JP2018203428A - Pneumatic tube device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pneumatic tube device capable of smoothly moving a pneumatic conveying element without clogging a curved part when moving the pneumatic conveying element in a pneumatic tube in a pneumatic tub facility.SOLUTION: A pneumatic tube device 100 for conveying a pneumatic conveying element 10, in which a pneumatic tube 101 extending from a transmitting station 110 to a receiving station 120 is arranged, includes suction means 130 provided with a suction hole 134 formed in a connected pneumatic tube 101C and a suction source 131 communicated with the suction hole 134, a pressure-feeding hole 144 formed in the connected pneumatic tube 101C between the suction hole 134 and the transmitting station 110, and pressure-feeding means 140 provided with a pressure-feeding source 141 communicated with the pressure feeding hole 144, wherein the suction means 130 is operated to suck the pneumatic conveying element 10 from the transmitting station 110 and lead it to the connected pneumatic tube 101C, and air is fed forcibly from the pressure-feeding means 140 to the pneumatic conveying element 10 reaching the suction hole 134 to pneumatically convey the pneumatic conveying element 10 to the receiving station 120.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an air pipe device for moving an air carrier within an air pipe arranged from a transmitting station to a receiving station.

  Inserting a capsule-shaped pneumatic carrier containing articles (medical charts, slips, parts, etc.) into the pneumatic pipe arranged from the transmitting station to the receiving station, and the pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side of the pneumatic carrier Is known and used in hospitals and factories.

  The air carrier described above is composed of a cylindrical main body (capsule) that accommodates an article, and a guide ring (ring body) that is fixedly attached to the front and rear of the main body and that slidably seals in contact with the air supply tube. Therefore, the inside of the air pipe can be moved at high speed (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Japanese Patent No. 3423838 JP-A-55-026174 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-265042

  In the above-described pneumatic feeding equipment, generally, the pneumatic feeding pipe is configured by combining a straight portion and a curved portion, so that the pneumatic feeder moving in the pneumatic feeding tube is pumped from the rear in the traveling direction. In the system, the tip of the pneumatic feeder swings and cannot bend at the corner, and may be clogged, which causes a problem in the operation of the pneumatic pipeline equipment. Furthermore, in the conventional pneumatic feeding equipment, it is necessary to attach a pressure feeding device to the transmitting station side, and there is a problem that the equipment of the pressure feeding device that exerts a pressure feeding force to send the pneumatic feeding element to the receiving station becomes relatively expensive. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and a main technical problem thereof is an air pipe device for moving an air feed element in an air feed pipe in an air feed pipe facility, which is smooth without clogging a curved portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic tube device that can be moved to.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problem, according to the present invention, there is provided an air feeding pipe device that is provided with an air feeding pipe from a transmitting station to a receiving station and conveys an air feeding element, and is installed upright from the transmitting station. The first upright airpipe, the second upright airpipe installed from the receiving station, the first upright airpipe and the second upright airpipe are connected to each other. A suction means including a suction pipe formed in the connection pneumatic pipe and a suction source communicating with the suction hole; and between the suction hole and the transmission station. A pressure feed hole formed in the connection air feed pipe, a pressure feed means having a pressure feed source communicating with the pressure feed hole, and operating the suction means to suck the air feed element from the transmission station to connect Air is pumped from the pumping means to the air feeder that is led to the air feed tube and reaches the suction hole. Care to send a pneumatic tube apparatus is provided.

  The transmission station includes a first mounting table on which the air carrier is placed, and the air carrier placed on the mounting table by raising the first mounting table. First elevating means to be inserted into the pipe, a first atmospheric path communicating with the first mounting table and opening to the atmosphere, and a first valve disposed in the first atmospheric path. The receiving station is configured to place a second mounting table on which the air carrier is placed, and the air carrier placed on the second mounting table by lowering the second mounting table. A second elevating means for receiving from the second standing air pipe, a second atmospheric path communicating with the second mounting table and opening to the atmosphere, and a second disposed in the second atmospheric path The control means opens the first valve when sucking and moving the air carrier mounted on the first mounting table of the transmission station. Opening the first atmospheric path to the atmosphere, closing the second valve of the receiving station, blocking the second atmospheric path from the atmosphere and operating the suction means with the pumping means stopped, When sucking the air-feeding element by the suction means and pumping the air-feeding element that has passed through the pressure-feeding hole, the first valve of the transmitting station is closed to shut off the atmosphere, and the air-receiving element of the receiving station is shut off. The pressure feeding means can be configured to operate in a state where the second valve is opened and opened to the atmosphere to stop the suction means. In addition, the control means closes the second atmospheric path and stops the operation of the pressure feeding means to generate an air cushion when the air feeding element reaches the second standing air feeding pipe. Preferably, the air carrier is seated on the second mounting table.

  The pneumatic pipe apparatus of the present invention is an pneumatic pipe apparatus that is provided with an pneumatic pipe from a transmission station to a reception station and conveys an pneumatic carrier, and is a first standing installation established from the transmission station. An air supply pipe, a second upright air supply pipe erected from the receiving station, a connecting air supply pipe connecting the first upright air supply pipe and the second upright air supply pipe; A suction means including a suction hole formed in the connection air feeding tube and a suction source communicating with the suction hole, and the connection air feeding tube between the suction hole and the transmission station. A pressure feed hole formed in the pressure feed means, a pressure feed means having a pressure feed source communicating with the pressure feed hole, and operating the suction means to suck the air feed element from the transmission station and guide it to the connected air feed pipe. It is configured to air-feed the air-feeding element by pressure-feeding air from the pressure-feeding means to the air-feeding element that has reached the suction hole. , Even if the curved portion is disposed in a pneumatic tube, to allow smooth running without Kiokuko clogging.

It is the whole pneumatic feeder applied to the pneumatic pipe apparatus of this invention, and an exploded view which shows the structure. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an air pipe device of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air pipe device configured according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall perspective view (left side in the figure) of an air carrier 10 suitable for the pneumatic tube apparatus of the present invention, and an exploded view (right side in the figure) showing the configuration. As shown in the figure, the air carrier 10 includes a capsule 11 that accommodates an article therein, ring bodies 12 and 12 that constitute sliding bodies disposed at the upper end and the lower end of the capsule 11, and the ring body 12, It is mainly comprised from the fixing plates 13 and 13 for supporting 12 with respect to the end surface of the capsule 11. FIG. The capsule 11 is appropriately provided with an opening for taking the article into and out of the capsule 11, but this is omitted in the figure. The fixing plate 13 is fixed to the upper end and the lower end of the capsule 11 by four fixing bolts 14 respectively. In the present embodiment, since both the upper end side and the lower end side have the same structure, description on the lower end side structure is omitted, and hereinafter, the structure on the upper end side will be described.

  On the upper end side of the capsule 11, a ring body 12 that constitutes a sliding body, a support shaft 15 erected on the end face of the capsule 11 for loosely fitting the ring body 12, and the ring body 12 on the end face 11 a of the capsule 11 And a fixed plate 13 for sandwiching and supporting. The fixed plate 13 is formed in a substantially disc shape with an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter size of the ring body 12. The support shaft 15 is formed of a cylinder concentric with the central axis of the capsule 11 and has a support shaft side wall surface 15a and a support shaft end surface 15b. A screw hole 15c for screwing a fixing bolt 14 for fixing the fixing plate 13 is formed in the support shaft end face 15b.

  The ring body 12 includes a felt ring 12a that is in contact with the inner wall of the air pipe 101 of the air pipe device 100 shown in FIG. 2, and a support ring 12b that supports the felt ring 12a. The felt ring 12a can be constituted by, for example, an animal hair such as wool, which is shrunk by applying steam, heat, or pressure to form a cloth. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a felt-like nonwoven fabric composed of chemical fibers may be used. However, since the felt ring 12a slides with the inner wall of the air pipe, it is preferable to select a felt material that is less likely to generate static electricity.

  The support ring 12b has an opening 12c on the inner side, and the felt ring 12a is fixed to the support ring 12b from the outside at a plurality of locations at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction using screws or the like. In addition, the fixing method of the felt ring 12a and the support ring 12b is not limited to the method by screwing, For example, an adhesive agent etc. can also be used. However, when the support ring 12b is coated with a fluorine resin, it is preferable that the support ring 12b is fixed with a screw in consideration of the fact that it is difficult to firmly fix the support ring 12b with an adhesive.

  When the description is further continued, the ring body 12 is attached to the support shaft 15 erected on the end surface 11a of the capsule 11 through the opening 12c. The ring body 12 attached to the support shaft 15 is supported so as to be sandwiched between the fixed plate 13 fixed to the support shaft end surface 15b of the support shaft 15 and the end surface 11a of the capsule. The outer diameter of the support shaft 15 is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 12c of the support ring 12b constituting the ring body 12, and a gap formed between the end surface 11a of the capsule 11 and the lower surface of the fixing plate 13 is further formed. It is formed slightly larger than the height dimension of the ring body 12. Thereby, the ring body 12 is supported in a state in which it is slidably fitted to the support shaft 15 of the capsule 11. That is, the axial center of the capsule 11 and the ring body 12 are not fixed in a state where the axial centers thereof completely coincide with each other, so that the axial center of the ring body 12 is eccentric with respect to the axial center of the capsule 11. Is slidably supported by. Since the fixing plate 13 is structured to be fixed by the fixing bolt 14 as described above, the ring body 12 is configured to be detachable by removing the fixing plate 13, and the felt ring 12a is worn and the ring body 12 is worn. If it is necessary to replace the battery, it can be easily replaced. In the present embodiment, since the support ring 12 b is made of a fluororesin, the ring body 12 is placed on the support shaft side wall surface 15 a of the support shaft 15, the end surface 11 a of the capsule 11, and the lower surface of the fixing plate 13. On the other hand, it can slide more smoothly. Although the upper end side of the pneumatic carrier 10 based on this invention is comprised as mentioned above, the lower end side is also the completely same structure (In FIG. 1, the fixing bolt 14 of the lower end side is abbreviate | omitted).

  In FIG. 2, the whole schematic diagram of the pneumatic tube apparatus 100 of this embodiment is shown. As shown in the drawing, the pneumatic tube apparatus 100 is provided with a transmission station 110, a reception station 120, and an pneumatic tube 101 that is piped between the transmission station 110 and the reception station 120. The pneumatic pipe 101 is appropriately formed according to the position and route of the destination to which the pneumatic carrier 10 is transferred, but the first vertical pneumatic pipe 101A standing in the vertical direction from the transmission station 110; A connection air-feeding tube 101C that connects the second standing air-feeding tube 101E and the first standing air-feeding tube 101A in a vertical direction from the receiving station 120 in a horizontal direction, and a first standing-up air A first corner portion 101B that connects the feeding tube 101A and the connected pneumatic feeding tube 101C with a curve, and a second corner portion 101D that connects the connecting pneumatic feeding tube 101C and the second upright pneumatic feeding tube 101E with a curve. It is comprised including.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the connected pneumatic pipe 101 </ b> C has a suction means 130 for sucking air from the inside of the pneumatic pipe 101 and depressurizing, and a pressure feeding means 140 for pumping high-pressure air to the pneumatic pipe 101. It is connected. The suction means 130 includes a suction source (intake pump) 131 and an intake pipe 133 provided with a valve 132. The intake pipe 133 is communicated with the connected air feed pipe 101C through a suction hole 134. The pressure feeding means 140 is constituted by a pressure feeding source (pressure feeding pump) 141 and a pressure feeding pipe 143 provided with a valve 142. The pressure feeding pipe 143 is connected via a pressure feeding hole 144 provided in the connection air feeding pipe 101C. It communicates with the pipe 101C. The pressure feed hole 144 is disposed on the transmission station 110 side with respect to the suction hole 134. In other words, the suction hole 134 is disposed on the receiving station 120 side with respect to the pressure feeding hole 144.

  As shown in the figure, the transmission station 110 is provided on the end side of the first upright air supply tube 101A, and the transmission table 114 is moved up and down with respect to the end of the first upright air supply tube 101A. Elevating means 112 is provided that is driven so as to approach (shown by a solid line) and separate (shown by a two-dot chain line). The lifting / lowering means 112 is configured to convert the rotational motion of the motor 111 into a linear motion via a ball screw 113 built in the lifting / lowering means 112 and transmit the linear motion to the engaging portion 114a of the transmission table 114. It has a function of moving forward and backward with respect to the end portion of the first upright air pipe 101A and positioning it at a desired position. The transmission table 114 is provided with a communication hole 115, and the communication hole 115 is connected to a first atmospheric path 116 having a function of opening / closing to the atmosphere and a first valve 117. In a state where the transmission table 114 is closest to the end portion of the first upright air supply tube 101A (shown by a solid line), the transmission table 114 closes the end portion of the first upright air supply tube 101A, In particular, in the state where the first valve 117 is closed, the end portion side of the air pipe 101 is sealed to restrict the entry and exit of air.

  The reception station 120 also has the same configuration as the transmission station 110, and the reception table 124 is close (indicated by a solid line) and separated (indicated by a two-dot chain line) with respect to the end of the second upright air pipe 101E. ) Is provided. The lifting / lowering means 122 has a configuration in which the rotational motion of the motor 121 is converted into a linear motion via a ball screw (not shown) built in the lifting / lowering means 112 and transmitted to an engagement portion (not shown) of the reception table 124. It has a function of moving 124 forward and backward with respect to the end. A communication hole 125 is provided in the reception table 124, and a second valve 127 is connected via a second atmospheric path 126. In a state where the reception table 124 is indicated by a solid line closest to the end of the second upright air pipe 101E, the reception table 124 closes the end of the second upright air pipe 101E, and further In the state where the valve 127 is closed, the entry and exit of air on the end side of the second upright air supply pipe 101E is restricted. By providing the above configuration, it is possible to freely close and open the one end portion and the other end portion of the air feeding tube 101, and the air feeding tube 101 can be in an airtight state as a whole. . Further, the inner diameter of the air feeding tube 101 is set corresponding to the outer diameter of the ring body 12 of the air feeding element 10, and is set to a dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the ring body 12.

  The control means 20 is constituted by a computer and temporarily stores a central processing unit (CPU) that performs arithmetic processing according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a control program and the like, detected detection values, arithmetic results, and the like. Read / write random access memory (RAM), input interface, and output interface, motor 111 of transmission station 110, motor 121 of reception station 120, first valve 117, second The valve 127 and the valves 132 and 142 are connected at least, and a control signal is output to each means and controlled at an appropriate timing.

  The pneumatic tube apparatus 100 of the present invention is generally configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.

  When the transfer of the pneumatic carrier 10 is started by the pneumatic tube 101, first, the lifting / lowering means 112 is operated in the transmission station 110 to move the transmission table 114 to a position indicated by 114 '. If the transmission table 114 is moved to the position indicated by 114 ′, the pneumatic carrier 10 is set on the transmission table 114, the transmission table 114 is moved again, and the pneumatic carrier 10 is moved to the first standing pneumatic carrier. It inserts in the edge part of the pipe | tube 101A, and it is set as the state which obstruct | occludes the edge part of the 1st standing air_pipe 101 with the transmission table 114. FIG. At this time, the first valve 117 is closed. The reception table 124 is also positioned to close the end of the second upright air supply tube 101E, and the second valve 127 is closed to make the entire inside of the air supply tube 101 airtight.

  When the pneumatic carrier 10 is inserted and set in the first upright pneumatic pipe 101A, the first valve 117 is opened, the valve 132 of the suction means 130 is opened, and the suction source 131 is operated. The entire inside of the air pipe 101 is depressurized. When the inside of the pneumatic tube 101 is depressurized and the atmosphere is introduced from the first valve 117 of the transmitting station 110, the pneumatic tube 101 on the receiving station 120 side of the pneumatic transmitter 10, the first valve 117 side, The air pressure difference is generated between the two, and the air pressure difference 10 is generated, so that the air feed element 10 at the position shown in FIG. At this time, the pressure feeding means 140 is stopped without operating. Note that when the pneumatic feeder 10 is started, before the first valve 117 is opened, the suction means 130 may be started and the first valve 117 may be opened.

  The pneumatic carrier 10 started from the transmission station 110 advances through the first upright pneumatic pipe 101A by the above-described pressure difference, and then reaches the first corner portion 101B (position indicated by (b) in the figure). .

  The pneumatic carrier 10 reaches the position (b) in FIG. 2 and reaches the first corner portion 101B of the pneumatic tube 101. The pneumatic carrier 10 is sucked into the pneumatic tube 101 by negative pressure. proceed. Therefore, the front end side of the air carrier 10 advances smoothly without unnecessarily swinging, and even if the air carrier 10 reaches the first corner portion 101B of the air carrier tube 101, the air carrier 10 can pass smoothly without clogging. .

  The pneumatic feeder 10 that has passed through the first corner portion 101B enters the connected pneumatic pipeline 101C and passes through the pressure feed hole 144 to which the pressure feeding means 140 is connected. The passage of the pressure feed hole 144 can be detected by a proximity sensor or the like (not shown), and the fact that the air feed element 10 has passed through the pressure feed hole 144 is transmitted to the control means 20 and reaches the position indicated by (c) in the figure. .

  When the air feeder 10 passes through the pressure feed hole 144 while the suction means 130 is operating, no negative pressure is supplied to the receiving station 120 side from the air feeder 10, and the transmitter station 110 side of the air feeder 10 is sucked. Since the negative pressure is not supplied, the progress of the air carrier 10 may be hindered. Therefore, in the pneumatic feeding device 100 of the present embodiment, the sensor 142 or the like confirms that the pneumatic feeder 10 has passed through the pressure feeding hole 144, thereby opening the valve 142 of the pressure feeding means 140 and the pressure feeding source 141. Actuates and closes the first valve 117 of the transmitting station 110. Further, the valve 132 of the suction means 130 is closed and the suction pump 131 is stopped. At the same time, the second valve 127 of the reception station 120 is opened. By doing in this way, the pneumatic carrier 10 continues to obtain a propulsive force by the pressure feeding means 140 in the pneumatic pipe 101, passes through the second corner portion 101D through the connecting pneumatic pipe 101C, and passes through the second corner portion 101D. The second vertical air pipe 101E is reached.

  In the present embodiment, at the timing when the pneumatic feeder 10 enters the second standing pneumatic pipeline 101E, the second valve 127 is closed to shut off the atmosphere, and the operation of the pressure feeding means 140 is stopped. That is, the receiving station 120 side of the air carrier 10 is closed. As a result, the air carrier 10 reaches the reception table 124 of the receiving station 120 in a state where an air cushion is generated on the receiving station 120 side of the air carrier 10 (indicated by (d) in the figure). Since the air cushion is generated in this manner, the air carrier 10 is prevented from colliding violently with the receiving table 124, and the air carrier 10 is damaged, or the parts housed in the capsule 11 of the air carrier 10 Is prevented from being destroyed.

  When the pneumatic carrier 10 reaches the reception table 124, the lifting means 122 is operated to lower the reception table 124 to a position indicated by 124 'so that the pneumatic carrier 10 can be taken out. Note that the pneumatic carrier 10 according to the present embodiment has a ring body 12 that is loosely fitted to the support shaft 15, so that the curved carrier is not only smoothly advanced but also the connected pneumatic pipeline 101 </ b> C of the pneumatic pipe 101. For example, even if the inner wall has minute irregularities, the ring body 12 moves smoothly relative to the capsule 11, so that the inside of the air feeding tube 101 can be moved smoothly.

  The pneumatic tube apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is detected by providing a sensor or the like that the air feed element 10 passes through the pressure feed hole 144, and the control means 20 is notified and the operation of the pressure feed means 140 or the suction means 130 is detected at the detected timing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Since the traveling speed of the air carrier 10 is substantially constant, the passage time of the pressure feed hole 144 can be predicted to some extent, and the timing predicted from the time when the air carrier 10 starts the transmitting station without providing a sensor or the like. It is also possible to control the operation of the pressure feeding means 140 and the suction means 130 based on the above.

10: air carrier 11: capsule 12: ring body 12a: felt ring 12b: support ring 12c: opening 12d: screw 13: fixing plate 14: fixing bolt 15: support shaft 15a: support shaft side wall surface 15b: support shaft end surface 100 : Pneumatic pipe equipment 101: Pneumatic pipe 110: Transmission station 111: Motor 112: Lifting means 113: Ball screw 114: Transmission table 117: First valve 120: Reception station 121: Motor 122: Lifting means 124: Reception table 127: Second valve 130: Suction means 131: Suction source (suction pump)
132: Valve 133: Intake pipe 140: Pressure feeding means 141: Pressure feeding source (pressure feeding pump)
142: Valve 143: Pressure feed pipe

Claims (3)

An air pipe device that is provided with an air pipe from a transmitting station to a receiving station and conveys an air carrier;
A first upright air-pipe tube erected from the transmitting station, a second upright air-pipe tube erected from the receiving station, the first upright air-pipe tube and the second upright tube A connected pneumatic pipe connecting the pneumatic pipe;
Control means,
A suction means provided with a suction hole formed in the connection air pipe and a suction source communicating with the suction hole;
A pressure feeding hole formed in the connection air feeding pipe between the suction hole and the transmission station, and a pressure feeding means having a pressure feeding source communicating with the pressure feeding hole;
The suction means is operated to suck the air feed element from the transmission station and guide it to the connected air feed pipe, and air is pumped from the pressure feed means to the air feed element that has reached the suction hole. Pneumatic tube device that airs the child. The transmitting station is
A first mounting table on which the pneumatic carrier is placed, and the pneumatic carrier placed on the mounting table is inserted into the first upright air feeding pipe by raising the first mounting table. First elevating means;
A first atmospheric path communicating with the first mounting table and opened to the atmosphere, and a first valve disposed in the first atmospheric path;
The receiving station
A second mounting table for mounting the air carrier; and the air carrier placed on the second mounting table by lowering the second mounting table in the second upright air supply pipe Comprising: a second lifting means received from the second mounting path; a second atmospheric path communicating with the second mounting table and opening to the atmosphere; and a second valve disposed in the second atmospheric path,
The control means includes
When sucking and moving the air carrier mounted on the first mounting table of the transmitting station, the first valve is opened to open the first atmospheric path to the atmosphere, and the receiving station Closing the second valve and shutting off the second atmospheric path from the atmosphere and stopping the pumping means, and operating the suction means,
When sucking the air-feeding element by the suction means and pumping the air-feeding element that has passed through the pressure-feeding hole, the first valve of the transmitting station is closed to shut off the atmosphere, and the air-receiving element of the receiving station is shut off. The pneumatic tube apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure feeding means is operated in a state where the second valve is opened and opened to the atmosphere to stop the suction means. The control means includes
When the air feeder reaches the second standing air pipe, the second atmospheric path is closed and the operation of the pressure feeding means is stopped, an air cushion is generated, and the air carrier is moved to the second air passage. The pneumatic tube apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is seated on the second mounting table.