JP2906064B2 - Hollow fiber membrane knitting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention manufactures hollow fiber membrane modules used in artificial lung, artificial dialysis, plasma pheresis, pure water production, gas filtration fields, water purifiers and the like. The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for producing a hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric.

(Prior art) In general, a hollow fiber membrane module cuts a skein bundle of a hollow fiber membrane into a predetermined length and stores it in a container, and fixes an end of the hollow fiber membrane to the container with an epoxy resin or a urethane resin. It is manufactured by. However, if the opening at the end of the hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the open state, the resin enters through the opening and cannot be used as a membrane module. A method is adopted in which the bundle is fixed in a state of being temporarily closed, and after fixing, the fixed portion is cut to open the bundle end of the hollow fiber membrane.

As a method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module, it is conceivable to manufacture a bundle as a knit, for example, in addition to the above, and as a knit manufacturing apparatus, for example, a Rassel knitting machine can be mentioned.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Among the conventional techniques, in the method of bundling hollow fiber membranes,
Mainly, there are problems with the processing cost at the time of temporary sealing during the production of the membrane module, the reliability of the temporary sealing, the disorder of the hollow fiber membrane at the time of fixing, and the reliability of fixing.

That is, the temporary sealing portion is a portion that is discarded when the membrane module is completed, but is an indispensable portion in the temporary sealing step, and the material cost and the processing cost for it have to be added. Further, it is difficult to determine whether or not the temporary sealing has been performed without any trouble at the time of the temporary sealing, and the quality of the temporary sealing can be determined only by observing the cut surface of the fixed portion after the production of the membrane module. . Furthermore, since the openings of some of the hollow fiber membranes may be blocked by the fixing resin, a predetermined membrane area cannot be secured in the membrane module,
Occasionally, the manufactured membrane module must be discarded as a defective product.

Further, in this method, it is necessary to tightly align the bundles of hollow fiber membranes and store them in the container in order to adopt a method of storing the bundles of hollow fiber membranes in the container. There is a drawback that the hollow fiber membrane is disturbed and the end of the hollow fiber membrane is buried in the fixing resin, so that the hollow fiber membrane cannot be used effectively.

Furthermore, since the hollow fiber membrane is used as a bundle, the hollow fiber membrane is often filled relatively densely, and the fixing resin invades between the hollow fiber membranes at the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle during fixing. However, as a result, there is a drawback that defective products due to defective fixing are likely to occur.

On the other hand, as a means for forming the hollow fiber membrane into a bundle, a method of obtaining a bundle by winding the hollow fiber membrane around a skein frame such as a square, hexagon, or octagon several tens to several hundred times (a skein method) is almost used. is there. In this method, it is necessary to bundle the hollow fiber membrane single yarn forming the bundle with paper or thread before cutting to obtain the bundle, and the handling is troublesome.

Furthermore, this skein method has a problem that the number of bundles of hollow fiber membranes obtained by one skein reeling is limited and the production efficiency is extremely low.

On the other hand, for example, an attempt was made to fabricate a hollow fiber membrane module using a Rassel knitting machine. The degree is capped. For this reason, it has been found that it is impossible to produce a knitted fabric having a longer weft length with a conventional ratchet knitting machine.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In view of such circumstances, the present inventors have intensively studied a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module free from the above-mentioned disadvantages, and have reached the present invention.

That is, the present invention moves up and down, and runs in a U-shape without crossing a plane around a hollow fiber membrane guide member that is erected at predetermined intervals on the left and right, and around the hollow fiber membrane guide member. A hollow fiber membrane supply member, a lancing needle which moves up and down in a U-shaped running path of the hollow fiber membrane supply member, and a warp which is arranged almost above the ligation needle and supplies a warp to the ligation needle. A hollow fiber membrane knitting manufacturing apparatus, comprising a supply member, wherein the hollow fiber membrane guide member and the latch needle reciprocate two times synchronously while the hollow fiber membrane supply member makes one round; It is a means for solving the above problem.

(Operation) The hollow fiber membrane guide member and the shuttle needle reciprocate up and down synchronously. While these two members move up and down twice, the hollow fiber membrane supply member makes a round around the left and right hollow fiber membrane guide members without intersecting on a plane.

Accordingly, the second stitch is formed during this one round. At this time, the hollow fiber membrane swung right and left alternately winds around the left and right hollow fiber membrane guide members every time a warp stitch is formed.
A knitted fabric having a predetermined width is knitted into each knit as a weft.

(Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to illustrated examples.

The drawings relate to a typical embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an outline of knitting in a hollow fiber membrane knitting apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows a hollow fiber membrane supply member of the present invention when the apparatus is viewed from above. 2 shows a traveling path of a certain traverse guide.

In FIG. 1, (1,1 ') and (2,2') are hollow fibers of the present invention which are vertically provided on the left and right sides of the apparatus at intervals of about 50 to 1000 mm, preferably 50 to 500 mm. It is a rod-shaped guide bar which is a film guide member, and is moved up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown).

Inside each of the left and right guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2'), two levers (3, 3 ') and (4, 4') are vertically arranged in parallel. . Each pair of two needles (3,
3 ') and (4,4') move up and down along the grooves formed in the trick plates 5,5 ', respectively. The guide bars (1,1') and (2,2 ') It moves up and down in synchronization with vertical movement.

A corresponding number of warp supply guides (6, 6 ') and (7, 7') are arranged above each of the latch needles (3, 3 ') and (4, 4'). When 3 ') and (4,4') are at the top dead center,
It moves slightly in a U-shape so as to go around each hook, and supplies the warp (8, 8 ') and (9, 9') to each hook.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a traverse guide which supplies one or a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate yarn membrane group) 11, which are components of the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention, to the knitting of warp yarns as weft yarns. 10 travels around the guide bars (1 ', 1') and (2, 2 ') without intersecting on a plane as indicated by arrows in FIG. Therefore,
The traverse guide 10 travels from the point A at the center of the drawing to the two guide bars 1 ', 1 through the hook side of the left hand needles 3', 3 and travels on the opposite hook side of the same hand needles 3, 3 '. Then, it passes around the two guide bars 2, 2 'through the non-hook side of the latch needles 4, 4' arranged on the right side of the drawing, and travels on the hook side of the same latch needles 4 ', 4. One round is reached when point A is reached.

On the other hand, while this traverse guide 10 is running,
Each guide bar (1,1 '), (2,2') and each hand (3,
3 ') and (4,4') move up and down in synchronization.

The timing will be described with reference to FIG. 2. When the traverse guide 10 is located at the point A in the center of the drawing, the guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2') and the latch needles (3, 3 '), (4 , 4 ′) are all descended to the lowest position (bottom dead center), and the guide bar (1,
1 '), (2,2') and all of the needles (3,3 ') and (4,4') start to rise, and when the traverse guide 10 passes through the guide bar 1 ', all the guide bars ( 1,1 '), (2,
The tip of 2 ′) is located above the traveling plane of the traverse guide 10, and thereafter all the guide bars (1, 1 ′), (2, 2 ′)
And all the needles (3, 3 ') and (4, 4') continue to ascend and reach the uppermost position (top dead center) at the intermediate point B of the left guide bar 1 ', 1.

When the traverse guide 10 passes through the intermediate point B, the guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2') and the hand (3,
3 ') and (4,4') also start descending, and the traverse guide 10
Continues to descend until the point reaches point C, and becomes the lowest point (bottom dead center) at point C. Next, from the point when the traverse guide 10 passes the point C, the guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2'), and the needles (3, 3 '), (4, 4') all rise. When the traverse guide 10 starts passing through the guide bar 2, the ends of all the guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2') are traverse guides.
It is located above the traveling plane of 10 and all guide bars (1,1 '), (2,2') and all needles (3,3 '), (4,
4 ') continues to ascend and reaches the highest position (top dead center) at the midpoint D of the right guide bar (2, 2'). When the traverse guide 10 passes through the intermediate point D, the guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2') and the knurls (3, 3 '), (4,
4 ') is started to descend, and continues to descend until the traverse guide 10 reaches the point A. At the point A, the lowest point (bottom dead center) is reached.

Thus, every turn of the traverse guide 10, all the guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2') and all the needles (3, 3 '), (4,
4 ') moves up and down twice.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 12 and 13 denote left and right hand needles (3,
3 '), this is a fixed guide that is provided to prevent the splatter from jumping up when ascending (4, 4').
Numerals 2 'and 13' denote rod-shaped fixed protrusion bars protruding horizontally from the distal ends of the fixed guides 12 and 13. Same projection bar 1
2 ', 13' is the upper surface of the trick plate 5 between the left and right hand needles (3, 3 '), (4, 4') and the left and right guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2'). It is installed so as to traverse the, and is installed as close as possible to the latch needles (3, 3 ') and (4, 4').

In the above configuration, the hollow fiber membrane group supplied from above
Numeral 11 denotes a traverse guide 10 which travels in the left-right direction and is wound from the outside around one of the right and left guide bars, which are rising at the same time.
At this time, the other guide bar is also raised, but is not involved in the guide of the hollow fiber membrane group 11 at all, and the next time the guide bar is wound, the hollow fiber membrane group 11 is wound instead of the one guide bar. .

At this time, the all needles (3, 3 ') and (4,
4 ′) is also at the position of the top dead center, and the warp supply guides (6, 6 ′) and (7, 7 ′) reciprocate slightly in a U-shape on the plane above the warp (8, 8 ') and (9,9') are wound around each hook and supplied.

When the hollow fiber membrane group 11 is wound around one of the guide bars, all the guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2') and all the needles (3, 3 ') and (4, 4') descend. To start.

These movements will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the members when the hollow fiber membrane group 11 reaches the point D from the point C. The curve shown by the two-dot chain line is the travel path of the traverse guide 10.

Now, when the traverse guide 10 is at the point C, the left and right guide bars (1, 1 '), (2, 2'), the hand (3, 3 '),
(4,4 ') is at the lowest position (bottom dead center). When the traverse guide 10 passes the point C, all the guide bars (1,
1 '), (2,2') and the latch needles (3,3 '), (4,4') start to rise. The example of FIG. 3 shows a point in time when the traverse guide 10 has passed through the point C and has wrapped around the right front guide bar 2 from the outside to reach an intermediate point D with the right rear guide bar 2 '. At this point, the previous arrow A
→ The hollow fiber membrane group 11 guided by the movement of the traverse guide 10 passing through B → C is inserted into a part of the stitches. When a part of the guide bar 1 ', 1 on the left side and the needle 3, 3' are lowered, they move between the needle 3, 3 'and the warp 8, 8'. And the hollow fiber membrane group 11 is guided to the right front guide bar 2 without being wound around the left guide bars 1 and 1 '. As a result, the hollow fiber membrane group 11 at the uppermost stage is passed over the warp loop formed at the previous stage, and is inserted and knitted into the stitch at the time of forming the warp loop at the next stage.

When forming the stitches, the hollow fiber membrane group 11 wound around the guide bars 2 and 2 'descends together with the guide bars 2 and 2', but the fixed guide guide disposed below the hollow fiber membrane traveling path.
13 and the fixed projection bar 13 '(FIG. 2)
Is prevented from descending, only the guide bars 2, 2 'descend, and the hollow fiber membrane group 11 comes off the guide bars 2, 2'. At this time, the latch needles (3, 3 ') and (4, 4') also descend to form stitches. FIG. 4 shows the state of the lever 3 as a representative. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the needle 3 is at the top dead center. A warp is wound around the hook 14 of the needle 3 at the top dead center by a warp supply guide. Is wound around the warp loop 16 formed in the previous stage. The hollow fiber membrane group 11 is inserted into a space surrounded by the warp 8 wound around the hook 14, the warp loop 16 and the main body of the latch needle 3.

FIG. 2B shows a loop formed at the preceding stage by lowering the latch needle 3.
16 shows a state in which the lever 15 is lifted up by the hook 16 and the hook 14 is closed. At this time, the guide bar also descends at the same time, and the hollow fiber membrane group
11 comes off the guide bar. FIG. 5C shows the state immediately before the needle 3 further descends and reaches the bottom dead center, and a new warp loop 16 is formed.

FIG. 2D shows the ascending needle 3 in the middle of ascent, and at this time, the next-stage hollow fiber membrane group 11 is passed over the warp loop 11. Thus, a hollow fiber membrane knit is continuously formed.

By the way, in order to form a knitted fabric, the minimum tension is required for the hollow fiber membrane group 11 as the weft as well as for the warp (8, 8 ') and (9, 9'). A minimum tension to pull the knitted fabric is also required. These tensions fluctuate somewhat during knitting, but particularly in the device of the present invention,
At the moment when the hollow fiber membrane group 11 comes off from the guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2'), the tension of the hollow fiber membrane group 11 decreases most. At that moment, if the warp tension exceeds the hollow fiber membrane group 11,
If the hollow fiber membrane group 11 is not supported by any means, the hollow fiber membrane group
11 will be drawn into the grooves of the trick plates 5, 5 '.

The fixed projection bars 12 'and 13' are connected to the left and right guide bars (1,
1 ′) and (2,2 ′) to prevent the hollow fiber membrane group 11 from entering the grooves of the trick plates 5 and 5 ′. The distance between the projection bar and the groove of the trick plate is preferably short.

In addition, guide bar (1,1 '), (2,2')
The heights of 3 ') and (4, 4') can be set as appropriate in consideration of the distance between the guide bar and the needle, but the hollow fiber membrane group 11 that has come off the guide bar contacts the needle. In order not to allow the tip, the height of the tip of the latch needle is preferably set lower than the height of the tip of the guide bar.

As is clear from the above description, each guide bar (1,
1 '), (2, 2'), the hollow fiber membrane group comes into contact with the fixed guides 12, 13 and the fixed projection bars 12 ', 13', so that damage to the hollow fiber membrane group 11 is avoided as much as possible. It is preferable that the surface of these members is smooth, and therefore, for example, those made of ceramics can be used.

Further, it is preferable that the plurality of guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2') are arranged so that the hollow fiber membrane group 11 can be smoothly removed when the guide bars are lowered. Therefore, for example, when two pairs of guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2') are arranged on the left and right, as shown in FIG. It is better to arrange it slightly inside of 2 '.

In the above embodiment, two guide bars (1, 1 ') and (2, 2') are arranged on the left and right, respectively.
It suffices to have one book at a time, and in some cases, there may be more than three books each. However, when arranging the needles one by one on the left and right, it is necessary to secure a sufficient space for arranging the latch needle in a portion surrounded by the traveling path of the traverse guide 10. Further, in the above-described embodiment, two lancets are arranged on the left and right, but
It can be set to any number of books or more. Generally, when making a wide knitted fabric, it is preferable to increase the number of warps by increasing the number of knurls, and the interval between each knurl is appropriately set. Also, if a plurality of these mechanisms are juxtaposed in the lateral direction, a plurality of knits can be obtained at the same time.

The fixed guides 12 and 13 are to remove the hollow fiber membrane from the guide bar and to prevent the spring of the needle from jumping up.
It may be a plate-shaped object as shown in FIG. 1 or a rod-shaped object as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the side surface 12a of the fixed guide serves to remove the hollow fiber membrane from the guide bar, and the front surface 12b prevents the needle from jumping up.
Further, these fixed guides 12 and 13 may separate the above two functions, and may be divided into two elements having respective functions.

As described above, the hollow fiber membrane group 11 comes off from the guide bar when the lever is in the state shown in FIG. 4B, but the hollow fiber comes off from the guide bar due to the distance between the guide bar and the needle. The membrane group 11 does not directly contact the latch needle.

(Effect of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the device of the present invention,
A continuous hollow fiber membrane knitted product in which the hollow fiber membrane is folded without being cut at the ear portion can be obtained extremely efficiently. Further, by appropriately setting the knitting width, a hollow fiber membrane knit of any width can be easily obtained,
The knitted hollow fiber membrane thus obtained is remarkably excellent in handleability as compared with a bundle of hollow fiber membranes obtained by the conventional skein reeling method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a knitting state of a hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric according to a typical embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a traveling path of a traverse guide viewed from the top of the same apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the knitting state of FIG.
The figure is an explanatory view of a stitch forming process at the time of the knitting. Explanation of main parts in the figure 1, 1 ', 2, 2' ... guide bar 3, 3 ', 4, 4' ... spatula 8, 8 ', 9, 9' ... warp 10 ... traverse guide 11 …… Hollow fiber membrane group

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hollow fiber membrane guide member that moves up and down and stands upright at predetermined intervals, and a hollow fiber running in a U-shape without crossing a plane around the hollow fiber membrane guide member. A membrane supply member, a latch needle that moves up and down in a U-shaped running path of the hollow fiber membrane supply member, and a warp supply member that is disposed substantially above the latch needle and supplies a warp to the latch needle. Wherein the hollow fiber membrane guide member and the latch needle reciprocate two times synchronously while the hollow fiber membrane supply member makes one round.