JP2012171709A - Apparatus and method for controlling air flow - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air flow control apparatus for moving a material accumulated in a passage and removing it from the passage with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A transportation system 1 includes: a storage hopper 2 for housing a granular substance; a first transportation line 4 and a second transportation line 5 into which the granular substance in the storage hopper 2 flows; and a suction blower 7 for sucking the insides of the first transportation line 4 and the second transportation line 5. The transportation system 1 further includes a control valve 8 that generates an air flow to be sucked by the suction blower 7 in the first transportation line 4 and the second transportation line 5, and can be moved to a closed position where the air flow to be sucked by the suction blower 7 is shut off and to an open position where the regulation of the air flow to be sucked to the suction blower 7 is released. The amount of the air flow to be sucked by the suction blower 7 is increased by moving the control valve 8 from the closed position to the open position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an airflow control device, and more particularly, to an airflow control device that controls an airflow in a passage that is continuous with a container in which an item is stored, and an airflow control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a configuration is known in which a stored item is transported, for example, via a passage from a container in which the stored item is stored. In such a configuration, the contents may stay in the passage. If the contents stay in the passage, the passage may be blocked.

  Therefore, for example, in the pneumatic transportation of the granular material, in order to eliminate the tube blockage that occurred in the middle of the pneumatic transport pipeline, after injecting compressed air into the upstream pipeline of the blockage portion, exhaust the pressure at once, There has been proposed a method of removing powder particles blocking the pipeline (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 59-43728 A

  However, according to the method described in Patent Document 1, the compressed air is injected into the upstream pipe line of the closed portion.

  Therefore, separately from the air transportation pipeline for pneumatically transporting the granular material, a blocking release tube for injecting compressed air is branched and connected.

  As a result, the apparatus configuration is complicated by the amount of the occlusion releasing pipe.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an airflow control device and an airflow control method capable of flowing and removing a substance staying in a passage with a simple configuration and removing it from the passage.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 is an airflow control device, comprising: a container; and a passage continuous with the container so that the contents accommodated in the container flow into the container. A suction device that sucks the gas in the container through the passage and generates an air flow in the passage; a regulation position that restricts or weakens the air flow sucked into the suction device; and the suction device The airflow control means moved to the restriction release position for releasing the restriction of the airflow sucked by the airflow, and the airflow control means is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position while operating the suction device, And a control means for increasing the airflow sucked by the suction device.

  According to such a configuration, for example, when the contents in the container flow into the passage by the gas in the container sucked into the suction device through the passage, and the inflowed contents stay in the passage. In addition, the control means moves the airflow control means from the restriction position to the restriction release position while operating the suction device.

  Therefore, when the airflow control means is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position, the airflow sucked by the suction device is increased compared to when the airflow control means is disposed at the restriction position.

  As a result, with a simple configuration, the contents staying in the passage can be caused to flow and be removed from the passage by the increased airflow.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the contents in the container are transported in the passage by the air flow generated in the passage, and the air flow control means is The passage is blocked at the restriction position.

  According to such a configuration, the passage can be blocked by arranging the airflow control means at the restriction position.

  Therefore, the airflow control means can be directly applied to the passage to pulsate the airflow in the passage.

  As a result, the airflow in the passage can be more pulsated, and the contents retained in the passage can be efficiently removed from the passage.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the suction device is connected to one end of the passage, and the airflow control means is spaced from the other side of the suction device. A plurality of containers are connected in parallel between the suction device and the airflow control means.

  According to such a configuration, a plurality of containers are connected in parallel between the suction device and the airflow control means.

  Therefore, the contents flowing into the passage from a plurality of containers can be removed from the passage at a time.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the third aspect, an open position is provided between each of the containers and the passage, and the communication between the containers and the passage is opened. An opening / closing member that is moved to a closed position that closes communication between each container and the passage, and the control means controls the airflow control means after the opening / closing member is disposed at the closed position. It is characterized in that it is moved alternately between the position and the restriction release position.

  According to such a configuration, the control means alternately moves the airflow control means to the restriction position and the restriction release position after each open / close member is disposed at the closed position.

  Therefore, each opening / closing member is disposed at the closed position, and the contained matter that has flowed into the passage can be removed from the passage while preventing further contained matter from flowing into the passage from the container.

  As a result, the contents flowing into the passage can be reliably removed from the passage.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the passages are provided, the airflow control means is provided for each of the passages, and the control means is provided for each airflow. Of the control means, at least one of the airflow control means is alternately moved to the restriction position and the restriction release position.

  According to such a configuration, at least one airflow control means among the airflow control means provided respectively in the plurality of passages can be alternately moved by the control means to the restriction position and the restriction release position.

  For this reason, in the passage where the airflow control means is alternately moved to the restriction position and the restriction release position, the contents staying in the passage can be removed from the passage due to the pulsation of the airflow.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an airflow control method for controlling an airflow in a passage continuing to the container so that an item accommodated in the container flows therein. Using the suction device that sucks the gas in the container through the passage, the air flow sucked into the suction device is generated in the passage, and the air flow sucked into the suction device is blocked or weakened. The suction device is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position by moving airflow control means that can move between a restriction position that restricts the airflow and a restriction release position that releases the restriction of the airflow sucked by the suction device. It is characterized by increasing the airflow sucked by the air.

  According to such a method, for example, when the contents in the container flow into the passage due to the gas in the container sucked into the suction device through the passage, and the inflowed contents stay in the passage. In addition, the airflow control means is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position while operating the suction device.

  Therefore, by moving the airflow control means from the restriction position to the restriction release position, the airflow sucked by the suction device can be increased as compared with when the airflow control means is disposed at the restriction position.

  As a result, with a simple configuration, the contents staying in the passage can be caused to flow and be removed from the passage by the increased airflow.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by moving the airflow control means from the restriction position to the restriction release position, the airflow sucked into the suction device is more than when the airflow control means is disposed at the restriction position. It is possible to increase the flow rate, and it is possible to remove the contents accumulated in the passage from the passage with a simple configuration by the increased air flow.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the airflow control means can be directly applied to the passage to make the airflow in the passage more pulsate, so that the contents retained in the passage can be efficiently removed from the passage. Can be removed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the contents flowing into the passage from a plurality of containers can be removed from the passage at a time.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to remove the contained material flowing into the passage from the container while preventing further inflow of the contained material from the container into the passage, and reliably flow into the passage. The contents can be removed from the passage.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the passage in which the airflow control means is alternately moved to the restriction position and the restriction release position, the contents retained in the passage are removed from the passage by the pulsation of the airflow. Can do.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, by moving the airflow control means from the restriction position to the restriction release position, the airflow sucked by the suction device is more than when the airflow control means is disposed at the restriction position. It is possible to increase the flow rate, and it is possible to remove the contents accumulated in the passage from the passage with a simple configuration by the increased air flow.

It is a schematic block diagram of a transport system provided with 1st Embodiment of the airflow control means of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a granulation apparatus provided with 2nd Embodiment of an airflow control apparatus.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transportation system including the first embodiment of the airflow control means of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transport system 1 (an example of an airflow control device) is a system that pneumatically transports a granular material such as a resin pellet (an example of a container) to, for example, a molding machine 11. The transportation system 1 includes a plurality of (for example, two) storage hoppers 2 (an example of a container), a loader hopper 3, a first transportation line 4 (an example of a passage), and a second transportation line 5 (an example of a passage). A suction line 6 and a suction blower 7 (an example of a suction device) are provided.

  Each storage hopper 2 is formed so that a substantially cylindrical upper portion and a substantially conical lower portion whose opening cross-sectional area decreases downward are continuous. Each storage hopper 2 contains powder particles. Each storage hopper 2 is connected in parallel to the first transport line 4 via the second transport line 5.

  The loader hopper 3 is a hopper that once stores the granular material from the storage hopper 2 and then supplies it to the molding machine 11. The loader hopper 3 has an approximately cylindrical upper portion and a generally conical cone whose opening cross-sectional area decreases downward. The lower portion of the shape is formed so as to be continuous. Further, a filter 12 made of a punching metal plate or the like is provided inside the upper wall of the loader hopper 3 so as to surround the upstream end of the suction line 6 in the exhaust direction.

  The first transport line 4 is a pipe for transporting the granular material from the storage hopper 2 to the loader hopper 3, and its downstream end in the transport direction is connected to the side wall of the loader hopper 3 and the transport direction thereof. The upstream end is open to the atmosphere. In addition, some (for example, two) bent portions 21 are formed in the middle of the first transport line 4 by the piping. The first transport line 4 is provided with a control valve 8 (an example of airflow control means).

  The control valve 8 is provided at the upstream end of the first transport line 4 in the transport direction. The control valve 8 is moved to a closed position (an example of a restriction position) that blocks the first transportation line 4 and an open position (an example of a restriction release position) that opens the first transportation line 4. In other words, the control valve 8 restricts the airflow sucked by the suction blower 7 in the closed position, and cancels the restriction of the airflow sucked by the suction blower 7 in the open position.

  The second transport line 5 is a pipe for transporting the granular material in each storage hopper 2 to the first transport line 4, and is provided one by one corresponding to each storage hopper 2. In addition, each second transport line 5 has its downstream end in the transport direction connected to the middle of the first transport line 4 between the control valve 8 and the loader hopper 3, and its upstream end in the transport direction is The storage hopper 2 is connected to the lower end portion. That is, the second transport line 5 and the first transport line 4 constitute a passage through which the granular material in the storage hopper 2 flows. Each second transport line 5 is provided with an opening / closing valve 9 (an example of an opening / closing member).

  The on-off valve 9 is provided in the middle of the second transport line 5 and is moved to a closed position for closing the second transport line 5 and an open position for opening the second transport line 5.

  The suction line 6 is a pipe for exhausting air from the loader hopper 3 to the suction blower 7. The upstream end portion in the exhaust direction is connected to the upper wall of the loader hopper 3, and the downstream end portion in the exhaust direction is the suction blower 7. It is connected to the.

  The suction blower 7 is connected to the downstream end in the transport direction of the first transport line 4 via the suction line 6 and the loader hopper 3. The suction blower 7 sucks the gas in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 via the suction line 6 and the loader hopper 3, and from the storage hopper 2, the second transport line 5 and the first transport line. 4. An air flow toward the suction blower 7 is generated through the loader hopper 3 and the suction line 6 in this order.

  The transportation system 1 also includes a CPU 10 (an example of a control unit) that controls operations of the control valve 8, the opening / closing valve 9, and the suction blower 7. The CPU 10 is electrically connected to the control valve 8, the opening / closing valve 9 and the suction blower 7.

  Next, a method for transporting powder particles by the transport system 1 (an example of an airflow control method) will be described.

  In order to transport the granular material from each storage hopper 2 to the molding machine 11, first, the control valve 8 is opened and the suction blower 7 is operated under the control of the CPU 10 with the open / close valve 9 placed at the closed position. .

  Then, an air flow is generated from the upstream end of the first transport line 4 in the transport direction to the suction blower 7 via the first transport line 4, the loader hopper 3, and the suction line 6.

  Next, under the control of the CPU 10, for example, the open / close valve 9 corresponding to the storage hopper 2 on the left side of the drawing is moved to the open position.

  Then, the granular material is transported from the storage hopper 2 on the left side of the drawing to the loader hopper 3 through the second transport line 5 and the first transport line 4 by the airflow.

  At this time, for example, in the connection portion between the second transport line 5 and the first transport line 4 and the bent portion 21 of the first transport line 4, a space (so-called dead space) in which airflow is difficult to act is generated. In some cases, the granular material stays in the dead space.

  Next, when a predetermined level of granular material is stored in the loader hopper 3, the opening / closing valve 9 is moved to the closed position under the control of the CPU 10, and the transportation from the storage hopper 2 to the loader hopper 3 is stopped.

  Then, under the control of the CPU 10, the control valve 8 is once arranged at the closed position while the suction blower 7 is operated, and then moved from the closed position to the open position.

  Then, the airflow from the first transport line 4 toward the suction blower 7 is once reduced by the movement of the control valve 8 to the closed position, and then increased by the movement of the control valve 8 from the closed position to the open position.

  Specifically, when the suction blower 7 is in operation, the control valve 8 is once placed in the closed position so as to block the air flow, whereby the pressure in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 is changed to the previous pressure. Then, the air flow is increased by returning the control valve 8 from the closed position to the open position.

  Such opening / closing operation of the control valve 8 is repeated a plurality of times. That is, the control valve 8 is moved alternately between the closed position and the open position.

  Then, the granular material staying in the dead space is conveyed to the loader hopper 3 by the increased airflow. Thereby, the granular material in the 1st transport line 4 and the 2nd transport line 5 is completely conveyed to the loader hopper 3.

  Thereafter, the granular material in the loader hopper 3 is discharged to the molding machine 11 and melted and molded in the molding machine 11.

  According to the transport system 1 and the transport method, for example, even when the powder particles being transported stay in the dead space in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5, the CPU 10 causes the suction blower 7 to move. While operating, the control valve 8 is moved from the closed position to the open position.

  Therefore, when the control valve 8 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the air flow sucked into the suction blower 7 is increased as compared to when the control valve 8 is disposed at the closed position.

  As a result, the granular material staying in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 is transported to the loader hopper 3 by the increased airflow with a simple configuration (the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5). Can be removed from within).

  Moreover, according to this transport system 1, the passage can be blocked by disposing the control valve 8 in the closed position.

  Therefore, the control valve 8 can be directly applied to the first transport line 4 to pulsate the airflow in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5.

  As a result, the airflow in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 can be pulsated more efficiently, and the granular material staying in the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 can be efficiently transferred to the loader hopper 3. Can be transported to.

  Further, according to the transport system 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality (two) of storage hoppers 2 are connected in parallel between the suction blower 7 and the control valve 8.

  Therefore, it is possible to remove the particulates flowing into the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 from the plurality (two) of storage hoppers 2 from the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 at a time. it can.

  Further, according to the transportation system 1, the CPU 10 alternately moves the control valve 8 to the closed position and the open position after the open / close valves 9 are arranged at the closed position.

  Therefore, each open / close valve 9 is disposed at the closed position, and flows into the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 while preventing further inflow of the granular material from the storage hopper 2 to the second transport line 5. The powdered particles can be conveyed to the loader hopper 3.

As a result, the granular material that has flowed into the first transport line 4 and the second transport line 5 can be reliably conveyed to the loader hopper 3.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a granulation apparatus including the second embodiment of the airflow control apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the granulating device 31 is a granulating device used for processing waste plastic, and among the crushed waste plastic, a relatively lightweight crushed material such as a plastic sheet (an example of a container) ) Is melted and granulated.

  The granulating device 31 includes a granulating unit 32 that granulates waste plastic and an exhaust unit 33 that exhausts air in the granulating unit 32.

  The granulating unit 32 includes a tank 34 (an example of a container) that stores crushed material, a stirring blade 35 that is rotatably provided in the tank 34, a motor 36 that drives the stirring blade 35, and a heated crushed material. The water supply part 30 for cooling is provided.

  The tank 34 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom having an open upper end, and is configured to be able to heat the crushed material accommodated by heating means (not shown). Further, a discharge chute 37 for discharging the crushed material granulated from the tank 34 is continued on the peripheral side wall of the lower end portion of the tank 34.

  The discharge chute 37 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that extends horizontally from the peripheral side wall of the tank 34 and is bent downward, and discharges crushed material granulated in the tank 34 downward. To do.

  The stirring blade 35 is rotatably supported on the bottom wall of the tank 34 via a rotation shaft 38 so as to protrude upward from the bottom wall of the tank 34.

  The motor 36 is disposed on the side of the tank 34 (on the left side in the drawing), and is coupled to a rotating shaft 38 of the stirring blade 35 via a pulley mechanism (not shown) so as to be able to transmit driving.

  The water supply unit 30 is provided at the upper end of the tank 34 so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the tank 34 and is connected to a water storage tank or a water pipe (not shown), and supplies water into the tank 34 at a predetermined timing. .

  The exhaust part 33 is detachably provided on the upper side of the granulating part 32, and is provided with an exhaust drum 41 (an example of a passage), an airflow adjusting part 42, a suction line 43, and a suction blower 46 (an example of a suction device). And.

  The exhaust drum 41 is formed in a substantially double cylinder shape. Specifically, an outer wall 39 and an inner wall 40 provided in the outer wall 39 are provided.

  The outer wall 39 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape whose upper end is closed.

  The inner wall 40 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the outer wall 39, and is provided in the outer wall 39 so that the upper end portion is connected to the upper wall of the outer wall 39. Note that the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 39 share a central axis with each other, and are opposed to each other with an interval in their radial direction.

  One air flow adjusting portion 42 is provided at each of both end portions in the radial direction of the outer wall 39 on the peripheral side wall of the upper end portion of the outer wall 39. Each airflow adjusting unit 42 includes an exhaust pipe 44 (an example of a passage) and a control valve 45 (an example of an airflow control unit).

  Each exhaust pipe 44 extends in a horizontal direction from the peripheral side wall of the outer wall 39 of the exhaust drum 41 and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape bent upward, and is located inside the exhaust drum 41 (between the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 39). The airflow that passed through is exhausted upward.

  Each control valve 45 includes a butterfly valve or the like, and is provided in the middle of the corresponding exhaust pipe 44. Each control valve 45 is moved so as to shield the exhaust pipe 44, thereby being disposed at a restriction position for restricting the air flow in the exhaust pipe 44 to be weakened, and moved so as to open the exhaust pipe 44. Thus, the air flow in the exhaust pipe 44 is disposed at the restriction release position for releasing the restriction.

  The suction line 43 is a pipe for exhausting the airflow exhausted from the upper end of the exhaust pipe 44 to the suction blower 46. The upstream end of the suction line 43 in the exhaust direction is branched into two corresponding to each exhaust pipe 44, and is opposed to the upper end of each exhaust pipe 44 with a slight gap. Further, the downstream end of the suction line 43 in the exhaust direction is connected to the suction blower 46. At the upstream end of the suction line 43 in the exhaust direction, a substantially conical hood 47 that extends downward is formed so as to cover the upper end of each exhaust pipe 44 from above. Further, a filter 49 for collecting crushed material sucked into the suction line 43 is provided at the downstream end of the suction line 43 in the exhaust direction.

  The suction blower 46 sucks the gas in the exhaust pipe 44 and the exhaust drum 41 (between the inner wall 40 and the outer wall 39) via the suction line 43, and from the tank 34, the exhaust drum 41, each exhaust pipe 44, and the suction An air flow toward the suction blower 46 is generated through the line 43 in sequence.

  Further, the granulating apparatus 31 includes a CPU 48 (an example of a control unit) that controls the operation of each control valve 45 and the suction blower 46. The CPU 48 is electrically connected to each control valve 45 and the suction blower 46.

  Next, a method for granulating the crushed material by the granulator 31 (an example of an airflow control method) will be described.

  In order to granulate the crushed material, first, the suction blower 46 and the motor 36 are operated while the tank 34 is heated and the control valve 45 is disposed at the restriction release position under the control of the CPU 48.

  Then, the crushed material in the tank 34 is heated and melted, and is sheared by the rotation of the stirring blade 35, so that the crushed material is fused to each other and formed into a granular shape.

  Next, water is supplied from the water supply unit 30 into the tank 34 to cool the formed crushed material.

  Then, water in contact with the formed crushed material evaporates due to the heat of the crushed material, and a large amount of water vapor is generated in the tank 34. The water vapor is sequentially collected through the exhaust drum 41, the exhaust pipes 44, and the suction line 43 by the air flow from the tank 34 toward the suction blower 46 and collected by the filter 49.

  At this time, due to the generation of water vapor, the crushed material in the tank 34 (in particular, a lightweight crushed material that has not been sufficiently granulated) is wound up in the tank 34. Then, the crushed material wound up may flow into the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 together with water vapor by the above-described airflow.

  The crushed material that has flowed into the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 is wetted by the water vapor being cooled to form water droplets, and may adhere to the inner surfaces of the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44. .

  Next, after the formed crushed material is sufficiently cooled and the generation of water vapor is stopped, the control valve 45 is once placed at the restriction position while the suction blower 46 is operated under the control of the CPU 48, and then the restriction is performed. Move from position to restriction release position. Specifically, the control valves 45 are alternately moved to the restriction position and the restriction release position at the same time.

  Then, the airflow from the tank 34 toward the suction blower 46 once decreases due to the movement of each control valve 45 to the restriction position, and then increases due to the movement of each control valve 45 from the restriction position to the restriction release position.

  Specifically, during the operation of the suction blower 46, each control valve 45 is temporarily placed in the restriction position so as to weaken the air flow, thereby reducing the pressure in the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 from the previous pressure. Thereafter, the air flow is increased by returning each control valve 45 from the restriction position to the restriction release position.

  Such operation of each control valve 45 is repeated a plurality of times. That is, each control valve 45 is moved alternately between the restriction position and the restriction release position.

  Then, the crushed material adhering to the inner surfaces of the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 is peeled off from the inner surfaces of the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 by the increased airflow.

  Thereafter, the separated crushed material falls into the tank 34 from the exhaust drum 41 due to its own weight, or is collected by the filter 49 via the suction line 43 due to an air flow.

  According to the granulating apparatus 31 and the granulating method, the crushed material in the tank 34 is evacuated in the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 by the air flow sucked into the suction blower 46 through the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44. The CPU 48 moves the control valves 45 from the restriction position to the restriction release position while operating the suction blower 46 even when the crushed material that has flowed in adheres to the inner surfaces of the exhaust drum 41 and the exhaust pipes 44. Let

  Therefore, when each control valve 45 is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position, the airflow sucked by the suction blower 46 is increased compared to when each control valve 45 is disposed at the restriction position.

  As a result, the crushed material adhering to the inner surfaces of the exhaust drum 41 and the exhaust pipes 44 can be peeled off and removed from the exhaust drum 41 and the exhaust pipes 44 by the increased airflow with a simple configuration.

  Moreover, according to this granulation apparatus 31, each control valve 45 can be alternately moved by the CPU48 to a control position and a control release position.

  Therefore, in each exhaust pipe 44 and the exhaust drum 41, the crushed material adhering in the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 can be peeled off and removed from the exhaust drum 41 and each exhaust pipe 44 by the pulsation of the airflow. .

  In the second embodiment described above, each control valve 45 is simultaneously moved alternately to the restriction position and the restriction release position. However, the timing for moving each control valve 45 is not particularly limited. It is also possible to perform control so that the other control valve 45 is disposed at the restriction release position at the timing when the control valve 45 is disposed at the restriction position.

  Moreover, it is not necessary to move all the control valves 45, and for example, any one of the control valves 45 can be moved to the restriction position and the restriction release position.

  Also in these modified examples, the same operational effects as those of the second embodiment described above can be obtained.

1 Transportation system (an example of airflow control device)
2 Storage hopper (example of container)
4 First transport line (example of passage)
5 Second transport line (example of passage)
7 Suction blower (example of suction device)
8 Control valve (an example of air flow control means)
9 Open / close valve (example of open / close member)
10 CPU (an example of control means)
31 Granulator (an example of air flow control device)
34 Tank (an example of a container)
41 Exhaust drum (example of passage)
44 Exhaust pipe (example of passage)
45 Control valve (an example of airflow control means)
46 Suction blower (example of suction device)
48 CPU (an example of a control device)

Claims (6)

A container,
A passage that is continuous with the container so that the contents accommodated in the container flow in;
A suction device for sucking the gas in the container through the passage and generating an air flow in the passage;
An airflow control means that is moved to a restriction position that restricts the airflow sucked by the suction device to be blocked or weakened, and a restriction release position that releases the restriction of the airflow sucked by the suction device;
The air flow control means is moved from the restriction position to the restriction release position while operating the suction device, and the control means increases the air flow sucked into the suction device. Airflow control device. The contents in the container are transported in the passage by an air flow generated in the passage,
The airflow control device according to claim 1, wherein the airflow control unit blocks the passage at the restriction position. The suction device is connected to one end of the passage;
The airflow control means is provided in the passage with an interval on the other side of the suction device,
The airflow control device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of containers are connected in parallel between the suction device and the airflow control means. It is interposed between each container and the passage, and is moved to an open position where the communication between each container and the passage is opened, and a closed position where the communication between each container and the passage is closed. An opening and closing member,
The air flow according to claim 3, wherein the control means alternately moves the air flow control means to the restriction position and the restriction release position after each of the opening / closing members is disposed at the closed position. Control device. A plurality of the passages are provided,
The airflow control means is provided for each passage,
2. The air flow control according to claim 1, wherein the control unit alternately moves at least one of the air flow control units to the restriction position and the restriction release position. apparatus. An airflow control method for controlling an airflow in a passage continuing to the container so that an item accommodated in the container flows therein,
Using a suction device that sucks the gas in the container through the passage, while generating an air flow sucked into the suction device in the passage,
Airflow control means movable from a restriction position to a restriction position for restricting airflow sucked by the suction device to be blocked or weakened and a restriction release position for releasing restriction of the airflow sucked by the suction device. An airflow control method characterized by increasing the airflow sucked by the suction device by moving to the restriction release position.

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