JP2013029124A - Switch station - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate arrangement and manufacture of a connection port in a switch panel, to facilitate the switching work, and to reduce the influence on deformation caused by thermal loads.SOLUTION: The switch station includes a panel A with a plurality of outlet lines 1 being connected thereto, a panel B which is installed independently of the panel A with a plurality of inlet lines 4 being connected thereto, and a flexible hose 5 for connecting the panel A to the panel B. A plurality of straight pipes 2 with both ends thereof forming connection ports are passed through and fixed to the panel A, and each outlet line 1 is connected to the connection port on any one end of the plurality of straight pipes 2. On the other hand, the plurality of straight pipes 2 with both ends thereof forming the connection port are passed through and fixed to the panel B, and each inlet line 4 is connected to the connection port at any one end of the plurality of straight pipes 2. Both ends of the flexible hose 5 are connected to the connection port at the other end of each pipe in the panel A, and the connection port at the other end of each pipe in the panel B via a connection joint.

Description

  In the manufacturing field of fine chemicals, foods, pharmaceuticals, etc., the present invention is used when transferring a liquid between a plurality of facilities, particularly when transferring a line between a plurality of facilities and a plurality of facilities. The present invention relates to a switching station having a panel to be used.

  In the manufacturing field of fine chemicals, foods, pharmaceuticals, etc., a plurality of facilities are provided, and the production proceeds by batch processing (batch processing).

  In batch processing, the transfer destination is generally different depending on the manufacturing prescription. For this reason, the processed material in one kettle is transferred to multiple containers (reaction kettle or other processing equipment). Will be.

  In the case of manufacturing a large number of products, a plurality of facilities such as reaction kettles are installed due to the processing time, and it is common to make effective use of empty kettles in the production process.

  In view of such a situation, in the manufacturing factory, a switching station for switching the liquid transfer between a plurality of facilities is prepared.

For example, in a typical drug substance manufacturing process,
1) Preparation kettle 2) Reaction kettle 3) Crystallization kettle 4) Filter, separator 5) Dryer 6) Pulverizer etc. are included. And the transfer line connecting the equipment will change each time.

  In such a case, it is a switching system that switches between devices, specifically, a switching station (see Patent Document 1).

  In the switching station, an automatic pipe connecting device that switches and connects the pipes of each device as instructed may be used, but this is a large-scale device. For this reason, in a production line for products that are not frequently switched, conventionally, a valve block, a swing panel (also referred to as a transfer panel), a hose, or the like is used as a transfer line switching system.

  Among these, the swing panel is a switching device that is widely used in the fields of food, medicine, and the like (see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

  In the swing panel, connection ports for pipes to be connected are appropriately arranged on the panel surface.

  For example, in a switching panel that can switch one pipe connected to one device and a plurality of pipes connected to a plurality of devices to an arbitrary connection pair (connection combination), one connection port ( A) A plurality of connection ports (B1 to Bn; n is an arbitrary number) can be connected to an arc having an appropriate radius around one connection port (A). (B) is arranged.

  These connection ports are provided with connection joints (for example, sanitary ferrules, screws, etc.) for connecting to the piping described below. The connection between these two connection ports is a U-bend pipe having the same length, and connection joints are provided at both ends thereof. This U-bend-shaped pipe is switched by turning it to an appropriate rotation angle around one connection port (A). This has a simple structure and is often used.

  On the other hand, in a switching panel that can switch a plurality of upstream equipment piping and downstream equipment piping to an arbitrary connection pair, for example, it is paid out from a certain equipment near one side of the panel surface A pipe connection port (A) for sending an article is provided, and a pipe connection port (B) for sending a delivery item to a downstream device is provided near the other side of the panel surface. In order to connect the bend-shaped pipes at the same time, it is necessary to prevent the pipes from physically interfering with each other so that they cannot be attached. It will be necessary to adjust each of them.

JP-A-6-159600 JP 2002-139197 A JP 2004-162756 A

  However, the conventional switching panel that can switch a plurality of upstream equipment pipes and a plurality of downstream equipment pipes to an arbitrary connection pair has the following problems.

  1) Because there are restrictions on the arrangement of the piping connection ports of the upstream equipment and the piping equipment of the downstream equipment in the same plane of the panel, the number of piping to be connected increases. It becomes a complicated layout.

  2) U-bend pipes connecting the connection ports need to be manufactured by changing their lengths in order to eliminate mutual interference and facilitate the connection work.

  3) Connection joints are provided at both ends of the U-bend pipe. If the finish accuracy of the connection joints (especially the inclination of the joint surface) is not strictly controlled, the connection joints of the connection ports on the same panel surface And you will not be able to connect. On the other hand, the panel side is the same, and it is necessary to strictly manage the finishing accuracy of a plurality of connection ports on the panel surface.

  4) The U-bend pipe is generally heavy because it is a metal pipe.

  5) In addition, when connecting the connection joint on the panel side and the connection joint of the U-bend pipe, it is necessary to work with two or more people depending on the situation because of the alignment of the surfaces and the joint work of the connection joint. There was also an on-site load.

  6) Further, the conventional switching panel has been complicated due to the structure as described above. Furthermore, since a heat load is applied to the piping part due to the cleaning and sterilization processes, thermal expansion and thermal deformation are likely to occur, so it is necessary to take measures against distortion over a long period of time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a switching station that can solve the problems of the background art. One example thereof is at least one of facilitating the arrangement and production of the connection port in the switching panel, facilitating the switching work, and reducing the influence of deformation due to the thermal load.

  In the present invention, a plurality of outlet lines for discharging a processed material from a plurality of facilities and a plurality of inlet lines for putting the processed materials into another plurality of facilities can be switched to an arbitrary connection pair. Related to a switching station.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one aspect of the present invention includes a panel A to which a plurality of outlet lines are connected, a panel B that is installed independently of the panel A and to which a plurality of inlet lines are connected, A flexible hose connecting between panel A and panel B.

  More specifically, a plurality of pipes, both ends of which form connection ports, are fixed to the panel A, and an outlet line is connected to a connection port at one end of each of the plurality of tubes. Is done. On the other hand, a plurality of pipes, both ends of which form connection ports, pass through panel B and are fixed, and an inlet line is connected to a connection port at one end of each of the plurality of tubes. Then, both ends of the flexible cable are connected to a connection port at the other end of each tube in panel A and a connection port at the other end of each tube in panel B via a connection joint.

  In such an embodiment, a panel A and a panel B installed independently of the panel A are prepared, a plurality of connection ports to which a plurality of outlet lines are connected are provided in the panel A, and Since the plurality of connection ports to which the inlet line is connected are provided, the layout of the connection ports is not complicated. In addition, each connection port of each panel is provided with a connection joint, and the connection ports of each panel are connected by a flexible hose, so there is no need to strictly control the finishing accuracy of the connection port on the panel surface. It becomes easy to manufacture a panel provided with the.

  In addition, the flexible hose has a flexible hose connecting a flexible hose and a connection port via a connection joint, and a piping part capable of switching a plurality of outlet lines and a plurality of inlet lines to a desired connection pair. The switching work including the arrangement, attachment and detachment of the screen becomes easy. Furthermore, even if the piping part which forms the connection port of a panel receives a thermal load, the influence by the deformation | transformation can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, in a switching station capable of switching a plurality of upstream equipment pipes and a plurality of downstream equipment pipes to an arbitrary connection pair, 1) manufacture of a switching panel prepared in the station 2) facilitating the switching operation, and 3) reducing the influence of deformation due to the thermal load.

1 is a perspective view showing a switching station according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the connection port vicinity in the panels A and B of the switching station of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the connection detection apparatus which can be used for the switching station of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the active ingredient production line which can utilize the switching station of this embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a switching station according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration near a connection port in panels A and B of the switching station of FIG. The switching station according to the invention is applied to the switching of various transfer lines between a plurality of facilities. Here, as an embodiment, the outlet lines of a plurality of kettles are connected to the inlet lines of another facility. Think about the case.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of outlet lines 1 extend downward from respective hooks (not shown) and are collectively arranged on the back side of the panel A. The panel A is installed along the vertical direction, for example, so that the panel surface is substantially parallel to the direction of gravity.

  A plurality of straight pipes 2 are fixed to the panel A through the panel surface, and openings at both ends of each straight pipe 2 form connection ports on the front side and the back side of the panel A.

  The tip of the outlet line 1 from each hook is directed to be substantially perpendicular to the back side surface of the panel A via an elbow or the like, and is further connected to each connection port on the back side of the panel A. If necessary, a shut-off valve 3 (see FIG. 2) may be provided between each connection port on the back side of the panel A and each outlet line 1.

  The connection ports of the plurality of straight pipes 2 coming out on the front side of the panel A are determined in consideration of the space for installing and removing the piping. These connection ports are arranged, for example, in a semicircular shape when viewed from the front side of the panel A.

  In the present invention, the layout of the connection port on the front side of the panel A is not limited to a semicircular arc. If a plurality of connection ports are arranged in a horizontal line, the space around the connection ports is reduced and it becomes difficult to connect the flexible hose 5 to be described later. Therefore, the adjacent connection ports are arranged in the height direction so as not to line up in a horizontal line. The connection ports should be arranged in a layout where the position is changed. For this reason, the connection ports may be arranged in a linear (obliquely linear) layout having a gradient. In this case, as in the case of the circular arc shape, a space for performing the hose connection work is secured at the adjacent connection ports.

  Moreover, the some inlet line 4 connected with the entrance of another installation from the panel A is provided as follows.

  Panel B is installed independently of panel A in a direction that intersects panel A with the panel surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the panel B extends in the direction substantially perpendicular to the panel surface from the lower part on the front side of the panel A with the panel both surfaces facing up and down. Also in the panel B, a plurality of straight pipes 2 are fixed through the panel surface, and openings at both ends of each straight pipe 2 form connection ports on the front side and the back side of the panel B.

  The connection ports of these straight pipes 2 are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the panel B, and an inlet line 4 of another facility is connected to each connection port. For example, when the connection port connected to the connection port on the front side of the panel A comes out on the upper surface of the panel B, the inlet line 4 extending downward is arranged on the lower surface side of the panel B. Further, when a connection port connected to the connection port on the front side of the panel A comes out on the lower surface of the panel B, the inlet line 4 extending upward is arranged on the upper surface side of the panel B.

  Between the panel A and the panel B, it is necessary to provide a space for arranging the flexible hose 5 and a space for performing the work. For this reason, the panel B is preferably dimensionally smaller than the panel A to provide a space, and is extremely preferably a strip shape. On the other hand, the shape of the panel A is a quadrangle in FIG. 1, but it may be any shape as long as the connection ports can be arranged at a desired interval that enables the hose connection operation.

  It is desirable that an elbow 6 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the connection port of the panel A and the panel B to which the flexible hose 5 is connected. By using the elbow 6, the place where the flexible hose 5 is disposed can be adjusted regardless of the orientation of the connection port.

  That is, since the elbow 6 is provided at the connection port on the surface of each panel A, B to which both ends of the flexible hose 5 are connected, when the elbow 6 is attached to the connection port, the elbow 6 is connected to the central axis of the connection port. By rotating around, the end of the elbow 6 opposite to the end on the panel side can be set to an arbitrary orientation.

  For example, when the connection joint of the connection port on the panel A side is a flange with a bolt hole, the connection joint on the elbow side is the same. In this case, the rotation mounting angle of the elbow is the bolt provided on the flange. It is adjusted according to the number of holes. For example, when there are four bolt holes in the flange, the direction of the tip of the elbow 6 can be rotated and changed every 90 degrees. Further, when the connection joint is a sanitary rule joint, there is no restriction due to the bolt hole, and therefore the direction of the elbow tip can be adjusted at an arbitrary rotational mounting angle. In addition, as a joint between the elbow 6 and the connection port, a male / female ball-lock type joint (coupler, etc. of Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.) and a male / female type cam-lock type joint (toyox cam lock, etc.) )

  Thus, by being able to adjust the direction of the tip of the elbow 6, the connection work of the flexible hose 5 can be facilitated.

  Further, the panels A and B are connected to each other by setting the part of the elbow 6 attached to the connection port in the panel A and the panel B to the opposite side (toward the back side of the paper) without making the directions of the elbows 6 the same. A plurality of flexible hoses 5 can be distributed. For example, several flexible hoses 5 are routed to the left side of the panel A with reference to a connection port near the center of the panel A, and the remaining flexible hoses 5 are routed to the right side of the panel A. This makes it possible to perform hose connection work on both edge sides of the panel B. As a result, the flexible hose 5 is not concentrated in a specific space in one direction, and the flexible hose 5 can be distributed and arranged in the space between the panels A and B, for example, as shown in FIG. Become.

  In order to detect that both ends of the flexible hose 5 are connected to desired connection ports of the panel A and the panel B, various connection detection devices are prepared.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a pin connector hole 7 is provided in the vicinity of each connection port on the panel A side to which one end of the flexible hose 5 is connected, and the other end of the flexible hose 5 is connected to the panel B side. A pin connector hole 7 is also provided in the vicinity of each connection port. A cable 9 having pin connector terminals 8 inserted into the pin connector holes 7 at both ends is provided along the flexible hose 5. Further, after the operator connects both ends of the flexible hose 5 to the desired connection ports of the panel A and the panel B, the pin connector terminal 8 of the cable 9 is inserted into the pin connector hole 7 near the corresponding connection port. 9 is electrically conductive. This makes it possible to detect a connection error. It is also possible to confirm which connection ports of the panel A and the panel B are connected by the flexible hose 5 before transferring the processing object from the outlet of the kettle to the inlet of another device.

  Moreover, it is not necessary to change the hose length for each distance between the desired connection port pair by using the flexible hose 5 instead of the steel pipe to connect the desired connection ports of the panel A and the panel B. It is only necessary to prepare the flexible hose 5 having the same length. Furthermore, it is not necessary to strictly manage the finishing accuracy of the connection joint and the connection port, and deformation due to a thermal load can be absorbed by the flexibility of the flexible hose 5.

  However, the flexible hose 5 may hang down due to its own weight as the hose length increases. In order to prevent this, a hose hanger can be provided on the ceiling or the like above the switching station where the panels A and B are arranged as described above, or a hose support can be provided from the floor.

  Hereinafter, a method for transferring a workpiece using the switching station as described above will be described.

  For example, in a drug substance factory, there is a method of constructing all switching transfer lines in advance, in addition to a method of performing switching work every time the process progresses. In particular, the latter is a method that is often used in the case of so-called campaign production, in which production is performed exclusively for a kind of pharmaceuticals for several months.

  For example, after a predetermined reaction is completed in the reaction kettle, the reaction solution is transferred to the next processing facility. The transfer destination processing equipment is, for example, a filtration device or another kettle (for example, a crystallization kettle). On the other hand, the reaction kettle after sending out the reaction liquid needs to be cleaned for the next batch within the campaign production period. For this purpose, both a line X for transferring the reacted product liquid from the reaction kettle to the next processing facility and a line Y for transferring the washing waste liquid from the reaction kettle to the waste liquid tank are constructed in advance. A method of switching by a valve is used (see FIG. 4). When the lines X and Y are constructed in advance as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to use a switching station provided with the panels A and B of the present invention.

  In such a production line, when the reacted product liquid is transferred to another facility, the valve Vx provided in the line X is opened and the valve Vy provided in the line Y is closed. After the reacted product liquid is transferred to another facility, the valve Vy is opened and the valve Vx is closed for the cleaning operation of the reaction kettle, and the cleaning waste liquid is transferred to the waste liquid tank. For example, a shut-off valve (see FIG. 2) can be used as the valves Vx and Vy.

  After all campaign production is completed, all lines are cleaned and a line for the next product is constructed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outlet line from one equipment (for example, pot) 2 Straight pipe 3 Shut-off valve 4 Inlet line to another equipment 5 Flexible hose 6 Elbow 7 Pin connector hole 8 Pin connector terminal 9 Cable A, B Panel Vx, Vy Valve

Claims (9)

A switching station capable of switching a plurality of outlet lines for discharging a processed material from a plurality of facilities and a plurality of inlet lines for introducing the processed materials to another plurality of facilities to an arbitrary connection pair. There,
A plurality of pipes having both ends forming a connection port are fixed through the panel A, and the outlet line is connected to a connection port at one end of each of the plurality of tubes,
The panel B is independent from the panel A, and a plurality of pipes, both ends of which form connection ports, are fixed by being penetrated, and each of the inlets is connected to a connection port at one end of the plurality of tubes. Panel B to which the line is connected;
A flexible hose whose both ends are connected to a connection port at the other end of each tube in the panel A and a connection port at the other end of each tube in the panel B via a connection joint;
Switching station with   An elbow is attached to an end of each connection joint on the side connected to the flexible hose, and the flexible hose is attached to the elbow attached to the panel A side and the panel B side. The switching station according to claim 1, wherein the switching station connects the elbow.   The connection joint can rotate the elbow around a central axis of the connection port and change an end portion of the elbow opposite to an end portion on the panel side to an arbitrary direction. 2. Switching station according to 2.   4. The switching station according to claim 1, wherein the panel A is installed along a vertical direction, and the panel B is installed so as to extend in a direction intersecting the panel A. 5. A plurality of tubes fixed to the panel B are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of the panel B,
5. The switching station according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of tubes fixed to the panel A are arranged at different positions in the height direction between adjacent connection ports.   6. The switching station according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of tubes fixed to the panel A are arranged in a semicircular arc shape or a linear shape having a gradient on the panel surface.   The switching station according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the flexible hoses are provided with the same length.   The switching station according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a connection detection device that detects that both ends of the flexible hose are connected to connection ports of the panel A and the panel B. The connection detection device includes:
A pin connector hole provided in the vicinity of each connection port of the panel A and the panel B, a cable provided at both ends with pin connector terminals provided along the flexible hose and inserted into the pin connector hole; Have
An arbitrary connection port of the panel A and an arbitrary connection port of the panel B are connected by the flexible hose, and the cable is inserted into the pin connector hole in the vicinity of both connection ports to which both ends of the flexible hose are connected. 9. The switching station according to claim 8, wherein the cable is configured to be electrically conductive when the pin connector terminal is inserted.

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