JP2020146676A - Cutting method and device of adsorbent - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cutting method and a cutting device of an adsorbent where the cutting of the adsorbent is performed with simple equipment constitution and the adhesion of swarf on the cut surface of the adsorbent is suppressed in a step cutting the adsorbent projected from the end surface of a cylindrical case to a prescribed length.SOLUTION: A cutting method of an adsorbent used for an adsorption column includes: (1) a cutting step cutting at least one or more parts of the adsorbent extending from a cylindrical case end part by proceeding a cutting blade 8 in a direction orthogonal to a cylindrical case axial direction after inserting the adsorbent 3 into one or more cylindrical cases 2; and (2) a separation step separating the adsorbent cut with the cutting blade from the cutting blade.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting an adsorbent used in an adsorption column.

In order to purify the fluid to be treated, an adsorption column that removes the substance to be removed contained in the fluid to be treated by adsorption is used.

For example, in the case of an adsorption column used for blood purification, it is used to adsorb and remove a substance to be removed contained in a patient's blood. Specifically, the blood of the patient corresponding to the fluid to be treated is circulated extracorporeally via an adsorption column. Such an adsorbent column is configured to include an adsorbent for adsorbing blood components, a tubular case accommodating the adsorbent, and an inlet and outlet for blood. In the extracorporeal circulation, the patient's blood flowing in from the inflow port comes into contact with the adsorbent contained in the column, so that the substance to be removed is adsorbed and removed by the adsorbent. The purified blood is drained from the outlet and returned to the patient's body. Beads, knitted fabrics, fine short fibers, fiber bundles and the like are used as the adsorbent.

The method for producing an adsorption column is generally as follows. First, the adsorbent that has been roughly cut to the specified length is put together in a cylindrical shape. Next, the collected adsorbent is inserted into the tubular case. Then, the excess adsorbent protruding from the side surface of the tubular case is removed, and a cap serving as a blood introduction / extraction part is attached.

When the adsorbent is a continuous body such as a knitted fabric or a fiber bundle, it is necessary to cut it to a predetermined length suitable for the case in order to remove the excess adsorbent, and the following method is adopted. .. That is, there are a rotary round blade method using a rotating round blade and a guillotine method using a straight blade to cut the adsorbent in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case. In the rotary round blade method, a rotating mechanism that rotates the round blade and a front-back and rear-rear position for cutting the adsorbent by advancing the adsorbent in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case and retreating after cutting. Two with a moving mechanism are required. Since the guillotine method using a straight blade does not require a blade rotation mechanism, the equipment space required for cutting can be reduced as compared with the rotary round blade method.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-176371

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique relating to a cutting device and a cutting method for cutting a resin molded product by pressing a cutter blade. Here, a problem is disclosed that a cutting device that cuts with a rotary blade is more likely to generate cutting powder than a straight blade.

Further, in the guillotine method using a straight blade, when cutting in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case and then retracting the straight blade, the adsorbent is rubbed on the back side of the blade, that is, the peak of the blade. As a result, the fibers may be disturbed, the cross section may be deformed, and chips may be generated.

In order to avoid the generation of defective products due to the adhesion of chips, it is preferable to provide a chip removal facility and an inspection step for determining the presence or absence of chips adhering to the cut surface. However, it is inevitable that the manufacturing cost will increase with the introduction of removal equipment and additional measures for the inspection process. Therefore, in the step of cutting to the above-mentioned predetermined length, it is necessary to suppress chips in the first place.

In the case of an adsorbent column used for blood purification, since the cross section of the adsorbent comes into direct contact with blood, a homogeneous and flat cut surface is required so as not to promote blood coagulation / hemolysis. In addition, it is necessary to minimize the generation of chips in order to prevent contamination into the blood.

In the cutting of the hollow fiber membrane bundle in the conventional hollow fiber membrane module, the fibers are roughly cut in the primary cutting step, and after the step of fixing the hollow fiber membrane bundle to the column called the potting step, the subsequent step 2 A method is adopted in which the end faces are smoothly cut by the next cutting step and the hollow portion of the hollow fiber membrane is exposed at the end faces. In this way, when it is necessary to take a manufacturing process in which the adsorbent is roughly cut in the primary cutting step and the end faces are trimmed in the secondary cutting step in the subsequent step, the primary cut end face to which chips are attached is cut. It can be removed by a secondary cut.

However, it is not necessary to take a step called a potting step, and when it is desired to fill the column with the cut adsorbent as it is, it is complicated to prepare a secondary cutting step only for removing chips. That is, when the primary cut is positioned as the final finishing cut, and it is desired to achieve the process of smoothing the end face originally performed in the secondary cut and making the end face in which the adhesion of chips is suppressed in the primary cut. Is even more difficult to solve this problem with prior art.

Therefore, in the present invention, in the step of cutting the adsorbent protruding from the end face of the tubular case to a predetermined length, the adsorbent is cut by a simple equipment configuration, and chips adhere to the cut surface of the adsorbent. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suppressed method for cutting an adsorbent and a cutting device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the present invention
A method for cutting an adsorbent used in an adsorption column, which comprises the following steps.
(1) In the step of cutting the adsorbent, after inserting the adsorbent into one or more tubular cases, a cutting blade is used to cut at least one of the adsorbents extending from the end of the tubular case. Cutting step of cutting by advancing in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (2) Separation step of separating the adsorbent cut by the cutting blade from the cutting blade. ,
It is a cutting device for an adsorbent, which is used for cutting the adsorbent in an adsorbent column including at least a tubular case for accommodating the adsorbent and the adsorbent, and is provided with the following members.
(A) Case fixing base for fixing the tubular case (b) Adsorbent chuck provided near the cutting position of the adsorbent to grip the adsorbent (c) Cutting blade for cutting the adsorbent (d) Cutting blade driving unit that advances the cutting blade in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (e) A driving unit that separates the adsorbent from the cutting blade.

According to the present invention, in the step of cutting the adsorbent protruding from the end surface of the tubular case to a predetermined length, the adsorbent is cut by a simple equipment configuration, and chips adhere to the adsorbent cut surface. A suppressed adsorbent can be obtained.

It is a side sectional view which illustrates one Embodiment of the adsorption column which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which showed the process of cutting the adsorbent by a blade. It is a schematic diagram which showed the process of separating the cut adsorbent and the cutting blade from each other without recontacting each other in the case of cutting at one place. It is a schematic diagram which showed the process of separating the cut adsorbent and the cutting blade from each other without re-contacting each other in the simultaneous cutting of a plurality of places.

The present invention is a method for cutting an adsorbent used in an adsorbent column, which comprises the following steps.
(1) In the step of cutting the adsorbent, after inserting the adsorbent into one or more tubular cases, a cutting blade is used to cut at least one of the adsorbents extending from the end of the tubular case. Cutting step of cutting by advancing in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (2) Separation step of separating the adsorbent cut by the cutting blade from the cutting blade. ,
It is a cutting device for an adsorbent, which is used for cutting the adsorbent in an adsorbent column including at least a tubular case for accommodating the adsorbent and the adsorbent, and is provided with the following members.
(A) Case fixing base for fixing the tubular case (b) Adsorbent chuck provided near the cutting position of the adsorbent to grip the adsorbent (c) Cutting blade for cutting the adsorbent (d) Cutting blade driving unit that advances the cutting blade in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (e) Driving unit that separates the adsorbent from the cutting blade <Adsorbent>
Beads, knitted fabrics, fine short fibers, fiber bundles, and the like are used as the adsorbent, and are selected according to the substance to be removed. The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for cutting an adsorbent, and in the case of beads, a material having a predetermined length, such as being finally included in a fiber bundle, is targeted.

Here, when the adsorption column is used for blood purification, it is preferable that the amount of blood taken out is small in order to reduce the burden on the patient. Then, it is necessary to select an adsorbent that can make the contact area with blood as large as possible. From this point of view, it is advantageous that the fiber bundle is formed by aligning the fibers in one direction. Such fiber bundles can be accommodated in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubular case, i.e., from the blood inlet to the outlet, as compared to beads, knitted fabrics, and fine short fibers. This is because the blood flow resistance can be reduced.

In the present invention, the materials such as fibers and beads constituting the adsorbent are not particularly limited, but organic substances are preferably used from the viewpoint of ease of molding and cost, and for example, polymethyl. Methacrylate (hereinafter referred to as PMMA), polyacrylonitrile (hereinafter referred to as PAN), polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyaryl ether sulfone, polypropylene, polysulfylene, polycarbonate, cellulose, cellulose triacetate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and the like are used. .. When the treatment fluid is blood, it is preferable to contain a material having a property of adsorbing proteins, and examples thereof include polysulfone, PMMA, PAN, and cellulose.

The form of the fiber may be either a hollow yarn or a solid yarn. More preferably, it is a solid yarn. Here, the "hollow fiber" indicates a fiber form in which fibers are tubularized. The "solid yarn", contrary to the "hollow fiber", indicates a fiber morphology in which the fibers are not tubularized. The reason why the solid yarn is preferable is that in the case of the hollow yarn, if the pressure loss when the processing fluid flows inside and outside the hollow yarn is different, the flow rate of the processing fluid differs between the inside and the outside of the hollow yarn. As a result, there is a concern that the adsorption efficiency of the adsorption column may decrease. In the case of hollow yarn, attention should be paid to this point, and in the case of solid yarn, there is no such concern, which is more preferable.

If the yarn diameter of the fiber (inner diameter of the yarn in the case of a hollow yarn and outer diameter of the yarn in the case of a solid yarn) is too small, there is a concern that the pressure loss of the adsorption column may increase. In addition, the decrease in the physical strength of the fiber may cause the fiber to be damaged or fine particles to be generated from the fiber when the adsorption column is assembled or used.

On the other hand, if the yarn diameter is too large, the surface area per unit volume of the fiber decreases, and the contact area with the processing fluid decreases, so that the adsorption performance of the adsorption column deteriorates.

Therefore, the upper limit of the yarn diameter of the fiber is preferably 1000 μm or less, more preferably 400 μm or less, and further preferably 190 μm or less. The lower limit is preferably 10 μm or more, more preferably 20 μm or more, and further preferably 50 μm or more.

The method for measuring the diameter of a fiber is to extract any 50 fibers contained in a case to form a thread bundle, wash the thread bundle with pure water, and then sandwich it between a slide glass and a cover glass. , Using a projector (for example, Nikon V-10A), arbitrarily two places for the same fiber, the outer diameter (outermost diameter) if the cross section of the fiber is circular, and the outermost circumference if it is not circular. Measure the diameter equivalent to the circumscribed circle, take the average value, and round off the first digit after the decimal point.

The yarn bundle is formed by aligning a large number of the fibers in the same direction, but may be composed of fibers having the same specifications or may be composed of fibers having a plurality of different specifications. The specifications here refer to the material of the fiber and the cross-sectional shape of the fiber. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be a uniform perfect circle, or may include an ellipse or an irregular shape (cross shape, etc.). Further, if the number of threads is too small, the adsorption performance may be insufficient and the filling rate of the adsorbent may not be controlled. Therefore, the lower limit is preferably 100 or more, and more preferably 500 or more. .. The upper limit is not particularly set, but if it is too large, there is a concern that the manufacturability of the adsorption column may deteriorate, so 1 million or less is preferable.

<Cylindrical case, blood inlet and blood outlet>
The shape and material of the tubular case, blood inlet and blood outlet are not particularly limited and are selected according to the purpose. For example, as the shape of the tubular case, a cylindrical shape, an elliptical tubular shape, or a square tubular shape is used, but it is appropriately selected from the viewpoint of moldability, strength, operability, and the like. The shapes of the blood inlet and the blood outlet are appropriately selected according to the shape of the tubular case. As these materials, resins are preferable in terms of productivity and disposable properties, and for example, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and the like are preferable, but metals are used. You can also.

The connection between the tubular case and the blood inlet and blood outlet is appropriately designed from the viewpoint of preventing leakage of the processing fluid and the like from the joint and the strength of the bond. For example, for bonding, a bonding method such as screw bonding, adhesion, fusion, or a combination thereof can be used. Further, an elastic sealing member such as an O-ring may be arranged between the tubular case and the blood inlet and blood outlet.

<Adsorption column and its assembly method>
The adsorption column in the present invention can be suitably used for extracorporeal circulation for purifying a fluid to be treated, particularly for purifying a body fluid typified by blood.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an adsorption column according to the present invention. Of course, the adsorption column is not limited to this one embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. The adsorption column 1 has a tubular case 2 in which the adsorbent 3 is housed, and a lid material 4 having a blood inlet 5 or a blood outlet 6 attached to the end of the tubular case 2. Blood flows into the adsorption column from the blood inlet 5, and when the blood comes into contact with the adsorbent 3 which is a blood component adsorbent, the removal target substance is removed from the blood and then flows in the direction of the blood outlet 6. , Flows out of the adsorption column from the blood outlet 6.

<Method and device for cutting adsorbent>
An embodiment of the method for cutting the adsorbent will be described with reference to the drawings. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this one embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a step of cutting the adsorbent with a blade. The step of cutting the adsorbent 3 inserted into the tubular case 2 is shown. The adsorbent 3 is inserted into at least one tubular case 2, and the tubular case 2 is fixed to the case fixing base 7. The shape of the fixing base is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the tubular case 2 is fixed so as not to move not only in the radial direction but also in the central axis direction. The cutting blade 8 is located in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the adsorbent 3, and cuts and cuts in the adsorbent 3. Further, in order to resist the load at the time of cutting, an adsorbent chuck 9 for supporting the adsorbent 3 is provided near the cutting position. The diameter of the adsorbent gripping portion of the adsorbent chuck 9 is preferably equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the adsorbent in terms of suppressing damage to the adsorbent due to the chuck, but when the adsorbent 3 is displaced due to the load during cutting. The positional relationship between the tubular case 2 and the adsorbent 3 can be stabilized by setting the diameter to the outer diameter of the adsorbent or less. The case fixing base 7 and the adsorbent chuck 9 may be integrated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a step of separating the cut adsorbent and the cutting blade from each other without re-contacting each other when the cutting is performed at one place. The step of cutting the adsorbent in the case of cutting at one place and the step of separating the cut adsorbent 3 and the cutting blade 8 without recontacting each other are shown. After the adsorbent 3 is cut by the cutting blade 8, the adsorbent is separated from the cutting blade 8 without being brought into contact with the cutting blade 8 again. The drive system is not particularly limited, and a uniaxial drive air cylinder or the like may be used, but the distance to be separated needs to be at least the thickness of the cutting blade 8 in order to prevent recontact between the adsorbent 3 and the cutting blade 8. Is. After that, the cutting blade 8 is passed between the separated adsorbents 3 and returned to the origin position. By taking out the cut adsorbent 3 in a separated state, it is possible to prevent the adsorbents 3 from coming into contact with each other, suppress the adhesion of chips, and manufacture a product having a stable cut surface shape. In addition, in order to manufacture a stable product, it is possible to select a method in which fibers are cut in the primary cut, end faces are trimmed in the finish cut in the subsequent process, and chips are removed at the same time, but the risk of chip generation is suppressed. From the viewpoint and the viewpoint of shortening the tact time, it is more preferable to incorporate the end face obtained by the primary cut into the product as it is without finishing cutting.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a step of separating the cut adsorbent and the cutting blade from each other without recontacting each other in simultaneous cutting at a plurality of locations. In the simultaneous cutting of a plurality of places, a step of cutting the adsorbent and a step of separating the cut adsorbent 3 and the cutting blade 8 without recontacting each other are shown. After the adsorbent 3 is cut by the cutting blade 8, each adsorbent is separated from the thickness of the cutting blade or more, and the cutting blade 8 is positioned in the middle of each cutting surface gap after the adsorbent is separated. Move in the longitudinal direction. After that, the cutting blade 8 is passed between the separated adsorbents 3 and returned to the origin position. By taking out the cut adsorbent 3 in a separated state, it is possible to prevent the adsorbents 3 from coming into contact with each other, suppress the adhesion of chips, and manufacture a product having a stable cut surface shape.

Hereinafter, an example of carrying out the present invention will be shown. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[Example 1]
As the adsorption column, a work was prepared in which the material was polycarbonate and the inner diameter was 65 mm, and the adsorbent was PMMA solid yarn (average fiber diameter 110 μm, fiber length 250 mm, number of fibers 210,000).

Next, the tubular case in which the adsorbent is inserted is installed on a case fixing base made of MC nylon and having a receiving diameter equivalent to the outer diameter of the case, and in order to resist the load during cutting, the material is SUS304, the thickness is 2 mm, and the radius. An adsorbent chuck having a diameter of 31 mm was provided near the cut portion to support the adsorbent.

Next, after the adsorbent 3 was cut by the cutting blade 8 having a material carbide, a cutting edge angle of 22 °, a thickness of 1 mm, and a width of 20 mm, the adsorbent was separated from the cutting blade 3 without recontacting with the cutting blade 8. ..

Next, the cutting blade was retracted to the position before cutting, and the work in a cut and separated state was taken out.

Finally, chips adhering to the cut surface of the adsorbent of the work were confirmed.

[Example 2]
As the adsorption column, a work was prepared in which the material was polycarbonate and the inner diameter was 55 mm, and the adsorbent was PMMA solid yarn (average fiber diameter 110 μm, fiber length 250 mm, number of fibers 130,000).

Next, the tubular case in which the adsorbent is inserted is installed on a case fixing base made of MC nylon and having a receiving diameter equivalent to the outer diameter of the case, and in order to resist the load during cutting, the material is SUS304, the thickness is 2 mm, and the radius. An adsorbent chuck having a diameter of 25 mm was provided near the cut portion to support the adsorbent.

Next, after the adsorbent 3 was cut by the cutting blade 8 having a material carbide, a cutting edge angle of 22 °, a thickness of 1 mm, and a width of 20 mm, the adsorbent was separated from the cutting blade 3 without recontacting with the cutting blade 8. ..

Next, the cutting blade was retracted to the position before cutting, and the work in a cut and separated state was taken out.

Finally, chips adhering to the cut surface of the adsorbent of the work were confirmed.

[Comparative Example 1]
The operation was carried out under the same conditions as in Example 1 until the adsorbent was cut, and then the cutting blade was retracted to the position before cutting without separating the work from the cutting blade, and the cut work was taken out.

Finally, chips adhering to the cut surface of the work were confirmed.

A comparison table of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1 is shown in Table 1.

1 Adsorption column 2 Cylindrical case 3 Adsorbent 4 Lid 5 Blood inlet 6 Blood outlet 7 Case fixing base 8 Cutting blade 9 Adsorbent chuck

Claims (14)

A method for cutting an adsorbent used in an adsorption column, which comprises the following steps.
(1) In the step of cutting the adsorbent, after inserting the adsorbent into one or more tubular cases, at least one part of the adsorbent extending from the end of the tubular case is cut with a cutting blade. Cutting step of cutting by advancing in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (2) Separation step of separating the adsorbent cut by the cutting blade from the cutting blade. The (2) separation step is
(2-1) A separation step in which each of the adsorbents cut by the cutting blade is separated in the axial direction of the tubular case.
(2-2) The method for cutting an adsorbent according to claim 1, further comprising a separation step of moving the cutting blade in the initial position direction before cutting the adsorbent. The (2-1) separation step is
In the separation step, each of the adsorbents cut by the cutting blade is separated in the axial direction of the tubular case, and the gap between the cut surfaces of each of the cut adsorbents is equal to or greater than the thickness of the cutting blade. The method for cutting an adsorbent according to claim 2. The separation step (2-2) described above
The process of moving the cutting blade in the axial direction of the tubular case, and
The adsorbent according to claim 3, wherein the cutting blade passes through a gap between the cut surfaces of the adsorbents and moves in the initial position direction before cutting the adsorbent, which is a separation step. How to cut. The method for cutting an adsorbent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutting blade is a straight blade. The method for cutting an adsorbent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adsorbent is a bundle of porous fibers. A method for producing an adsorption column using an adsorbent cut by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The method for producing an adsorption column according to claim 7, wherein the adsorption column is used for blood purification. A device for cutting an adsorbent, which is used for cutting the adsorbent in an adsorbent column including at least a tubular case for accommodating the adsorbent and the adsorbent, and includes the following members.
(A) Case fixing base for fixing the tubular case (b) Adsorbent chuck provided near the cutting position of the adsorbent to grip the adsorbent (c) Cutting blade for cutting the adsorbent (d) Cutting blade driving unit that advances the cutting blade in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the tubular case (e) A driving unit that separates the cut adsorbent from the cutting blade. (E) The driving unit that separates the adsorbent from the cutting blade
(F) The adsorbent moving member for moving each of the adsorbents cut by the cutting blade in the axial direction of the tubular case and in the direction of separating from each other is provided.
The cutting blade drive unit (d)
(G) The adsorbent cutting device according to claim 9, further comprising a mechanism for moving the cutting blade at the position after cutting in the initial position direction before cutting the adsorbent. (E) The driving unit that separates the cut adsorbent from the cutting blade
f) The adsorbent moving member for moving each of the adsorbents cut by the cutting blade in the axial direction of the tubular case and in the direction of separating from each other is provided.
The cutting blade drive unit (d)
(I) Claim 10 comprising a mechanism for moving the cutting blade at the position after cutting in the axial direction of the tubular case, and further moving the cutting blade in the initial position direction before cutting the adsorbent. The adsorbent cutting device according to. The adsorbent cutting device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the cutting blade is a straight blade. The adsorbent cutting device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the adsorbent is a bundle of porous fibers. The adsorbent cutting device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the adsorption column is used for blood purification.

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