JP2980019B2 - Automatic cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing liquids and powders for pharmaceutical production, food processing, chemical / cosmetic production, etc., which requires cleaning of tanks, tanks, kettles, ducts, and other containers. The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning device which is attached to a wall of a container and cleans the inner wall surface and equipment in the container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a cleaning device for the inner wall surface of the above-mentioned container, the nozzle device is attached to the container wall of the container.
A type in which a cleaning fluid is jetted from the nozzle device to wash the inside of the container, and when not being washed, the nozzle device is stored in the container wall of the container so that the inner surface of the container is kept substantially free from irregularities. Are described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-19748.
It is already known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 and the like.

A known cleaning device of this type utilizes a supply pressure of the cleaning fluid itself to project and store a nozzle device for jetting the cleaning fluid, and stores the nozzle device by an actuator driven by the pressure of the cleaning fluid. By overcoming the operating spring force, the nozzle device projects from the vessel wall of the container to be cleaned into the container. For this reason, the spring force for retracting the nozzle device, that is, the closing pressure when the nozzle device is retracted, cannot be made larger than the driving force of the actuator due to the pressure of the cleaning fluid. It is also necessary to reduce the liquid content, and the liquid tightness and the hermeticity are deteriorated. Particularly, in the case of a container for pharmaceutical production or food processing, the object to be treated may be contaminated with the cleaning fluid.

Further, since the actuator is directly operated by the cleaning fluid, the materials and structures of the actuator are limited by the temperature, corrosiveness, etc. of the cleaning fluid (steam and chemical solution), and the operation of the actuator is smoothened. Supply of lubricating oil is also difficult because the actuator is in the cleaning fluid. In addition, wear on the actuator and other sliding parts causes foreign substances to be contained in the fluid for cleaning, so that care must be taken to avoid wear as much as possible. Furthermore, when several types of cleaning fluids are used or circulated, there is a possibility that contamination and contamination may occur due to the cleaning fluid remaining in the actuator portion having a complicated structure.

On the other hand, in order to clean the inner wall surface of the tank or the like evenly, it is effective to jet a uniform liquid film-like cleaning flow according to the shape of the inner wall surface of the tank. From this, full cone nozzles, fan-shaped nozzles, etc. are known, but in order to supply the liquid film-like washing flow in the required direction according to the tank inner wall shape, turn these nozzles in any direction It is necessary to attach to the cleaning fluid supply pipe, and in that case, it can not be arranged in the originally required direction due to the installation space problem, or the whole nozzle part becomes large, so it can be attached to the container to be washed. May be restricted. Further, when two or more nozzles are mounted adjacent to each other, the liquid film-like cleaning fluids may collide with each other in the air and interfere with each other, resulting in uneven cleaning without reaching the wall surface to be cleaned. Therefore, it is desired that the cleaning nozzle has a compact structure and can easily eject a liquid film-like cleaning flow in various directions according to the inner wall shape of the container to be cleaned.

[0006]

The basic technical problem of the present invention is to make a nozzle device protrude into a container from an opening in a container wall of a container during cleaning, and simultaneously eject a cleaning fluid from the nozzle device to clean the container. In the above-described automatic cleaning device in which the inside is washed, and when the nozzle is not washed, the nozzle device is stored in the container wall of the container and the inner surface of the container is kept substantially free from irregularities, It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to set a cutoff pressure at the time of storage of the nozzle device regardless of the use thereof, to enable use of a cleaning fluid of an arbitrary pressure, and to prevent the nozzle device from running out of liquid and deteriorating hermeticity.

Another technical object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning apparatus in which an actuator for projecting and storing a nozzle device is placed outside a cleaning fluid supply path, and at the same time, a cleaning fluid supply including the nozzle device is supplied. The sliding parts of the members in the path are reduced as much as possible, thereby eliminating restrictions on the material and structure of each part of the actuator, supply of lubricating oil, and the like. It is another object of the present invention to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside and to prevent the occurrence of contamination or the like by a cleaning fluid that has accumulated in a portion having a complicated structure. Still another technical object of the present invention is to provide a compact nozzle structure, which makes it possible to easily eject a cleaning fluid in the form of a liquid film in an arbitrary direction according to the inner wall shape of the container to be cleaned, and furthermore, the crossed liquids An object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle device capable of ejecting a film-like washing flow.

[0008]

An automatic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is mounted on a wall surface of a container to be cleaned. At the time of cleaning, a nozzle device is inserted into the container from an opening in the container wall of the container. At the same time as projecting, the cleaning fluid is ejected from the nozzle device to wash the inside of the container, and when not being washed, the nozzle device is stored in the container wall of the container so that the inner surface of the container is kept substantially free from irregularities. In the device
The container is attached to the wall of the container, and the nozzle device is
A center hole to be inserted and a taper that opens into the container at the end of the center hole
A valve seat member having a valve seat in the shape of a nozzle;
Has a seal member for opening and closing the tapered valve seat,
When the seal member closes the valve seat and the container is not washed,
The valve body flush with the inner surface and the center hole of the valve seat member
Nozzle tube that ejects the cleaning fluid inserted with a gap
And a nozzle device connected to the opposite side of the valve body of the nozzle cylinder,
When the nozzle is in the cleaning position, it comes into pressure contact with the valve seat
When the cleaning fluid is prevented from flowing into the valve seat member
In both cases, shaft runout of the nozzle device due to the ejection of the cleaning fluid is prevented.
Dispensing tap to stop
And a rod led out to the outside through the material,
An actuator for driving the nozzle device in a direction of protruding and retracting into the container from the opening of the container wall by driving the rod is disposed outside the supply path of the cleaning fluid, and by driving the nozzle device, the nozzle device is protruded into the container. A cleaning position where the cleaning fluid is ejected from the nozzle, and the nozzle device is flush with the inner surface of the container.
E Bei switching drive device to switch to a storage position for closing the valve seat by a sealing member and stored in, nozzle in the cleaning position
Pressing the distribution tap against the valve seat member
The nozzle device in the storage position.
This is performed by pressing the valve body against the valve seat .

[0009] Oite to the automatic cleaning apparatus, the nozzle apparatus
The nozzle for cleaning fluid injection can be formed by forming a slit in the nozzle cylinder of the above.

In the automatic cleaning apparatus having the above-described structure, the cleaning position at which the nozzle device projects into the container from the opening of the container wall of the container by the actuator of the switching drive device disposed outside the supply path of the cleaning fluid, It is switched to the storage position stored in the container wall of the container, so that the closing pressure at the time of storage of the nozzle device at the time of storage of the nozzle device can be set independently of the pressure of the cleaning fluid in the actuator, and the cleaning fluid of any pressure can be used. In addition, since the liquid in the nozzle device and the deterioration of the sealing performance are prevented, and the actuator is not exposed to the cleaning fluid, the material and structure of each part of the actuator corresponding to the cleaning fluid temperature, corrosiveness, etc., and the supply of lubricating oil Is also eliminated, and the reliability of the operation is improved.

In addition, at the same time that the actuator is placed outside the supply path of the cleaning fluid, the nozzle cylinder is inserted into the valve seat member with a gap therebetween to position the nozzle device at the cleaning position with respect to the valve seat member. Performed by pressing the distribution tap,
In addition, the positioning of the nozzle device in the storage position is performed by pressing the valve body against the valve seat, and the sliding portion of the member in the supply path of the cleaning fluid including the nozzle device is reduced as much as possible. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from being mixed into the cleaning fluid due to abrasion of the moving part and to prevent contamination of the clean cleaning fluid due to the cleaning fluid staying in the part having a complicated structure. Furthermore, in the nozzle device, a slit is formed in the nozzle cylinder to form a compact nozzle structure, so that the liquid film-like cleaning fluid can be easily ejected in an arbitrary direction according to the inner wall surface shape of the container to be cleaned. In addition, the cleaning flow in the form of a liquid film crossed by the crossing of the slits can be easily ejected.

[0012]

1 and 2 show the basic structure of an automatic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. This automatic cleaning device is used by attaching it to a dedicated flange 2 welded to a wall of a tank 1 to be cleaned, a tank, a pot, a duct, and other containers 1 to be cleaned.
The automatic cleaning device attached to the container 1 without causing substantial irregularities on the inner wall surface of the container 1 and attached to the dedicated flange 2 generally includes a nozzle-valve assembly 3 and a nozzle-valve assembly 3. And a switching drive device 4 for operating.

The nozzle and valve assembly 3 includes a valve seat member 10 which is fitted in a dedicated flange 2 through a seal member 11 in a liquid-tight manner. The dedicated flange 2 and a supply pipe 13 for a cleaning fluid are provided. The joining portion with the housing 12 is joined by removably winding a clamp band 16 between the inner end peripheral projection 14 of the dedicated flange 2 and the peripheral projection 15 of the housing 12. A seal member 17 is also interposed between the valve seat 12 and the valve seat member 10, and the valve seat member 10 is fixed between the dedicated flange 2 and the housing 12 with the seal members 11 and 17 interposed therebetween. .

As described above, the dedicated flange 2 for welding the valve seat member 10 of the nozzle / valve assembly 3 to the container 1 is provided.
When the exclusive flange 2 is formed separately from the container 1, the effect of thermal distortion when the dedicated flange 2 is welded to the container 1 does not reach the valve seat member 10, and the cleaning fluid is stabilized by pressing the valve body 33 to the valve seat 32 described later. Deadline can be guaranteed. Also,
By making the outer diameter of the valve seat member 10 of the nozzle-valve assembly 3 smaller than the inner diameter of the mounting hole of the valve seat member 10 at the center of the dedicated flange 2, it is possible to maintain Can be easily attached to and detached from the dedicated flange 2.

The housing 12 is provided with a similar peripheral projection 18 at the end opposite to the peripheral projection 15, and a clamp is provided between the peripheral projection 18 and the peripheral projection 21 at the joint end of the connecting cylinder 20. By winding the band 22, the housing 12 and the connection tube 20 are connected to each other.
A support member 24 is sandwiched between 2 and the connecting cylinder 20 via a seal member 23. Further, a clamp band 28 is wound between a peripheral protrusion 25 provided on the other end of the connecting cylinder 20 and a peripheral protrusion 27 provided on an actuator housing 26 of the switching drive device 4, so that they are connected. Linked to each other. Here, a case is shown in which the dedicated flange 2, the housing 12, the connecting tube 20, and the housing 26 are connected using the clamp bands 16, 22, and 28, but any connecting means other than the above-described clamp band is used. They can also be detachably connected.

An opening is formed in a wall of the container 1 to be cleaned by a center hole 30 provided in the valve seat member 10.
The nozzle device 31 is fitted into this opening. The nozzle device 31 has a valve seat member 10 at the edge of the opening.
A valve body 33 which comes into contact with and separates via a sealing member 34 from a tapered valve seat 32 which opens inward of the container 1 formed in
3 and a dispensing plug 36 connected to the valve body 33 via the nozzle tube 35, and a dispensing stopper 36 connected to the center hole 30 of the valve seat member 10 via a gap. The distribution plug 36 is fitted to the tip of a rod 38 introduced into the housing 12 through a sealing member 37 held by the support member 24 in the housing 12, and is disposed between the distribution plug 36 and the distribution plug 36. The nozzle device 31 is fixed to the tip of the rod 38 by screwing the valve body 33 to the tip of the rod 38 with the nozzle cylinder 35 interposed.

Therefore, the rod 38 is connected to the housing 1.
The liquid is led out of the cleaning fluid supply passage in the connecting cylinder 20 through the seal member 37 through the sealing member 37, and the rod 38 is connected to the actuator of the switching drive device 4 disposed outside the cleaning fluid supply passage in the housing 12. Are linked. Further, a limit switch for detecting the operation of the actuator in the switching drive device 4 is provided,
It is housed in a switch case 39 connected to the actuator housing 26.

The actuator in the switching drive device 4 drives the nozzle device 31 in a direction in which the nozzle device 31 comes into and out of the container 1 from the vessel wall of the container 1. As the actuator, an air cylinder having a pneumatically driven piston is used. The storage position at the time of non-washing when the valve body 33 closes the valve seat 32, the valve seat 32 is opened by the valve body 33, and the nozzle cylinder 35 is opened.
Can be switched to a cleaning position protruding into the container 1, but an actuator that operates with a driving force such as electric power or hydraulic pressure may be used instead of the air cylinder. The driving force of this actuator can be appropriately set, whereby the closing pressure at the time of storage of the nozzle device 31 can be arbitrarily set, thereby preventing the nozzle device 31 from running out of liquid and deteriorating hermeticity. Therefore, the pressure of the cleaning fluid can be arbitrarily set.

When the nozzle device 31 is stored in the vessel wall of the container 1 and is not cleaned, the valve seat member 10 and the valve body 33 have substantially the same inner surface as that of the container 1 without any unevenness. The shape of the inner surface side of the container 1 is formed so as to conform to the inner surface shape of the container wall of the container. Further, the nozzle cylinder 35 is formed of a cylindrical cylinder, and has a groove 41 in the axial direction of the nozzle cylinder in which the tip of a pin 40 protruding inward from the valve seat member 10 is fitted. The nozzle 43 for jetting the cleaning fluid is opened by forming a slit in an appropriate direction on the peripheral surface of the nozzle cylinder 35 as illustrated in FIGS. I have.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a case in which the nozzle 43 is formed by making a pair of inclined cuts in the nozzle cylinder 35 as the slit. FIG.
(B) shows a case where the nozzle 43 is formed by making a pair of stepped cuts as the same slit.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a case where a plurality of intersecting cuts are made as the same slit to form a nozzle 43 having an intersecting portion.

In the nozzle device 31, by forming such a slit in the cylindrical nozzle cylinder 35,
It is possible to have an extremely compact nozzle structure. In particular, since the slit is cut in an arbitrary direction according to the inner wall shape of the container to be cleaned, the liquid film-like cleaning fluid can be jetted in an arbitrary direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, by arranging the slits so as to intersect with each other, the crossing liquid film-like washing flow can be easily ejected.
In particular, when a fan-shaped nozzle or the like is arranged adjacently to eject a cleaning flow in the form of a liquid film, if the cleaning flow in the form of liquid crosses and interferes,
Although the liquid film shape is broken at that portion, the nozzle makes it possible to eject a liquid film-like washing flow according to the slit shape cut and intersected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the nozzle device 31 is protruded to the cleaning position, the dispensing stopper 36 is provided with the sealing member 46 on the tapered valve seat 45 at the inner end of the valve seat member 10. Through the nozzle cylinder 35 and the valve seat member 1
The cleaning fluid in the housing 12 is prevented from flowing in between 0 and the cleaning fluid in the housing 12 is supplied into the nozzle cylinder 35 through the through hole 47 in the distribution plug 36.

The dispensing tap 36 is pressed into contact with the tapered valve seat 45 of the valve seat member 10 via the sealing member 46 to position the nozzle device 31 at the washing position, and to perform the cleaning operation. In the valve seat member 10 against the tapered valve seat 32 in the valve seat member 10. 3
The pressure contact of No. 3 is for positioning the nozzle device in the storage position and for ensuring the sealing of the valve seat 32 by the valve element 33. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 48 denotes a rod 3 disposed adjacent to the seal member 37 held by the support member 24.
8 shows a guide ring.

The automatic cleaning apparatus having the above configuration is mounted on the wall surface of the container 1 to be cleaned, and the cleaning position at which the cleaning fluid is ejected from the nozzle 43 and the nozzle device 31 are attached to the container 1.
It is used for switching to the storage position where the opening of the container wall is closed by storing it in the container wall, that is, at the time of cleaning, the actuator is driven by the actuator of the switching drive device 4 disposed outside the supply path of the cleaning fluid. The nozzle device 31 is projected from the opening of the container wall of the container 1 into the container 1, and at the same time, the cleaning fluid is jetted from the nozzle device 31 to automatically clean the inside of the container. Due to the action of the return spring in the drive or switching drive device 4, the nozzle device 31 is stored in the container wall of the container 1 for processing of the processing object in the container 1 and other processing.
The inner surface of the container 1 is kept substantially free from irregularities.

As the cleaning fluid, a gas such as steam, or water or other various liquids containing a chemical solution, if necessary, can be used, and these can be used at an appropriate temperature. These cleaning fluids enter the housing 12 through the supply pipe 13 and pass through the through holes 4 in the dispensing tap 36.
7, and is supplied into the nozzle tube 35, and the nozzle tube 3
The cleaning fluid is jetted from a nozzle 43 for jetting the cleaning fluid cut at 5.

In the actuator of the switching drive device 4, the nozzle device 31 can be driven irrespective of the pressure of the cleaning fluid. Therefore, the closing pressure at the time of storing the nozzle device 31 can be set arbitrarily, and The cleaning fluid can be used, the cleaning fluids having different pressures can be used sequentially, and furthermore, the running out of the liquid in the nozzle device 31 and the deterioration of the sealing property can be prevented. Also, since the actuator is not exposed to the cleaning fluid,
The restrictions on the material and structure of each part of the actuator and the supply of lubricating oil corresponding to the temperature and the corrosiveness of the cleaning fluid such as a gas such as steam or a chemical solution can be eliminated, and the reliability of operation can be improved.

In addition, since the operation of the valve element 33 for supplying and shutting off the cleaning fluid and the operation of projecting and storing the nozzle device 31 are performed by the same actuator, means for supplying and shutting off the cleaning fluid is provided. It is also possible to omit the provision of a separate device, and the device does not become complicated as compared with the case where the supply pressure of the cleaning fluid itself is used for projection and storage of the conventional nozzle device, and rather, stable operation is performed. Can be realized by a simple device.

Further, when the actuator of the switching drive device 4 is placed outside the supply path of the cleaning fluid, the nozzle cylinder 35
Is inserted into the valve seat member 10 via a gap, the nozzle device 31 at the cleaning position is positioned by pressing the distribution plug 36 against the valve seat member 10, and the nozzle device 31 at the storage position is positioned. Valve body 3 for valve seat 32
3, the nozzle device 3
The sliding portion of the member in the supply path of the cleaning fluid including 1 substantially eliminates the sliding portion, smoothens the operation of the actuator, and avoids the entry of foreign matter into the cleaning fluid due to the abrasion of the sliding portion, and has a complicated structure. It is also possible to prevent the occurrence of contamination of the clean cleaning fluid due to the cleaning fluid staying in the portion, and to make the taper-shaped valve seats 32 and 45 contact and separate the valve body 33 and the distribution plug 36, so that the nozzle device It is possible to prevent foreign matter from being caught or worn during the projecting and storing operation of the 31.

Further, the nozzle device 31 has a compact nozzle structure by forming a slit in the nozzle cylinder 35, so that the liquid film can be easily formed in an arbitrary direction according to the surface shape of the inner wall of the container 1 to be cleaned. It is possible to eject a cleaning fluid in the form of a liquid, and it is also possible to easily eject a cleaning flow in the form of a liquid film crossed by the intersection of the slits.

[0030]

According to the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention described in detail above, in the automatic cleaning apparatus, the closing pressure at the time of storing the nozzle device can be set independently of the pressure of the cleaning fluid,
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to use a cleaning fluid having an arbitrary pressure, and to prevent liquid exhaustion in the nozzle device and deterioration of hermeticity. Further, the actuator for projecting and storing the nozzle device is placed outside the cleaning fluid supply path, and at the same time, the sliding portion of the member in the cleaning fluid supply path including the nozzle device is reduced as much as possible. Therefore, restrictions on the material and structure of each part of the actuator, supply of lubricating oil, etc. were eliminated, and foreign matter was not mixed into the cleaning fluid due to wear of the sliding parts, etc. The occurrence of contamination or the like by the cleaning fluid can also be prevented. Also,
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the nozzle apparatus of this invention, with a compact nozzle structure, it is possible to easily eject the cleaning fluid in the form of a liquid film in any direction according to the inner wall shape of the container to be cleaned, A film-like cleaning stream can also be ejected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a stored state of a nozzle device in an embodiment of an automatic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a main part showing the cleaning state.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a configuration example of a nozzle tube in the nozzle device, and FIG. 3B is a side view thereof.

FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a configuration example of another nozzle cylinder in the nozzle device, and FIG. 4B is a side view thereof.

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a configuration example of still another nozzle cylinder in the nozzle device, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 4 Switching drive device 10 Valve seat member 31 Nozzle device 32 Valve seat 33 Valve body 34, 37 Seal member 35 Nozzle cylinder 36 Distributing plug 38 Rod 43 Nozzle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Ayumu Kuroda 3586 Yoshiwara, Ami-cho, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki Pref. Tsumura Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-56-51277 (JP, A) JP-A-57-107283 ( JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 57-127971 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B08B 9/093 B08B 3/02 A47L 25/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning device, which is mounted on a wall surface of a container to be cleaned. At the time of cleaning, the nozzle device is projected into the container from an opening of the container wall of the container, and at the same time, a cleaning fluid is jetted from the nozzle device to clean the inside of the container. An apparatus for storing the nozzle device in a container wall of the container when not being cleaned and holding the container inner surface substantially free from irregularities, wherein the container is attached to a wall surface of the container; But
A center hole to be inserted and a taper that opens into the container at the end of the center hole
A valve seat member having a valve seat, the nozzle device being configured to open and close the tapered valve seat.
The valve member is closed and the sealing member closes the valve seat.
A valve body flush with the inner surface of the container at
Inject the cleaning fluid inserted into the center hole with a gap
And a nozzle cylinder connected to the other side of the nozzle cylinder.
Is pressed against the valve seat member when the nozzle device is in the cleaning position.
Cleaning fluid flows between the nozzle cylinder and the valve seat member.
And the nozzle equipment by jetting the cleaning fluid
Distribution tap to prevent shaft runout and supply of cleaning fluid
And a rod led out of the road through a seal member.
And that there was example, arranged the nozzle device in the supply path outside the actuator wash fluid to drive in the direction of infested into the container from an opening of the wall of the container by driving of the rod, by driving the container the nozzle unit A cleaning position at which the cleaning fluid is ejected from the nozzle to eject the cleaning fluid, and the nozzle device is flush with the inner surface of the container.
Stored in Bei example switching drive device to switch to a storage position for closing the valve seat by a sealing member, in the valve seat member to position the nozzle device in a cleaning position
Nozzle in storage position by pressing the distribution tap against
The device is positioned by pressing the valve body against the valve seat.
Cormorants, automatic cleaning device, characterized in that. 2. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle for jetting the cleaning fluid is formed by forming a slit in a nozzle cylinder of the nozzle device.