrical casing 62 is divided into three regions by three anti-blur support plates 64b that fix the anti-blur portion 64 to the connecting member 63. Therefore, when the stirrer 50 is driven by immersing the anti-blur support plate 64b in the object to be processed, the circulating flow S1 is rectified when flowing into the cylindrical casing 62, and the downward flow is further generated in the cylindrical casing 62. It tends to occur.

  3 is an axial cross-sectional view of the cleaning apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged cross-sectional views of the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4A, the flow of the cleaning liquid is represented by arrows.

Next, the effect | action produced by the apparatus 10 for washing | cleaning at the time of performing the washing | cleaning operation | work of the stirrer 50 shown to Fig.2 (a) is demonstrated.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning liquid is put into the double structure container body 12. The input amount at this time may be at least as long as the cylindrical casing 62 of the stirrer 50 can be immersed. Desirably, the amount immersed in the anti-blur support plate 64b is considerable. Although the amount of the cleaning liquid is slightly increased, a vertical circulation flow can be reliably generated in the cleaning liquid, and the hydraulic pressure for pushing the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder 11 into the gap S through the flow hole 15a. Can be increased.

  The stirrer 50 is inserted into the double-structured container body 12 containing the cleaning liquid from the tip side, and the stirring blade 55 and the cylindrical casing 62 are immersed in the cleaning liquid. When the stirrer 50 is driven in this state, a swirling flow T1 and a circulating flow S1 are generated in the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder 11. When the cleaning liquid is moved to the gap S by the pressure of these liquid flows generated in the inner cylinder 11, the liquid level of the cleaning liquid existing in the gap S gradually rises as shown in FIG.

  When the liquid level L2 of the cleaning liquid existing in the gap S reaches the upper opening 16, the cleaning liquid flows out from the upper opening 16, as shown in FIG. And the to-be-processed object adhering to the rotational drive shaft 54 and the support frame 63 of the stirrer 50 located above the liquid level of the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder 11 is washed away by the flowing cleaning liquid. Therefore, the stirrer 50 is cleaned with a small amount of cleaning liquid as compared with the case where the cleaning liquid is used in such an amount that all the parts to be cleaned of the rotary drive shaft 54 and the support frame 63 are immersed.

  In this way, the cleaning cost can be reduced by suppressing the cleaning liquid to a relatively small amount. Further, the cleaning liquid in the inner region of the inner cylinder 11 can be circulated from the lower opening 15 to the upper opening 16 and circulated by using the stirring force of the stirrer 50 without using a special device. Since it is comprised, cost does not increase or the apparatus 10 for washing | cleaning does not enlarge.

  Note that the configuration of the stirrer to be cleaned is not limited to the stirrer having the above-described configuration, and even a stirrer that generates only a so-called swirling flow can be cleaned using the cleaning device.

3. FIG. 5 shows a cleaning apparatus 10 </ b> A including a lid member 6 attached to an upper end portion of a double structure container body 12 including an inner cylinder 11 and an outer cylinder 21. The lid member 6 is formed with a cylindrical protruding fitting portion 7 that is inserted into the gap S between the upper end portions of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21. The lid member 6 is also formed of an aluminum material, like the inner cylinder 11, the outer cylinder 21, and the bottom member 13, and has a coating applied to the surface to improve the liquid repellency of the object to be processed.

  By providing such a lid member 6, when the stirrer is inserted into the cleaning apparatus 10 </ b> A, the workpiece attached to the stirrer is prevented from entering the gap S, and the gap S in the region where the cleaning liquid does not reach is prevented. The frequency of maintenance work for removing dirt is relatively low.

  The protruding fitting portion 7 is preferably configured to be inserted into the gap S. When the protruding fitting portion 7 is loosely fitted in the gap S, the air in the gap S flows out when the cleaning liquid in the inner space of the inner cylinder 11 is circulated into the gap S through the lower opening 15. It escapes not only from the hole 16a but also from the upper end side of the gap S. Accordingly, even when the outflow hole 16a is formed to be relatively small, the cleaning liquid is easily guided upward through the gap S. Moreover, since the removal of the lid member 6 is facilitated, only the lid member 6 to which the object to be processed is easily attached can be easily cleaned.

  On the other hand, if it is desired to increase the momentum of the cleaning liquid flowing out from the outflow hole 16a as the upper opening 16, the protruding fitting portion 7 of the lid member 6 is placed in the gap S formed by the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 21. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may press-fit. By increasing the sealing performance of the gap S by the protruding fitting portion 7 of the lid member 6, the pressure in the gap S when the cleaning liquid is pushed into the gap S through the lower opening 15 is increased, and the cleaning liquid is It flows out vigorously from the outflow hole 16a.

  However, depending on the size of the outflow hole 16a, the pressure in the gap S becomes too high, and it may be difficult to push the cleaning liquid into the gap S with the pressure of the liquid flow by the stirring force of the stirrer. When the gap S is sealed with the protruding fitting portion 7 of the member 6, it is necessary to prevent the outflow hole 16a from becoming too small.

  According to the apparatus for cleaning a stirrer of the present invention described above, a stirrer including a stirring blade and a rotary drive shaft can be efficiently cleaned using a relatively small amount of cleaning liquid. In addition, this cleaning device has a relatively simple configuration and can be manufactured at low cost, and can also be used as a mounting table for a portable stirrer, so that it can be used in various situations. .

5: Base plate, 6: Lid member, 6a: Insertion hole, 7: Projection fitting part, 10: Cleaning device, 11: Inner cylinder, 12: Dual structure container body, 13: Bottom member, 13a: Inner cylinder Fitting portion, 13b: passage forming portion, 13c: outer cylinder fitting portion, 13d: large diameter portion, 14: O-ring groove, 15: lower opening, 15a: flow hole, 16: upper opening, 16a: Outflow hole, 17: taper part, 21: outer cylinder, 50: stirrer, 51: drive part main body, 52: motor, 53: output shaft, 54: rotary drive shaft, 55: stirring blade, 56: grip part, 57: Chuck, 60: casing connection support frame, 61: fixing part, 62: cylindrical casing, 63: support frame, 64: anti-blur part, 64a: rotation hole, 64b: anti-blur support plate, 65: container, S: Gap

Claims (4)

In an apparatus for cleaning a stirrer used for cleaning a stirrer having a rotation drive shaft connected to a rotation drive source and a stirring blade fixed to the rotation drive shaft with a cleaning liquid,
A double-structured container body having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder with a gap therebetween, in which the cleaning liquid is stored;
A lower opening provided on the lower side of the double structure container body and communicating the inner space of the inner cylinder and the gap;
An upper opening provided on the upper side of the double structure container body and communicating the inner space of the inner cylinder and the gap;
An apparatus for cleaning a stirrer, comprising:   The apparatus for washing a stirrer according to claim 1, wherein a total cross-sectional area of the upper opening is larger than a total cross-sectional area of the lower opening.   The said upper side opening part opens a part of wall surface of the said inner cylinder, The washing | cleaning apparatus of the stirrer of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The lower part of the inner space of the inner cylinder or the lower side of the inner space of the inner cylinder is provided with a taper portion that gradually decreases the radial cross-sectional area of the inner peripheral surface as it goes downward. The apparatus for washing a stirrer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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