JP4590219B2 - Endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method, endoscope flexible tube and aging apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube that constitutes a main part of an insertion portion of an endoscope, an endoscope flexible tube, and an aging device thereof.

  Generally, a flexible endoscope is provided with an elongated flexible insertion portion that is inserted into a lumen. The insertion portion has an elongated flexible tube, a bending portion, and a short tip rigid portion. The flexible tube constituting the main body of the insertion portion has an internal structure member having a flex and a blade, and a structure in which an outer skin is attached to the outer surface of the internal structure member. A flex is a spiral tube in which at least a single elastic band plate is spirally wound. The blade is a mesh tube braided with a blade strand such as a thin metal wire.

  When manufacturing a flexible tube, an internal structural member is formed by covering the flex with a blade, and the outer surface of the internal structural member is coated with a softened and melted thermoplastic elastomer to form an outer skin. Yes. In order to prevent peeling of the outer skin, an adhesive such as polyurethane is generally interposed between the blade and the outer skin.

  By the way, since the medical endoscope is used by inserting the insertion portion to a deep portion in the body cavity, the flexible tube constituting the main body of the insertion portion has a good possibility that it can follow the bending in the body cavity. Flexibility is required, and excellent rebound resilience capable of reliably transmitting the pushing and twisting operation on the hand side to the tip is required.

As means for meeting such demands, a method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been implemented. In this method, two types of thermoplastic elastomers, a soft elastomer having excellent flexibility and a hard elastomer having excellent impact resilience, are softened and melted and uniformly mixed, and this is applied to the outer surface of the internal structural member to be flexible. Forms the envelope of the tube. According to this method, a flexible tube having an appropriate balance between flexibility and rebound resilience can be manufactured by adjusting the mixing ratio of the soft elastomer and the hard elastomer.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-131738

  However, the flexible tube manufactured by the above-described method has a problem that the flexibility deteriorates due to the adhesive soaked into the blade and hardened, and the resilience is also lowered. In this case, since flexibility deteriorates due to factors other than the mixing ratio of the elastomer, there is a limit in adjusting the mixing amount of the hard elastomer, and it is difficult to improve the resilience while maintaining the current flexibility. is there.

  Further, due to the difference in the degree of penetration of the adhesive into the blade, a difference in flexibility tends to occur between the individual products. Furthermore, when the endoscope is used, bending or twisting is applied to the flexible tube, so that the adhesive soaked into the blade may be cut off. For this reason, the insertion portion of the endoscope becomes softer than necessary after long-term use, and it may be difficult to transmit the pushing-in or twisting operation on the hand side to the tip.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to maintain the current flexibility while being rich in rebound resilience, with little variation in flexibility among individual products, and for long-term use. It is another object of the present invention to provide an endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method, an endoscope flexible tube, and an aging device thereof that are not softened more than necessary.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an inner structural member of a flexible tube is formed by coating a blade, which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided in a mesh shape, on the outside of a flex, which is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is wound spirally. An inner structural member forming step to be formed; a tubing step in which the thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; By reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the two pulleys, an arc shape of the flexible tube and the pulley is obtained. An aging process for chopping an adhesive soaked into the blade at a pressure contact portion with a contact portion is provided.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the internal structure member of the flexible tube is formed by coating the blade that is the mesh tube on the outside of the flex that is the spiral tube (internal structure member forming step), and then the thermoplastic elastomer is added. Softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin (tubing process). Further, after the tubing step is finished, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. Can be used for endoscopes by chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at the press-contact portion between the pulley and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley to improve the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube (aging process) A flexible tube is manufactured. Thereby, by cutting the adhesive soaked into the blade, the flexibility and the resilience can be improved, and the amount of the hard elastomer can be increased as the flexibility is improved. In fact, there is no space in the tearing portion of the adhesive unless the flexible tube is bent. In addition, since the influence of the penetration of the adhesive into the blade on the flexibility can be reduced, the variation in flexibility among individual products can be reduced. Furthermore, unnecessarily softening due to the tearing of the adhesive soaked into the blade, which occurs when the endoscope is used, is reduced. Note that the expansion and contraction of the adhesive due to the bending of the flexible tube is likely to occur between the bundles of blade strands. Therefore, most of the adhesive tears occur between the bundles of the blade strands, and the adhesive in the part where the blade strand bundles are left without tearing. Adhesion is ensured.

According to the invention of claim 2, the inner structural member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of the flex which is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is wound spirally. An inner structural member forming step to be formed; a tubing step in which a thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; and after the completion of the tubing step And the post-process includes an annealing process for heating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin, and a circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. The flexible tube is wound and bent along a portion, and the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction so that the block contacts the arcuate contact portion between the flexible tube and the pulley. A method for producing a flexible tube for an endoscope characterized by comprising the aging step of shredding the adhesive soaked in over de, a.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the inner structural member of the flexible tube is formed by covering the outer side of the flex that is the spiral tube with the blade that is the mesh tube (the inner structural member forming step), and then the thermoplastic elastomer is added. Softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin (tubing process). Further, in a post-process performed after the tubing process is completed, an annealing process for heating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube in an atmosphere near the softening point of the outer skin, and a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley The adhesive tube soaked in the blade at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley is obtained by reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along A flexible tube for an endoscope is manufactured by performing an aging process of chopping.

The invention according to claim 3 is the method of manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the aging process is performed after the annealing process is completed.
The invention according to claim 4 is a method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a coating step of forming a film on the surface of the outer skin. .

The invention according to claim 4 is a method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a coating step of forming a film on the surface of the outer skin. .
In the invention of claim 4 , a film is formed on the surface of the outer skin by a coating process at the time of manufacturing the flexible tube for an endoscope.

The invention according to claim 5 is the method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the coating step is performed before the aging step.
In the above-described structure according to claim 5, in which to carry out the coating step prior to endoscopic flexible tube during manufacture to d Jingu process.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the annealing step includes a step of cooling at room temperature after the annealing step. It is a manufacturing method of a pipe.
In the invention of claim 6, the endoscope flexible tube is cooled at room temperature after the annealing step when it is manufactured.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the aging step includes a step of placing the flexible tube along a plurality of pulleys so that the number of curved portions of the flexible tube is equal to the number of the pulleys. Item 3. A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Items 1 and 2 .
In the invention of claim 7 , in the aging process at the time of manufacturing the flexible tube for an endoscope, the flexible tube is placed along a plurality of pulleys, and the number of curved portions of the flexible tube is set equal to the number of pulleys. It is what you do.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the aging step comprises

The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein:
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the aging step is performed such that the flexible tube is divided into a plurality of parts along the axial direction, and at least a part of each of the divided parts is curved for each divided part. The method for producing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 and 2 .
In the invention of claim 9 , the aging process at the time of manufacturing the endoscope flexible tube is divided into a plurality of portions along the axial direction, and each partition portion is divided into each partition portion. Of these, at least a part is curved.

In the invention of claim 10 , at least an internal structure member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex which is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is wound spirally. An inner structural member forming step to be formed; a tubing step in which the thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; By reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the two pulleys, an arc shape of the flexible tube and the pulley is obtained. An endoscope flexibility characterized by being manufactured by a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube having an aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at a pressure contact portion with a contact portion It is.
Then, in the flexible tube for an endoscope as the invention of this claim 10, the blade at the time of manufacturing the endoscopic flexible tube, a first mesh tube on the outside of the flex a spiral tube by the internal structural member forming step The inner structure member of the flexible tube is formed by coating, and then the thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted by a tubing process, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structure member to form the outer skin. Further, after the tubing step is finished, in the next aging step, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. Thus, the adhesive soaked into the blade is shredded at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley so that the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube are improved. .

According to the invention of claim 11 , the inner structural member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex which is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is wound spirally. An inner structural member forming step to be formed; a tubing step in which a thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; and after the completion of the tubing step And the post-process includes an annealing process for heating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin, and a circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. By reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part, the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley is used. A flexible tube for an endoscope, characterized in that the aging step of shredding the adhesive soaked in grade, manufactured by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube having a.

In the flexible tube for an endoscope according to the invention of claim 11 , at the time of manufacturing the flexible tube for an endoscope, it is a spiral tube in which at least a belt-like plate is spirally wound by an internal structural member forming step. After forming the internal structure member of the flexible tube by covering the blade, which is a mesh tube made of braided braided wire on the outside of the flex, the thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted by the following tubing process, An outer skin is formed by being attached to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the structural member. Further, a post process is performed after the tubing process is completed. In this post-process, an annealing process in which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube is heated in an atmosphere near the softening point of the outer skin, and the flexible tube is placed along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. An aging process is performed in which the adhesive tube soaked into the blade is shredded at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley by reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction while being wound and curved. It has been made to be.

The invention according to claim 12 is manufactured by the endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method according to claim 11 , wherein the aging process is performed after the annealing process is completed. Ru flexible tubes der.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there are provided two chuck devices for gripping both ends of the flexible tube for endoscope, a pulley around which a portion between both ends of the flexible tube for endoscope is wound, The other end side of the flexible tube passes through the bending portion of the flexible tube that is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the pulley as the chuck device on the one end side is pulled in the axial direction of the flexible tube. By causing the chuck device to follow, the adhesive is chopped at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley to adjust the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising a chuck reciprocating device.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the invention of the thirteenth aspect, the two ends of the endoscope flexible tube are gripped by the two chuck devices. Wrap the part between both ends around the pulley. In this state, the chuck device on one end side of the flexible tube is pulled in the axial direction of the flexible tube by the chuck reciprocating device. The arcuate contact portion of the flexible tube and the pulley is made to follow the chuck device on the other end side of the flexible tube through the bending portion of the flexible tube that is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the pulley in accordance with this operation. The adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion is chopped to adjust the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the chuck reciprocating device keeps the amount of traction force of the chuck device on the traction side constant, and moves the chuck device on the tracking side in a direction according to the traction force. 14. The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to claim 13 , further comprising means for performing an aging process on the flexible tube by following the step.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, during operation of the chuck reciprocating device, the amount of traction force of the chuck device on the traction side is kept constant, and the chuck device on the tracking side is The flexible tube is subjected to an aging process by following it in a direction according to the traction force at a predetermined speed and acceleration.

15. The aging of the flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 14 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device can arbitrarily set a traction force amount of the chuck device on a traction side. Device.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the amount of traction force of the chuck device on the traction side can be arbitrarily set during operation of the chuck reciprocating device.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the chuck reciprocating device includes a resistance force amount generating unit that generates a certain amount of resistance force in the chuck device on the tracking side, and a resistance force amount of the resistance force amount generating unit against the pulling side. 14. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to claim 13 , further comprising means for reciprocating the flexible tube by pulling the chuck device at a predetermined speed and acceleration. .
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, during operation of the chuck reciprocating device, the resistance force amount generating section generates a certain amount of resistance force on the tracking device on the tracking side, thereby causing the resistance force amount. The flexible tube is reciprocated by towing the chuck device on the towing side at a predetermined speed and acceleration against the amount of resistance of the generating portion.

The invention of claim 17, wherein the chuck reciprocating device, the aging of the flexible tube according to claim 16, characterized in that to allow arbitrarily set the resistance force of the chuck device in follow-up side Device.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the amount of resistance of the chuck device on the tracking side can be arbitrarily set during operation of the chuck reciprocating device.

In the invention of claim 18, the chuck reciprocating device pulls the chuck device on the pulling side at a predetermined speed / acceleration, and moves the chuck device on the tracking side at the same speed / acceleration in a corresponding direction. The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to claim 13 , further comprising means for reciprocating the flexible tube by following it.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, during the operation of the chuck reciprocating device, the chuck device on the pulling side is pulled at a predetermined speed and acceleration, and the direction is changed accordingly. The flexible tube is reciprocated by following the chuck device on the following side at the same speed and acceleration.

The invention according to claim 19 is the aging apparatus for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 18 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting a slack amount of the flexible tube. is there.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the amount of sag of the flexible tube is arbitrarily set during operation of the chuck reciprocating device.

The invention of claim 20, wherein the chuck reciprocating device according to any one of claims 13 to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises means for arbitrarily setting the reciprocating starting position and the return position of the flexible tube It is an aging apparatus of the flexible tube for endoscopes.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the twentieth aspect of the invention, when the chuck reciprocating device is operated, the reciprocating start position and the folding position of the flexible tube are arbitrarily set. .

The invention of claim 21, wherein the chuck reciprocating device for endoscope according to any one of claims 13 to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises means for arbitrarily setting the reciprocating speed of the flexible tube This is an aging device for flexible tubes.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, when the chuck reciprocating device is operated, the reciprocating speed of the flexible tube is arbitrarily set.

The invention of claim 22, wherein the chuck reciprocating device for endoscope according to any one of claims 13 to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises means for arbitrarily setting the reciprocating acceleration of the flexible tube This is an aging device for flexible tubes.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, when the chuck reciprocating device is operated, the reciprocating acceleration of the flexible tube is arbitrarily set.

23. The endoscope according to any one of claims 13 to 22 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting the number of reciprocations of the flexible tube. This is an aging device for flexible tubes.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the twenty- third aspect of the present invention, the number of reciprocations of the flexible tube is arbitrarily set when the chuck reciprocating device is operated.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the chuck reciprocating device includes a chuck rotating device that rotates the chuck device using the central axis of the end of the flexible tube gripped by the chuck device as a rotation axis. The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to any one of Items 13 to 23 .
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device according to the present invention of claim 24 , when the chuck reciprocating device is operated, the central axis of the flexible tube end gripped by the chuck device by the chuck rotating device is used as the rotation axis, The chuck device is rotated.

The invention of claim 25 is characterized in that the chuck reciprocating device has means for repeating a predetermined number of times that the flexible tube is reciprocated a predetermined number of times and the flexible tube is rotated by a constant angle pitch. Item 25. The aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 24 .
Then, in the aging device of the flexible tube of the invention of the claims 25, during operation of the chuck reciprocator, the flexible tube by a predetermined number of times back and forth, the flexible tube is rotated a predetermined angle pitch, It repeats a certain number of times.

The invention of claim 26 is the flexible tube aging device for endoscope according to claim 25 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting the angular pitch.
In the endoscope flexible tube aging device of the present invention of claim 26 , the angle pitch is arbitrarily set when the chuck reciprocating device is operated.

A twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting the number of repetitions.
Then, in the aging device of the flexible tube of the invention of this claim 27, during operation of the chuck reciprocator, Ru der that the number of repetitions to be set arbitrarily.

  According to the present invention, excellent flexibility for an endoscope that has excellent impact resilience while maintaining the current flexibility, has little variation among individuals, and does not soften more than necessary even after long-term use. A tube can be obtained.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an entire system of an endoscope apparatus provided with an endoscope 1 to which a flexible tube of the present embodiment is applied. The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 2 that is inserted into a body cavity, and an operation portion 3 that is coupled to a proximal end portion of the insertion portion 2.

  In the insertion portion 2, a distal end configuration portion 6 is connected to a distal end portion of an elongated flexible tube portion 4 via a bending portion 5. The bending portion 5 can be remotely bent via a wire (not shown) by a bending knob 7 provided on the operation portion 3 to be described later, whereby the direction of the tip constituting portion 6 can be changed. ing.

  The distal end configuration unit 6 is provided with an observation window of an observation optical system, an illumination window of an illumination optical system, a distal end opening of a forceps channel, an air supply / water supply nozzle, etc., not shown. An imaging device or the like (not shown) is built in the imaging position of the objective optical system behind the observation window. An image transmission cable (not shown) is connected to the imaging device. An illumination light emitting portion at the tip of the light guide fiber is disposed behind the illumination window. The distal end portion of the channel tube of the forceps channel is connected to the distal end opening of the forceps channel. The air supply / water supply nozzle is connected to a common tube in which an air supply tube and a tip of the water supply tube are connected.

  An image transmission cable, an air supply tube, a water supply tube, a forceps channel, a light guide fiber, a bending operation wire, and the like (not shown) are extended through the insertion portion 2 to the operation portion 3 side.

  The operation unit 3 includes a bending knob 7, a suction button 8, an air / water supply button 9, a forceps port 10, and other switches S. Furthermore, a base end portion of the universal cord 11 is connected to the operation unit 3. A connector portion 12 is connected to the distal end portion of the universal cord 11. The connector part 12 is provided with a light introduction end 13 of the light guide fiber, an electrical connector 14, a suction base, an air / water supply base, and the like.

  The electrical connector 14 is connected to the base end of the image transmission cable. A video signal captured from the imaging device is transmitted to the electrical connector 14 on the connector unit 12.

  In addition to the endoscope 1, the system of the endoscope apparatus includes peripheral devices such as a light source device 15, a processor device 16, and an observation monitor 17. The endoscope 1 is connected to the light source device 15 via the connector unit 12. Light from the light source device 15 is transmitted to the distal end component 6 through the light guide fiber, and illumination light is emitted from the illumination window to the outside. The electrical connector 14 is connected to the processor device 16. Then, the video signal captured by the imaging device and converted into an electrical signal is input to the processor device 16. A signal processed and output by the processor device 16 is transmitted to the observation monitor 17, and an image observed through the observation window of the observation optical system is displayed on the observation monitor 17.

  In addition, the air / water supply button 9 on the operation unit 3 allows air / water to be supplied via the air / tube, and the tip lens surface (observation window) of the imaging device can be cleaned. ing. Further, the suction button 8 on the operation unit 3 can suck the gas or liquid in the body cavity through the forceps channel. Further, the treatment tool can be inserted into the forceps channel from the forceps port 10 on the operation unit 3. As a result, various treatments can be performed in combination with observation inside the body cavity.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible tube 22 that is an exterior body of the flexible tube portion 4 of the insertion portion 2. The flexible tube 22 has a flex 23, a tubular blade 24, and an outer skin 25. The flex 23 is a spiral tube formed by spirally winding a strip of a metal material such as SUS. The blade 24 is a mesh tube formed by knitting a metal material such as SUS or a resin material such as an aramid fiber into a mesh shape, and is coated on the outer periphery of the flex 23. The blade 24 prevents the flex 23 from being twisted.

  The outer peripheral surface of the blade 24 is covered with an outer skin 25 made of a resin material. The outer surface of the outer skin 25 is covered with a top coat 26 made of a coating agent such as polyurethane or fluororesin.

  The blade 24 and the outer skin 25 are integrally fixed by an adhesive 27 such as a thermosetting polyurethane resin or a moisture curable polyurethane resin. Therefore, the thin film layer 27 a of the adhesive 27 is interposed between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25.

  Note that FIG. 2 illustrates a case where a single flex 23 is formed by spirally winding a single strip-shaped plate. Here, a plurality of different winding directions for winding the belt-like plate, for example, two, three, or more multiple-winding flexes obtained by superposing two or more belt-like plates may be used.

  Next, a first endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method (first method) for manufacturing the flexible tube 22 which is an exterior body of the flexible tube portion 4 will be described. The first method includes the following steps (1) to (8).

(1) Inserting the core material Pass the silicon rubber core material inside the flex 23.

(2) Blade coating The blade 24 is coated on the flex 23.

(3) Application of adhesive The work (hereinafter referred to as the internal structural member 28) of an integral structure in which the flex 23 is covered with the blade 24 is passed through a container containing the adhesive 27. At this time, after the internal structural member 28 comes out of the container of the adhesive 27, the internal structural member 28 is passed through a die having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the internal structural member 28 to adhere to the outer periphery of the internal structural member 28. The excess adhesive 27 is scraped off. As a result, the adhesive 27 is uniformly applied to the entire outer peripheral surface of the internal structural member 28, and at the same time, the adhesive 27 penetrates into the blade 24.

(4) Solvent Removal of Adhesive The internal structural member 28 that has completed the step (3) is left in an atmosphere of, for example, 80 ° C. for 20 minutes to evaporate the solvent of the adhesive 27. The temperature condition and the standing time change depending on the type of adhesive, and are not limited to this.

(5) Tubing The internal structural member 28 having been subjected to the step (4) is passed through an extrusion molding machine, and, for example, a mixture of a soft elastomer such as polyurethane resin and a hard elastomer such as polyester resin is coated to a uniform thickness. An outer skin 25 is formed. At this time, the curing of the adhesive 27 is accelerated by the temperature and pressure of the molten resin material, and the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 are firmly fixed via the adhesive 27.

(6) Coating After the internal structural member 28 having been subjected to the step (5) is cooled at room temperature, it is passed through a container containing a coating agent, and the formed film is dried to form a thin film top coat 26. . Thereby, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is formed.

(7) Annealing In a state where the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 in which the step (6) has been completed is linearized, it is left in an atmosphere near the softening point of the outer skin 25 and reheated. Thereby, the molding distortion of the resin of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is removed. The atmosphere temperature for this treatment is generally 80 ° C. to 120 ° C., and the standing time is generally 1 hour to 8 hours.

  When the ambient temperature is in the vicinity of the curing start temperature of the adhesive 27, the uncured portion of the adhesive 27 can be completely cured. In order to obtain this curing action, it is desirable that the ambient temperature is 90 ° C. to 110 ° C., and the standing time is about 4 hours to 8 hours.

(8) Aging As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 in which the step (7) has been completed is wound around one pulley 29 whose central axis is rotatably supported. In this state, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is reciprocated over the entire length along the pulley 29.

  Further, each time the reciprocating operation of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is completed, the flexible tube 22 is rotated by 90 ° around the axis. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a combined state of the operation of rotating the flexible tube 22 in the direction around the axis and the operation of reciprocating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 along the pulley 29 over the entire length. . In FIG. 4, A is a state in which the end surface of one end portion of the flexible tube 22 is viewed from the direction of the arrow A in a state where the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound around the pulley 29 approximately half a circumference as shown in FIG. Indicates. Similarly, B shows a state in which the end surface of the other end of the flexible tube 22 is viewed from the direction of arrow B.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, at the start time t1, the rotation angle of the reference point a viewed from the A direction and the reference point b viewed from the B direction of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is 0 °. It is a state. In this state, the first reciprocation of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is performed.

  After the first reciprocating operation is completed, the flexible tube 22 is rotated 90 ° in the direction around the axis. As described above, the second reciprocating operation is performed at the time t2 when the rotation angle of the reference point a and the reference point b of the intermediate shape of the flexible tube 22 is 90 °.

  Similarly, after the second reciprocating operation is completed, the flexible tube 22 is further rotated by 90 ° around the axis. In this way, the third reciprocating operation is performed at the time t3 when the rotation angle of the reference point a and the reference point b of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 in the direction around the axis is 180 °.

  Further, after the third reciprocating operation is completed, the flexible tube 22 is further rotated 90 ° in the direction around the axis. As described above, the fourth reciprocating operation is performed at the time t4 when the rotation angle in the direction around the axis of the reference point a and the reference point b of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is 270 °. Then, the rotation of the reference point a and the reference point b of the flexible tube 22 in the direction around the axis is completed once (360 ° rotation).

  By this aging process, the bonding of the adhesive 27 along the axial direction of the flexible tube 22 can be cut off, and the flexibility of the flexible tube 22 can be improved.

  The diameter of the pulley 29 is desirably as small as possible without causing buckling due to contact between adjacent belt-like plates of the flex 23 or peeling of the blade 24 and the outer skin 25. The diameter is generally 30 mm to 60 mm.

  Further, in order to make the bending shape of the flexible tube 22 curved, the flexible tube 22 is completely wound around the pulley 29 when the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound around the pulley 29 approximately half a circumference. It is desirable to keep them in close contact with each other. Furthermore, the reciprocating motion of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 in a state where the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound around the pulley 29 approximately half a circumference can be performed until the change in flexibility of the flexible tube 22 converges. Desirably, the number of such reciprocating operations is generally in the range of 2 to 20 reciprocations.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. That is, in the manufacturing method of the endoscope flexible tube 22 according to the present embodiment, an aging process is provided during the manufacturing process of the flexible tube 22. In this aging process, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 that has been subjected to the annealing process of (7) above is wound around one pulley 29 and is flexed along the pulley 29 in a state of being wound approximately half a circle as shown in FIG. A combination of the operation of reciprocating the intermediate molded product of the tube 22 over its entire length and the operation of rotating the flexible tube 22 around the axis is performed. At this time, during the bending operation of the flexible tube 22, a force in the compression direction acts on the inside of the curve, and a force in the extension direction acts on the outside of the curve. As a result, during the bending operation of the flexible tube 22, an operation in which the adhesive 27 between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 expands and contracts occurs. By the expansion / contraction operation of the adhesive 27 at this time, the adhesive 27 soaked into the blade 24 is shredded as shown in FIG. 5 (A), and a fine tearing portion 30 is produced as shown in FIG. 5 (B). Is done. 5A is an enlarged view of the flexible tube 22 before the aging process is performed, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the flexible tube 22 after the aging process is performed. In FIG. 5B, the tearing portion 30 of the adhesive 27 is schematically shown in a wedge shape, but in reality, no space is created in the tearing portion 30 unless the flexible tube 22 is bent.

  In addition, the expansion / contraction operation of the adhesive 27 during the bending operation of the flexible tube 22 is particularly likely to occur between a bundle of strands of the blade 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, most of the tearing portions 30 of the adhesive 27 are generated between the bundles of the strands of the blade 24. For this reason, the adhesive 27 in the portion where the bundle of strands of the blade 24 is left without being torn, and the adhesion between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 required for strength is ensured. Thereby, the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube 22 can be improved, and the amount of the hard elastomer can be increased as the flexibility is improved.

  Therefore, the first method for producing a flexible tube for an endoscope has the following effects. That is, in the manufacturing method of the endoscope flexible tube 22 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained by adopting the steps (1) to (8).

  -Since the molding distortion in the axial direction of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is removed by the annealing step (7), the flexible tube 22 with uniform flexibility can be manufactured.

  -Since the deformation distortion in the diameter reduction direction of the flexible tube 22 is removed by the annealing step (7), the movement of the internal structural member 28 becomes smooth, the flexibility is good, and the flexible tube is rich in rebound resilience. 22 can be manufactured.

  The adhesive 27 soaked into the blade 24 is cut off by the aging process (8), and the adhesion between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 is moderately weakened. Therefore, the movement of the internal structural member 28 of the flexible tube 22 becomes smooth, and the flexible tube 22 with good flexibility and rich rebound resilience can be manufactured.

  The flexibility of the flexible tube 22 is improved by the annealing step (7) and the aging step (8). Therefore, when the flexibility of the flexible tube 22 is set to be equal to the conventional one, the mixing ratio of the hard elastomer rich in rebound resilience can be increased, and the flexible tube 22 rich in rebound resilience can be manufactured. it can.

  The phenomenon corresponding to the aging of (8) also occurs when the flexible tube 22 is bent in the scene where the endoscope 1 is actually used. Here, in the case where the flexible tube 22 in a state where aging is not performed is set so as to be moderate, the flexible tube 22 is softened each time the use is repeated, and the insertability with time deteriorates. Is caused. Therefore, by setting the flexibility of the flexible tube 22 in an aging state so as to be moderate, it is possible to manufacture the flexible tube 22 with no deterioration in insertability over time as compared with the prior art.

  -By the annealing step (7), the influence of the degree of occurrence of molding strain on flexibility can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the flexible tube 22 having a small variation in flexibility between individual products.

  -By the aging step (8), the influence of the degree of penetration of the adhesive 27 into the blade 24 and the degree of adhesion between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 on the flexibility can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the flexible tube 22 with less variation in flexibility between individual products.

  Therefore, according to the method for manufacturing the endoscope flexible tube 22 of the present embodiment, the existing flexible tube 22 is maintained with high resilience, while being flexible between individual products. It is possible to manufacture the endoscope flexible tube 22 which is small in variation and does not soften more than necessary even after long-term use. Further, since the influence of the penetration of the adhesive 27 into the blade 24 on the flexibility can be reduced, the variation in flexibility between individual products can be reduced. Furthermore, unnecessarily softening due to the tearing of the adhesive 27 soaked into the blade 24 that occurs during use of the endoscope 1 is reduced.

  Note that the steps (6) coating to (8) aging of the method for manufacturing the endoscope flexible tube 22 according to the present embodiment do not necessarily have to be performed in the order described above, and may be performed in the following order, for example. good.

-(6) Coating-> (8) Aging-> (7) Annealing-(7) Annealing-> (8) Aging-> (6) Coating-(8) Aging-> (7) Annealing-> (6) Coating-(7) Annealing → (6) Coating → (8) Aging / (8) Aging → (6) Coating → (7) Annealing However, in order to obtain the maximum effect of (8) aging, the adhesive 27 is completely cured. (8) Aging is preferably performed after (7) annealing. In addition, when the drying condition of the thin film top coat 26 in (6) coating is close to (7) annealing ambient temperature and standing time, (7) annealing step can be omitted. In this case, (8) aging is preferably performed after (6) coating.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the rotation operation in the direction around the axis of the flexible tube 22 during the aging process is shown as being completed by one rotation, but is not limited thereto, and as necessary. It may be increased. Further, the rotation direction of the flexible tube 22 around the axis during the aging process may be rotated in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotation angle in the direction around the axis of the flexible tube 22 during the aging process is performed at a pitch of 90 °, but is not limited to this, and may be changed as necessary. For example, the rotation angle in the direction around the axis of the flexible tube 22 during the aging process is an angle pitch that can divide 360 ° by an integer of 3 or more, such as 120 ° pitch, 60 ° pitch, 45 ° pitch, and 30 ° pitch. Is desirable.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method (second method) for manufacturing the flexible tube 22 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This second method differs from the first method only in the aging step (8). Accordingly, only the aging step (8) will be described here.

  6A to 6D are explanatory diagrams for explaining the aging process of the present method. In the aging process of the present embodiment, the entire length of the flexible tube 22 is divided into a plurality of parts, and the aging process similar to the first method is performed for each part. That is, in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the flexible tube 22 is aged by dividing the entire length of the flexible tube 22 into four parts (flexible tube 22-1 to flexible tube 22-4). The case where the forward pulling direction and the return pulling direction of 22 axial directions are parallel is shown. In this case, in order to bend over the entire length of the flexible tube 22, the following conditions must be established between the total length of each part and the reciprocating stroke.

When the bending radius of the central axis of the flexible tube 22 by the pulley 29 is R, the length of one part is L, and the reciprocating stroke is S,
S ≧ L−πR (1)
Be.

Furthermore, considering the positioning error e of the forward path start position and the backward path start position,
S ≧ L−πR + 2e (2)
Be.

When the forward traction direction and the backward traction direction are not parallel and have an angle θ,
S ≧ L− (π−θ) R (3)
Be.

Furthermore, considering the positioning error e of the forward path start position and the backward path start position,
S ≧ L− (π−θ) R + 2e (4)
Be.

  By adopting the above steps, the same effects as those of the first method can be obtained, and the following effects can be obtained particularly in the present embodiment.

  When the bending is performed sequentially from one end of the flexible tube 22 toward the other end, the flex tends to be gradually biased toward the other end side. This tendency becomes stronger as the bending radius is smaller. Also, it is noticeable in the inner flex when the flex 23 is a multiple flex. If the flex deviation becomes large, the flexibility becomes nonuniform and buckling may occur due to the contact between the strips.

  In the first method, since it is a reciprocating motion, the flex biased toward one end in the forward path is returned to the other end side in the return path, so that the flex bias does not remain. However, there is a case where the flex is biased before the flex biased toward one end is returned to the other end.

  In the second method, since the entire length of the flexible tube 22 is divided into a plurality of parts and reciprocated for each part, the reciprocating stroke per part is small, and the bias of the generated flex is small. Accordingly, buckling will not occur before the flex biased toward one end is returned to the other end. Similarly to the first embodiment, since the flex that is biased toward one end in the forward path is returned to the other end in the return path, the flex bias does not remain.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method (third method) for manufacturing the flexible tube 22 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This third method differs from the first method only in (8) the aging step. Accordingly, only the aging step (8) will be described here.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the aging process of the present method. In FIG. 7, A is a state in which the end face of one end of the flexible tube 22 is viewed from the direction of the arrow A in a state in which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound around the pulley 29 approximately half a circumference as shown in FIG. Shows the state of viewing. Similarly, B shows a state in which the end surface of the other end of the flexible tube 22 is viewed from the direction of arrow B.

  In FIG. 7, at the time t0 on the left side, in the aging process of the present embodiment, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 that has been subjected to the annealing process is approximately half a circumference around one pulley 29 as shown in FIG. It is in a state of being wound and set. In this state, the rotation angle in the direction around the axis of the reference point a viewed from the A direction and the reference point b viewed from the B direction of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is 0 °.

  Further, at the start of the aging process, before starting the first reciprocating operation for reciprocating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 along the pulley 29 over the entire length, the flexible tube 22 is moved from the set state at the time t0. Only one end (A end in FIG. 6A) is rotated by 90 ° clockwise, for example, and twisted. In this state, aging similar to the first method and the second method is performed.

  That is, at the time t1 in FIG. 7, the rotation angle of the reference point a around the axis (clockwise direction) viewed from the A direction at one end of the flexible tube 22 (the A direction end in FIG. 6A) is 90. In this state, the rotation angle of the reference point b around the axis viewed from the B direction at the other end of the flexible tube 22 (the end in the B direction in FIG. 6A) is 0 °. In this state, the first reciprocation of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is performed.

  After the first reciprocating operation is completed, the entire flexible tube 22 is rotated by 90 ° around the axis. At time t2, the rotation angle of the reference point a around the axis (clockwise direction) viewed from the A direction at one end of the flexible tube 22 (the A direction end in FIG. 6A) is 180 °. The rotation angle of the reference point b around the axis (counterclockwise direction) viewed from the B direction at the other end of the flexible tube 22 (the B direction end in FIG. 6A) is 90 °. In this state, the second reciprocating operation is performed.

  Similarly, after the second reciprocating operation is completed, the entire flexible tube 22 is further rotated by 90 ° around the axis. At time t3, the rotation angle of the reference point a around the axis (clockwise direction) viewed from the A direction at one end of the flexible tube 22 (the A direction end in FIG. 6A) is 270 °. The rotation angle of the reference point b around the axis (counterclockwise direction) viewed from the B direction at the other end (end in the B direction in FIG. 6A) of the flexible tube 22 is 180 °. In this state, the third reciprocating operation is performed.

  Further, after the third reciprocating operation is completed, the entire flexible tube 22 is further rotated by 90 ° around the axis. At time t4, the rotation angle of the reference point a around the axis (clockwise direction) viewed from the A direction at one end of the flexible tube 22 (the A direction end in FIG. 6A) is 360 °. The rotation angle of the reference point b around the axis (counterclockwise direction) viewed from the B direction at the other end of the flexible tube 22 (end in the B direction in FIG. 6A) is 270 °. In this state, the fourth reciprocating operation is performed. Then, the rotation of the reference point a of the flexible tube 22 in the direction around the axis is completed once (360 ° rotation).

  In this way, the flexible tube 22 can be twisted as well as bent. Therefore, the bonding in the longitudinal direction (axial direction of the flexible tube 22) of the adhesive 27 soaked in the blade 24 is the first. It is cut off more than the method or the second method, and the flexibility of the flexible tube 22 can be improved.

  In this method, the twist angle in the direction around the axis of the flexible tube 22 is 90 °. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any angle may be used as long as it is within the range.

  Further, only the one end side of the flexible tube 22 (the A end in FIG. 6A) may be rotated in any direction. However, when the flex is double, it is preferable to rotate the inner flex in a direction to reduce the inner flex and expand the outer flex. This is because the friction between the inner flex and the outer flex is reduced, and the effect of preventing the flex bias described in the second method from remaining is obtained.

  By adopting the above steps, the same effects as those of the first method and the second method can be obtained, and the following effects can be obtained particularly in the method of the present embodiment. That is, in the method of the present embodiment, the flexibility of the flexible tube 22 is further improved than in the first method and the second method, and therefore the mixing ratio of the hard elastomer rich in rebound resilience can be further increased. Thus, the flexible tube 22 rich in rebound resilience can be manufactured.

  Further, in actual use, not only bending but also twisting force is applied to the flexible tube 22. Therefore, when only bending is applied to the flexible tube 22 in the aging process, the bond in the longitudinal direction (the axial direction of the flexible tube 22) of the adhesive 27 is further cut off in actual use, and a slight softening occurs. There is. Therefore, according to the present method in which bending and twisting are simultaneously applied to the flexible tube 22 in the aging process, the flexible tube 22 with less deterioration of insertability with time can be manufactured.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method (fourth method) for manufacturing the flexible tube 22 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This fourth method differs from the first method only in the aging step (8). Accordingly, only the aging step (8) will be described here.

  7A to 7C are explanatory diagrams for explaining the aging process of the fourth method. In the aging process of the present embodiment, in any one of the first method to the third method, the pulleys 29 are arranged in parallel, and the flexible tube 22 is reciprocated along the pulleys. It is what you do.

  7A shows a case where two pulleys 29 are used, FIG. 7B shows a case where three pulleys 29 are used, and FIG. 7C shows a case where five pulleys 29 are used. . In any case, the pulley 29 is preferably arranged so as to satisfy the following conditions.

  -In order not to apply an excessive load to the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 after the annealing step (7), the winding angle wound around each pulley 29 (in the state wound around each pulley 29, the flexible The angle is set so that the longitudinal direction of the tube 22 (the axial direction of the flexible tube 22) can be changed to 150 ° or less.

  In order to obtain sufficient flexibility of the flexible tube 22, the winding angle wound around each pulley 29 (in the state of being wound around each pulley 29, the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube 22 (the axial direction of the flexible tube 22 ) The angle at which the direction can be changed is set to be 80 ° or more.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. In the method of the present embodiment, when the aging process is performed using a plurality of pulleys 29, the pulley 29 that is opposite to the traction side in the operation of reciprocating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 over the entire length (reciprocating motion). Becomes resistance. Therefore, the flexible tube 22 wound around the pulling pulley 29 can be brought into close contact with the pulley 29 in a reliable manner. In addition, since the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound around the pulley 29 simultaneously at a plurality of locations along the axial direction to bend, the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is more than the first method to the third method. Bending can be applied to a wide range of locations with a small reciprocating stroke.

  The conditions for performing the same aging process as in the first to third methods using a plurality of pulleys 29 are shown below. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory diagrams thereof, for example, using three pulleys 29-1, 29-2, 29-3, and the total length of the flexible tube 22 is divided into two parts (flexible tube 22-1 and flexible tube). A case where the aging is performed by dividing the tube 22-2) is shown.

  When aging one part, there is a range in which the curved portion of the flexible tube 22 moves along the first pulley 29-1 and the second pulley 29-2. There is a range in which the bending portion of the tube 22 moves and a range in which the bending portion of the flexible tube 22 moves along the third pulley 29-3. When the total length of one part is longer than the sum of the lengths of the three ranges in which the curved portion of the flexible tube 22 moves along the three pulleys 29-1, 29-2, 29-3, 3 An interval is generated between each of the two bending ranges, and a portion that is not bent is left. In order not to generate this, the following conditions must be satisfied.

In FIG. 9, the center distance in the lateral direction (x direction) between the center O1 of the first pulley 29-1 and the center O2 of the second pulley 29-2 is x1, and the first pulley 29-1 The vertical distance (y direction) between the center O1 of the second pulley 29-2 and the center O2 of the second pulley 29-2 is y1, the center O2 of the second pulley 29-2, and the third pulley 29-3 The horizontal center distance between the center O3 is x2, the vertical center distance between the center O2 of the second pulley 29-2 and the center O3 of the third pulley 29-3 is y2, the first The bending radius of the central axis of the flexible tube 22 by the pulley 29-1 is R1, the bending radius of the central axis of the flexible tube 22 by the second pulley 29-2 is R2, and the bending radius by the third pulley 29-3 is When the curvature radius of the central axis of the tube 22 is R3 and the reciprocating stroke in the axial direction of the flexible tube 22 is S,
S ≧ max {(x1 ² + y1 ² − (R1 + R2) ² ) ^1/2 , (x2 ² + y2 ² − (R2 + R3) ² ) ^1/2 }
Be. Further, in consideration of the positioning error e between the forward path start position and the backward path start position, the following equation 3

That the relationship.
In addition, the following conditions must be satisfied in order not to create a portion that does not bend between the parts.

・ When the length of one part is L, the following number 4

That the relationship. Further, in consideration of the positioning error e between the forward path start position and the backward path start position, the following equation 5

That the relationship.
The forward pulling direction and the backward pulling direction are not parallel, the first pulley 29-1 side pulling direction forms an angle θ1 in the clockwise direction with respect to the paper right direction, and the third pulley 29-3 side pulling direction is the right direction of the paper. When the angle θ3 is clockwise, the following formula 6

That the relationship.
Further, in consideration of the positioning error e between the forward path start position and the backward path start position, the following equation 7

That the relationship.
It is preferable that the number of pulleys 29 is an odd number because the pulling directions at both ends of the flexible tube 22 can be made substantially the same and the flexible tube 22 can be easily reciprocated in the axial direction. In order to apply a sufficient load within a range where the flexible tube 22 is not broken, it is preferable that the number of pulleys 29 is three to five.

  Therefore, by adopting the above method, in addition to the same effects as those of the first method to the third method, the following effects can be obtained particularly in the present embodiment. That is, since the flexible tube 22 can be tightly wound along the pulley 29 without performing complicated control such as managing the tension applied to the flexible tube 22, an inexpensive device can be used. It is possible to automate. Furthermore, since the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 can be bent over a wide range with a small reciprocating stroke, the apparatus for carrying out the method can be miniaturized. Moreover, the time of an aging process can be shortened and productivity can be improved.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIGS. 11A and 11B to FIG. 22 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 11A and 11B show a first aging device 31 for performing an aging process in the first to fourth methods of the endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the aging device 31 includes an aging device main body 32 and a control device 33 for controlling the aging device main body 32. As shown in FIG. 11B, the aging apparatus main body 32 is provided with a base 34. A right reciprocating device 35 and a left reciprocating device 36 for reciprocating the flexible tube 22 in the axial direction are provided on the base 34. The right reciprocating device 35 is on one side on the base 34 (upper end in FIG. 11A), and the left reciprocating device 36 is on the other side on the base 34 (lower end in FIG. 11A). ).

  Further, a fixed pulley mount 37 and a moving pulley mount 38 for arranging the pulley 29 and a pulley moving device 39 for moving the moving pulley mount 38 are assembled on the base 34.

  A right base member 40 and a left base member 41 are provided on the base 34. A right reciprocating device 35 is attached to the right base member 40, and a left reciprocating device 36 is attached to the left base member 41, respectively. The right reciprocating device 35 is provided with a straight right reciprocating rail 42 on the right base member 40. A right driving device 43 such as a servo motor is provided on one end side of the right reciprocating rail 42. A right belt pulley 44 is provided on the other end side of the right reciprocating rail 42.

  Further, a right drive pulley 45 is provided on the rotation shaft of the right drive device 43. A right timing belt 46 is stretched between the right drive pulley 45 and the right belt pulley 44. The right driving device 43 and the right belt pulley 44 are arranged so that the right timing belt 46 and the right reciprocating rail 42 are parallel to each other. The right drive pulley 45 is rotationally driven by the right drive device 43, and the rotation of the right drive pulley 45 is transmitted to the right belt pulley 44 via the right timing belt 46.

  A right chuck unit 47 is slidably mounted on the right reciprocating rail 42. One end of the flexible tube 22 is detachably attached to the right chuck unit 47 from the right belt pulley 44 side.

  A right reciprocating head 48 is provided on the right timing belt 46. The right reciprocating head 48 is connected to the right chuck unit 47. With the above configuration, the right chuck unit 47 reciprocates along the right reciprocating rail 42 using the right driving device 43 as a driving source.

  13 and 14 are enlarged views of the right chuck unit 47. FIG. The right chuck unit 47 includes a right rotating chuck 50, a right chuck receiver 51, and a right chuck rotating device 52 mounted on a right carriage 49 that is slidably mounted along the right reciprocating rail 42. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the right carriage 49 is a substantially U-shaped member and is attached so as to cover the upper surface and both side surfaces of the right carriage 42. Guide grooves 53 are formed on both side surfaces of the right reciprocating rail 42 along the extending direction of the rail 42. A similar groove 54 is also formed at a position on the inner surface of the right carriage 49 facing the guide groove 53. A slide ball 55 is interposed between the guide groove 53 and the groove 54, thereby preventing the right carriage 49 from being detached and reducing resistance during sliding.

  The right rotating chuck 50 is provided with a chuck opening / closing mechanism 57 on one end side of a cylindrical member 56 and a flange portion 58 on the other end side. The chuck opening / closing mechanism 57 is provided with three claws 59 as shown in FIG. The three claws 59 are supported so as to be movable in the radial direction. The three claws 59 are supported by a chuck opening / closing mechanism 57 so as to be openable / closable while moving along the radial direction. Then, one end of the flexible tube 22 is gripped and chucked by a closing operation in which the three claws 59 are driven inward in the radial direction by the chuck opening / closing mechanism 57.

  The chucking force amount of the chuck opening / closing mechanism 57 needs to be within a range in which the flexible tube 22 is not deformed and the flexible tube 22 is not detached in the aging process. In the present embodiment, it is set so that the force can be adjusted in a range of, for example, 50 N to 200 N per nail 59. The generation method of the chucking force may be a spring type, a screw type, or an air compressor type, but any other type may be used. In addition, each nail 59 may be provided with small unevenness for preventing slipping on the surface holding the flexible tube 22. 17A and 17B show a state in which a non-slip member 60 made of a material having a high coefficient of friction such as polyurethane or rubber is attached to the surface of the claw 59 that holds the flexible tube 22. By doing so, the flexible tube 22 can be prevented from coming off with a small amount of chucking force, and the flexible tube 22 can be prevented from being crushed.

  In addition, transmission pins 61 protrude from the end surface of the cylindrical member 56 on the flange portion 58 side at two locations. These two transmission pins 61 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to the central axis of the right rotating chuck 50. The number of transmission pins 61 is not necessarily two, and may be any number of one or more according to the required amount of force.

  The right chuck receiver 51 is formed with a bearing hole 62 at one end of a solid square member and a counterbore 63 at the other end. The bearing hole 62 is set to have substantially the same inner diameter as the outer shape of the cylindrical member 56. The counterbore 63 is set to have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 58. The bearing hole 62 and the counterbore 63 are formed on a concentric shaft. Further, the counterbore 63 is formed deeper than the thickness of the flange portion 58, and the total length of the bearing hole 62 is shorter than the total length of the cylindrical member 56.

  A transmission disk 64 is provided on the rotation shaft of the right chuck rotation device 52. As shown in FIG. 15, the transmission disk 64 has two pin holes 65 formed therein. These pin holes 65 are arranged at positions facing the transmission pins 61 when the center axis of the cylindrical member 56 and the rotation center are matched.

  The right chuck receiver 51 is fixed on the right carriage 49 with the center axis of the bearing hole 62 disposed parallel to the right reciprocating rail 42 and the counterbore 63 facing the right drive device 43. Then, the right rotating chuck 50 is inserted into the right chuck receiver 51 from the counterbore 63 side in order from the claw 59, and the flange portion 58 is abutted against the boundary surface between the bearing hole 62 and the counterbore hole 63. The right chuck rotating device 52 is fixed to the right chuck receiver 51 in a state where the center axis of the cylindrical member 56 and the center of rotation are aligned and the transmission pin 61 is inserted through the pin hole 65.

  With the above configuration, the right chuck unit 47 can grip one end of the flexible tube 22 from the right belt pulley 44 side, and can rotate the flexible tube 22 using the right chuck rotating device 52 as a drive source.

  A replacement transmission disk 64-2 shown in FIG. 16 is provided as a selective use part. This replacement transmission disk 64-2 is formed with an arc-shaped elongated hole 65-2 in which the pin hole 65 of the transmission disk 64 shown in FIG. 15 is expanded in the circumferential direction. Then, the exchange disk 64-2 for replacement can be replaced with the transmission disk 64 as necessary, so that play can be provided in the rotation of the right rotating chuck 50.

  The left reciprocating device 36 is configured in substantially the same manner as the right reciprocating device 35. The left reciprocating device 36 is provided with a straight left reciprocating rail 66 on the left base member 41. A left driving device 67 such as a servo motor is provided on one end side of the left reciprocating rail 66. A left belt pulley 68 is provided on the other end side of the left reciprocating rail 66.

  Further, a left drive pulley 69 is provided on the rotation shaft of the left drive device 67. A left timing belt 70 is stretched between the left drive pulley 69 and the left belt pulley 68.

  A left chuck unit 71 is slidably mounted on the left reciprocating rail 66. The other end of the flexible tube 22 is detachably attached to the left chuck unit 71 from the left belt pulley 68 side.

  A left reciprocating head 72 is provided on the left timing belt 70. The left reciprocating head 72 is connected to the left chuck unit 71. With the above configuration, the left chuck unit 71 reciprocates along the left reciprocating rail 66 using the left driving device 67 as a driving source. The components on the left reciprocating device 36 are arranged so as to be symmetrical with the right reciprocating device 35 with respect to an axis parallel to the left reciprocating rail 66.

  The right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 are fixed to the base 34 with the right reciprocating rail 42 and the left reciprocating rail 66 being horizontal with respect to the floor, and with the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 facing upward.

  Further, the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 are fixed with the right reciprocating rail 42 and the left reciprocating rail 66 facing each other in parallel, but the distance between the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 is fixed. It can be changed arbitrarily.

  The fixed pulley mount 37 is fixed to the base 34 so as to be horizontal to the floor surface. The fixed pulley mount 37 is disposed at a position higher than the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36, and extends in a direction intersecting the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 on the projection onto the floor surface. Has been.

  A plurality of, in this embodiment, three fixed aging pulleys 73 are fixed below the fixed pulley mount 37. Note that an arbitrary number of fixed aging pulleys 73 can be fixed at arbitrary positions on a straight line intersecting the right reciprocating rail 42. As shown in FIG. 18, each fixed aging pulley 73 is supported in a state where the rotary shaft 74 is erected in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface. On the outer periphery of each fixed aging pulley 73, a V-groove 75 is formed over the entire periphery.

  A central base member 76 is disposed on the base 34 between the right base member 40 and the left base member 41. The central base member 76 is provided with a pulley moving device 39. The pulley moving device 39 has a moving rail 77 protruding from the upper surface of the central base member 76. As shown in FIG. 12, the moving rail 77 is provided with, for example, a mount driving device 78 such as a servo motor on one end side and a belt pulley 79 on the other end side.

  A drive pulley 80 is provided on the rotation shaft of the mount drive device 78. A timing belt 81 is stretched between the drive pulley 80 and the belt pulley 79. A mount driving device 78 and a belt pulley 79 are arranged so that the moving rail 77 and the timing belt 81 are parallel to each other. The drive pulley 80 is rotationally driven by the mount drive device 78, and the rotation of the drive pulley 80 is transmitted to the belt pulley 79 via the timing belt 81.

  A mount moving table 82 is slidably attached to the moving rail 77. A movable pulley mount 38 is fixed to the mount moving table 82. A moving head 83 is attached to the timing belt 81. The moving head 83 is connected to the mount moving table 82. With the above configuration, the mount moving table 82 can be moved by the mount driving device 78.

  The pulley moving device 39 makes the moving rail 77 parallel to the right and left reciprocating rails 42 and 66, positions the moving rail 77 at the center of the right and left reciprocating rails 42 and 66, and places the mount moving table 82 upward. The base 34 is fixed.

  The moving pulley mount 38 is fixed to the mount moving table 82 so as to be horizontal with respect to the floor surface. On the upper side of the moving pulley mount 38, a plurality of moving aging pulleys 84 having the same shape as the fixed aging pulley 73, in this embodiment, are attached. Each moving aging pulley 84 is supported via a spacer 86 in a state where the rotary shaft 85 is erected in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface.

  An arbitrary number of moving aging pulleys 84 can be attached at arbitrary positions on a straight line intersecting the right reciprocating rail 42. Furthermore, it is desirable that the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 are made of a material having a high sliding property such as polyacetal or fluororesin. Further, when performing the aging process, a lubricant such as silicon oil may be applied to the outer surfaces of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84.

  Here, the following explanation is supplemented regarding the positional relationship among the right reciprocating device 35, the left reciprocating device 36, the fixed pulley mount 37, and the moving pulley mount 38.

  The positional relationship between the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 in the direction parallel to the right reciprocating rail 42 is the same.

  The height of the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 from the floor is equal.

  The height of the pulley moving device 39 from the floor surface is set so that the moving pulley mount 38 is positioned below the bottom surfaces of the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36. If the spacer 86 and the moving aging pulley 84 are removed, the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 can be brought close to each other until they come into contact with each other.

  The height of the fixed pulley mount 37 from the floor surface is set so that the fixed aging pulley 73 is above the right reciprocating rail 42 and the left reciprocating rail 66.

  The height of the fixed pulley mount 37 from the floor surface is set so that the center of the V groove 75 of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the center axis of the cylindrical member 56 from the floor surface are equal.

  The position of the fixed pulley mount 37 is such that the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned closer to the belt pulley 79 than the fixed aging pulley 73 when the moving pulley mount 38 is closest to the belt pulley 79, and the moving pulley mount 38 is most driven. The moving aging pulley 84 is set so as to be positioned closer to the drive pulley 80 than the fixed aging pulley 73 in the state of being on the pulley 80 side.

  The height of the spacer 86 is set so that the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 have the same height from the floor surface.

  Further, the fixed aging pulley 73 does not hit the moving pulley mount 38 and the moving aging pulley 84 does not hit the fixed pulley mount 37 while the moving pulley mount 38 moves from the driving pulley 80 side to the belt pulley 79 side. Has been.

  As described above, the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 can be attached to arbitrary positions of the fixed pulley mount 37 and the moving pulley mount 38, respectively.

  Below, the preferable arrangement | positioning for performing an aging process smoothly and obtaining sufficient effect is demonstrated.

  In order to prevent an unreasonable load on the flexible tube 22, the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 are set so that the angle of changing the direction of the central axis of the flexible tube 22 is 150 ° or less. .

  In order to obtain sufficient flexibility, in each of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84, the angle for changing the direction of the central axis of the flexible tube 22 is set to be 80 ° or more.

  When performing aging using a plurality of pulleys, the pulleys located outside are set so as to be both fixed aging pulleys 73 or both moving aging pulleys 84.

  When aging is performed using three or more pulleys, the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 are alternately arranged from the outside toward the inside.

  When the fixed aging pulley 73 is on the outside, the moving aging pulley 84 is disposed so as to be positioned closer to the drive pulley 80 than the fixed aging pulley 73 during the reciprocating operation.

  When performing an operation other than reciprocating the flexible tube 22 such as when the flexible tube 22 is rotated, the moving pulley is arranged so that the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned closer to the belt pulley 79 than the fixed aging pulley 73. The mount 38 is moved. At this time, the interval between the two adjacent fixed aging pulleys 73 and the fixed aging pulley 73 is made larger than the outer diameter of the moving aging pulley 84 so that the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 do not hit each other. In addition, it is necessary to dispose the moving aging pulley 84 at a position where it can pass between the fixed aging pulleys 73.

  On the other hand, when the moving aging pulley 84 is on the outer side (when the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned on the belt pulley 79 side with respect to the fixed aging pulley 73), the moving aging pulley 84 is fixed aging during the reciprocating operation of reciprocating the flexible tube 22. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in the belt pulley 79 side rather than the pulley 73. FIG. Then, when performing an operation other than the reciprocating operation for reciprocating the flexible tube 22 such as when the flexible tube 22 is rotated, the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned closer to the drive pulley 80 than the fixed aging pulley 73. The movable pulley mount 38 is moved. At this time, the interval between the two adjacent moving aging pulleys 84 and the moving aging pulley 84 is made larger than the outer diameter of the fixed aging pulley 73 so that the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 do not hit each other. In addition, it is necessary to arrange the fixed aging pulley 73 at a position where it can pass between the moving aging pulleys 84.

  When the pulling direction of the flexible tube 22 viewed from the outermost fixed aging pulley 73 is greatly different from the reciprocating direction of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71, the flexible chuck 22 is chucked by the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71. There is a risk that the end of the flexible tube 22 is bent excessively and destroyed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 19A to 19C, the interval between the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 is adjusted according to the number and arrangement of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84.

  19A to 19C are examples of arrangements in which the fixed aging pulley 73 is arranged outside, and the total number of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 is five, three, and one. Show. FIG. 19A shows a case where the total number of fixed aging pulleys 73 and moving aging pulleys 84 is five. Here, three fixed aging pulleys 73 and two moving aging pulleys 84 are arranged. FIG. 19B shows a case where the total number of fixed aging pulleys 73 and moving aging pulleys 84 is three. Here, two fixed aging pulleys 73 and one moving aging pulley 84 are arranged. FIG. 19C shows a case where the total number of fixed aging pulleys 73 and moving aging pulleys 84 is one. Here, only one fixed aging pulley 73 is arranged. Thereby, the pulling direction of the flexible tube 22 viewed from the outermost fixed aging pulley 73 can be set to be substantially equal to the reciprocating direction of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71.

  Similarly, when the moving aging pulley 84 is disposed outside, the pulling direction of the flexible tube 22 viewed from the moving aging pulley 84 is set to be substantially equal to the reciprocating direction of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71. It is desirable to do.

  The structure of the aging device main body 32 has been described above. The aging device main body 32 can perform the following four basic operations by the control device 33.

  The right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 can be reciprocated at a specified speed and acceleration.

  The traction force amount of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 can be kept constant at a specified value.

  The right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 can be rotated by a specified angle.

  -The movable pulley mount 38 can be moved to a specified position.

  In order to perform aging suitable for various conditions, the following items can be arbitrarily set.

-Reciprocating start position-Reciprocating folding position-Reciprocating speed / acceleration-Reciprocating control method-Traction force when reciprocating the right chuck unit 47 and left chuck unit 71-Resistance when reciprocating the right chuck unit 47 and left chuck unit 71 Amount of force ・ Amount of traction force other than the reciprocation of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 ・ A pull-side start delay time in each of the forward path and the return path ・ Number of reciprocations ・ Twisting direction of the flexible tube 22 Direction of rotation of flexible tube 22 ・ Rotational angle pitch of flexible tube 22 ・ Number of rotations of flexible tube 22 ・ Position of moving aging pulley 84 during reciprocation ・ Position of moving aging pulley 84 other than during reciprocation By setting the above items One aging pattern is defined. The control device 33 can store a plurality of aging patterns, select a plurality of aging patterns from among them, and output them continuously.

  It should be noted that the aging patterns that can be stored by the control device 33 are desirably eight or more, and it is desirable that four or more aging patterns can be continuously output.

  Next, an aging process using the first aging device 31 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate the case where aging is performed using two fixed aging pulleys 73 and one moving aging pulley 84.

  (1) When using the first aging device 31, the moving aging pulley 84 is moved in advance to the set position of the flexible tube 22 shown in FIG. At this time, the moving pulley mount 38 is moved so that the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned closer to the belt pulley 79 than the fixed aging pulley 73. The flexible tube 22 is passed between the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 in a state of being moved to the designated “moving aging pulley 84 position other than reciprocating”. In this set state, as shown in the chucked state of both ends of the flexible tube 22 by the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 at the start time t0 in FIG. Set.

  FIG. 22 shows a combined state of the operation of rotating the flexible tube 22 in the direction around the axis and the operation of reciprocating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 over the entire length along the three pulleys 73, 84, 73. It is explanatory drawing demonstrated. In FIG. 22, reference numeral 22A denotes one end of the flexible tube 22 by the right chuck unit 47 in a state in which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube 22 is wound approximately three times around the three pulleys 73, 84, 73 as shown in FIG. The state which looked at the chuck | zipper state of the end surface side of a part from arrow 22 A direction is shown. Similarly, 22B shows the state which looked at the chuck | zipper state of the end surface side of the other end part of the flexible tube 22 from the arrow 22B direction.

  (2) Next, the moving aging pulley 84 is moved to the aging process start position of the flexible tube 22 shown in FIG. At this time, the moving pulley mount 38 is moved so that the moving aging pulley 84 is positioned closer to the drive pulley 80 than the fixed aging pulley 73.

  (3) Thereafter, a control signal for driving the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 to chuck both ends of the flexible tube 22 is output (at time t1 in FIG. 22). At this time, the three claws 59 of the chuck opening / closing mechanism 57 are driven inward along the radial direction. By the closing operation of the three claws 59, one end of the flexible tube 22 is gripped and chucked (at time t2 in FIG. 22).

  (4) Thereafter, a torsion drive signal for rotating one end of the flexible tube 22 is output at time t3 in FIG. As a result, the right chuck unit 47 is rotated to the designated “twist direction” and “twist angle” to twist the flexible tube 22 (at time t4 in FIG. 22). Instead of rotating the right chuck unit 47, the left chuck unit 71 may be rotated.

  (5) Subsequently, the left chuck unit 71 is moved to the designated “outward start position” and stopped while the traction force amount of the right chuck unit 47 is maintained at the designated “traction force amount other than reciprocation”.

  (6) Thereafter, the position of the left chuck unit 71 is held, and the moving aging pulley 84 is moved to the designated “reciprocating time” while the traction force amount of the right chuck unit 47 is kept at the designated “traction force amount other than the reciprocating time”. 21 is moved to the state shown in FIG.

  (7) Between the designated “reciprocation start position” and “reciprocation return position”, the designated “reciprocation number” is reciprocated and stopped. The round trip is performed by selecting one of the following in the “round trip control method”.

  -Of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71, the one located on the traction side is kept at the designated "retraction force amount during reciprocation", and the one located on the following side is designated in the direction corresponding to the traction force. Drive at "speed / acceleration".

  -Keep one of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 located on the following side at the specified "resistance force during reciprocation" and specify the one located on the traction side against the resistance force.・ Drive with "acceleration".

  This is done by driving both the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 at the designated “speed / acceleration”.

  Further, the start time of the left chuck unit 71 in the forward path and the right chuck unit 47 in the backward path are delayed by a designated “delay time”. Thereby, an appropriate slack is given to the flexible tube 22, and an excessive stress is prevented from being applied.

  (8) The moving aging pulley 84 is moved to the designated “moving aging pulley 84 position other than reciprocation” while maintaining the traction force amount of the right chuck unit 47 at the designated “traction force amount”.

  (9) The both ends of the flexible tube 22 are rotated by the designated “rotation angle pitch”.

  (10) The procedures of (6) to (9) are continued until the flexible tube 22 rotates by the designated “number of rotations” and stopped.

  (11) Move to the next aging pattern and implement (4) to (10). If there is no next pattern, the amount of traction force of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 is set to 0, the flexible tube 22 is removed, and the process ends.

  Therefore, in the above method, the following effects can be obtained by using the first aging device 31 of the present embodiment. That is, since all operations other than the attachment / detachment of the flexible tube 22 can be automatically performed, a stable aging process not depending on the operator can be performed. Further, by using the replacement transmission disk 64-2 shown in FIG. 16, since it is possible to provide play in the rotation of the flexible tube 22, it is possible to prevent the flexible tube 22 from being excessively twisted.

  Further, the arrangement of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 can be arbitrarily set, and the arrangement of the right reciprocating device 35 and the left reciprocating device 36 can be arbitrarily set accordingly. Therefore, an optimal arrangement can be selected according to the type of the flexible tube 22.

  Furthermore, the movement of the flexible tube 22 in the direction perpendicular to the floor surface can be prevented by the V groove 75 provided on the outer periphery of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84, and stress applied to the flexible tube 22 can be prevented. Can be kept constant.

  Further, the reciprocating speed / acceleration, the pulling force amount of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71, the pulling side start delay time in each of the forward path and the return path, the number of reciprocations, the twist direction / torsion angle of the flexible tube 22, the flexible tube 22 The rotation direction / rotation angle pitch and the rotation number of the flexible tube 22 can be arbitrarily set. Therefore, the minimum necessary aging can be selected and implemented according to the type of the flexible tube 22.

  In addition, since the control device 33 can store a plurality of aging patterns, the aging patterns can be easily used according to the type of the flexible tube 22. Furthermore, since a plurality of aging patterns can be output continuously, it is possible even when aging is performed by dividing the entire length of the flexible tube 22 into a plurality of parts, such as aging in the second method (see FIG. 6). Operations other than the attachment / detachment of the flexible tube 22 can be performed automatically.

  Further, since the movable aging pulley 84 is movable, the flexible tube 22 can be easily attached and detached. Further, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, it is possible to attach a non-slip member 60 made of a material having a high coefficient of friction such as polyurethane or rubber to the surface of the claw 59 that holds the flexible tube 22. The amount of force required for the rotation of the flexible tube 22 can be reduced. Accordingly, the flexible tube 22 can be prevented from coming off with a small amount of chucking force, and the flexible tube 22 can be prevented from being crushed.

  In addition, bending at the time of transition to the next aging pattern can be minimized. This is effective in that it is possible to eliminate the flex bias when moving to the next part when performing aging in the second method using a plurality of aging patterns.

[Sixth Embodiment]
FIG. 23 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is the first aging apparatus according to the fifth embodiment (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) for carrying out the aging process in the first to fourth methods. A second aging device 91 in which a part of 31 is changed as follows is provided.

  The second aging device 91 is configured such that the rotation axis of at least one of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 is not parallel to the rotation axes of the other pulleys.

  FIG. 23 is a side view of the first aging device 31 of FIG. Here, a case is shown in which two fixed aging pulleys 73 and one moving aging pulley 84 are used and the fixed aging pulley 73 is disposed on the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the rotating shaft 92 of the fixed aging pulley 73 is inclined so as to move away from each other toward the floor surface. On the other hand, the rotating shaft 93 of the moving aging pulley 84 is perpendicular to the floor surface.

  The height of the center of the V groove 75 of the fixed aging pulley 73 is set to be equal to the center axis height of the cylindrical member 56 at the farthest position from the other fixed aging pulley 73, and the other fixed aging pulley. It is set so as to be equal to the center height of the V groove 75 of the moving aging pulley 84 at a position closest to 73.

  Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, since the fixed aging pulley 73 is inclined in the second aging device 91 of the present embodiment, the plane including the bending direction at each bending portion of the flexible tube 22 that curves along the aging pulleys 73 and 84 is Different from each other. Therefore, if the both ends of the flexible tube 22 are chucked so as not to twist each other, the flexible tube 22 can be bent and twisted only by causing the flexible tube 22 to reciprocate. Therefore, step (4) in the first aging device 31 can be omitted, and the control program of the control device 33 can be simplified.

[Seventh Embodiment]
FIG. 24 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a third aging device 101 in which a part of the first aging device 31 of the fifth embodiment (see FIGS. 11A and 11B to FIG. 22) is changed as follows is provided. It is a thing.

  That is, the third aging device 101 of the present embodiment is configured such that the groove center heights from the floor surface of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 are different.

  FIG. 24 is a side view of the first aging device 31 of FIG. 11A as viewed from the left side in FIG. Here, a case where three fixed aging pulleys 73 and two moving aging pulleys 84 are used and the fixed aging pulley 73 is disposed outside is shown.

  Thus, when the fixed aging pulley 73 is on the outside, the height of the center of the V groove 75 of the fixed aging pulley 73 is set equal to the height of the central axis of the cylindrical member 56 as in the first aging device 31. . On the other hand, the center height of the V groove 75 of the moving aging pulley 84 is made different from the height of the center axis of the cylindrical member 56.

  On the other hand, when the moving aging pulley 84 is on the outside, the height of the center of the V groove 75 of the moving aging pulley 84 is set equal to the height of the central axis of the cylindrical member 56. On the other hand, the center height of the V groove 75 of the fixed aging pulley 73 is set to be different from the height of the center axis of the cylindrical member 56.

  Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the third aging device 101 of the present embodiment, by changing the height of the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84, each bending portion of the flexible tube 22 that curves along each aging pulley 73, 84 is obtained. The planes including the bending direction at are different from each other. Therefore, if the both ends of the flexible tube 22 are chucked so as not to twist each other, the flexible tube 22 can be bent and twisted only by causing the flexible tube 22 to reciprocate. Therefore, step (4) in the first aging device 31 can be omitted, and the control program of the control device 33 can be simplified.

[Eighth Embodiment]
FIG. 25 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a fourth aging device 111 is provided in which a part of the first aging device 31 of the fifth embodiment (see FIGS. 11A, 11B to 22) is changed as follows. It is a thing.

  In the fourth aging device 111, the aging device main body 32 in the first aging device 31 is installed so as to be perpendicular to the floor surface. Thus, the reciprocating direction of the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 is arranged in the vertical direction. FIG. 25 shows a case where the fixed pulley mount 37 is arranged on the upper side of the aging device main body 32 and the right driving device 43 and the left driving device 67 are arranged on the lower side of the aging device main body 32.

  Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the fourth aging device 111 of the present embodiment, the aging device body 32 is installed so as to be perpendicular to the floor surface, so that the aging device body 32 is placed on the floor surface like the first aging device 31. However, the occupied floor area can be reduced as compared with the case of being installed in parallel (horizontal direction). Therefore, it can be installed in a place with a small floor area.

[Ninth Embodiment]
FIG. 26 shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a fifth aging device 121 in which a part of the first aging device 31 of the fifth embodiment (see FIGS. 11A and 11B to FIG. 22) is changed as follows. It is provided.

  That is, in the fifth aging device 121 of the present embodiment, at least one of the pulleys including the fixed aging pulley 73 and the moving aging pulley 84 is provided with the pulley driving device 122 so as to automatically rotate. It is.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26, a case where aging is performed using one fixed aging pulley 73 is shown. Here, the rotating shaft 123 of the pulley driving device 122 is fixed to the fixed pulley mount 37 so as to face vertically downward with respect to the floor surface. A fixed aging pulley 73 is fixed to the rotating shaft 123.

  The rotational angular velocity of the pulley driving device 122 is set so that the pulley tangential velocity and the reciprocating velocity of the flexible tube 22 are equal at the contact portion between the pulley 73 and the flexible tube 22.

  Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the fifth aging device 121 of the present embodiment, the pulley driving device 122 is provided in one fixed aging pulley 73 and automatically rotates, so that the flexible tube 22 bends along the fixed aging pulley 73. Friction resistance when passing while being reduced. Therefore, the amount of traction force between the right chuck unit 47 and the left chuck unit 71 can be reduced. As a result, the right drive device 43 and the left drive device 67 can be small and inexpensive. In addition, the tension acting on the flexible tube 22 during the aging process can be reduced, and aging that makes it difficult to break the flexible tube 22 can be performed.

[Tenth embodiment]
FIGS. 27 to 29 show a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a sixth aging device 131 in which a part of the first aging device 31 of the fifth embodiment (see FIGS. 11A, 11B to 22) is changed as follows is provided. It is a thing.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the sixth aging device 131 includes three fixed aging pulleys 73a to 73c and two movable aging pulleys 84a and 84b. A first pulley driving device 132 is fixed to the fixed pulley mount 37. One of the three fixed aging pulleys 73a to 73c, here, the fixed aging pulley 73a is fixed to the rotation shaft of the first pulley driving device 132.

  Further, the first belt driving pulley 134 is coaxially fixed to the rotating shaft of the fixed aging pulley 73a. The first belt interlocking pulley 135 is coaxially fixed to the rotation shaft of the fixed aging pulley 73b. A second belt interlocking pulley 136 is coaxially fixed to the rotation shaft of the fixed aging pulley 73c.

  A first transmission belt 137 is stretched between the first belt driving pulley 134 and the first belt interlocking pulley 135. Further, a second transmission belt 138 is stretched between the first belt interlocking pulley 135 and the second belt interlocking pulley 136.

  The rotation of the first belt driving pulley 134 is transmitted to the first belt interlocking pulley 135 by the first transmission belt 137, and the rotation of the first belt interlocking pulley 135 is second by the second belt interlocking pulley 136. To the belt interlocking pulley 136. In this manner, the first pulley driving device 132 drives the fixed aging pulley 73a and the other two fixed aging pulleys 73b and 73c in conjunction with each other.

  A second pulley driving device 139 is fixed to the moving pulley mount 38. One of the two moving aging pulleys 84a and 84b, here, the moving aging pulley 84a is fixed to the rotation shaft of the second pulley driving device 139.

  Further, the second belt driving pulley 140 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the moving aging pulley 84a. A third belt interlocking pulley 141 is coaxially fixed to the moving aging pulley 84b.

  A third transmission belt 142 is stretched between the second belt driving pulley 140 and the third belt interlocking pulley 141. Then, the rotation of the second belt driving pulley 140 is transmitted to the third belt interlocking pulley 141 by the third transmission belt 142. In this way, the second pulley driving device 139 drives the moving aging pulley 84a and the other moving aging pulley 84b in conjunction with each other.

  Therefore, the above configuration has the following effects. That is, in the sixth aging device 131 of the present embodiment, the first pulley driving device 132 drives the fixed aging pulley 73a and the other two fixed aging pulleys 73b and 73c in conjunction with each other, and the second pulley The driving device 139 drives the moving aging pulley 84a and the other moving aging pulley 84b in conjunction with each other. Therefore, by using the sixth aging device 131, the resistance when the flexible tube 22 passes through the fixed aging pulleys 73a, 73b, 73c and the moving aging pulleys 84a, 84b is reduced, and the right chuck unit 47 and the left The amount of traction force of the chuck unit 71 can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to use a small and inexpensive one for the right drive device 43 and the left drive device 67. Further, the tension applied to the flexible tube 22 can be reduced, and aging that makes the flexible tube 22 less likely to be broken can be performed.

  Next, data of effects according to the present invention will be shown. Under the following manufacturing conditions, nine types of two flexible tubes 22 having different resin mixing ratios were manufactured, and the flexibility and impact resilience were measured before and after annealing and aging. Annealing and aging were performed after the coating was completed.

  Annealing conditions: left in an atmosphere of 100 ° C. for 8 hours.

  Aging condition: The length of the flexible tube 22 is divided into three parts.

                  Three pulleys are used.

                  The twist angle of the flexible tube 22 is 0 °.

                  After 5 reciprocations, rotate 90 ° until the flexible tube rotates twice.

  The following results were obtained. As a result of annealing and aging in nine first-type flexible tubes 22, it was found that the flexibility was improved by 31% on average and the rebound resilience was improved by 5% on average. It was also found that the standard deviation of flexibility was reduced by 55%.

  As a result of annealing and aging in nine of the second type flexible tubes 22, it was found that the flexibility was 28% better on average and the rebound resilience was improved 4% on average. It was also found that the standard deviation of flexibility was reduced by 44%.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Next, other characteristic technical matters of the present application are appended as follows.
Record
(Additional Item A) A flexible tube for an endoscope having a blade coating step for coating a blade at least on the outer side of the flex, and a tubing step for softening and melting a thermoplastic elastomer and attaching the blade to the blade to form an outer skin. An aging step of bending the at least part of the flexible tube by reciprocating the flexible tube along at least one pulley. Manufacturing method of flexible tube for mirror.

  (Prior Art of Appendix A) In general, the flexible tube constituting the main body of the endoscope insertion portion is a blade formed by braiding a flex formed by spirally winding at least a single elastic strip plate with a thin metal wire or the like. The outer surface of the coated internal structural member is covered with a softened and melted thermoplastic elastomer to form a skin. In order to prevent peeling of the outer skin, an adhesive such as polyurethane is generally interposed between the blade and the outer skin.

  By the way, since the medical endoscope is used by inserting the insertion portion to a deep portion in the body cavity, the flexible tube constituting the main body of the insertion portion has a good flexibility that can follow the bending in the body cavity. It is required to have excellent rebound resilience capable of reliably transmitting the pushing and twisting operations on the hand side to the tip.

  As a means to meet such demands, as shown in JP-A-2-131738, two types of thermoplastic elastomers, a soft elastomer having excellent flexibility and a hard elastomer having excellent rebound resilience, are softened and melted and mixed uniformly. A method for forming an outer skin of a flexible tube by applying this method has been practiced. According to this method, a flexible tube having an appropriate balance between flexibility and rebound resilience can be manufactured by adjusting the mixing ratio of the soft elastomer and the hard elastomer.

  (Problem to be Solved by Supplementary Item A) However, the flexible tube manufactured by the above-described method is deteriorated in flexibility and also in rebound resilience due to the adhesive soaked into the blade and cured. There was a problem. Since flexibility deteriorates due to factors other than the mixing ratio of the elastomer, there is a limit to the amount of the hard elastomer mixed, and it has been difficult to improve the resilience while maintaining the current flexibility. In addition, there is a problem that a large difference in flexibility between individuals occurs due to a difference in the degree of penetration of the adhesive into the blade. In addition, when the endoscope is used, bending and twisting is applied to the flexible tube, so that the adhesive that penetrates the blade is cut off, and the endoscope insertion part becomes softer than necessary for long-term use. There is a problem that it is difficult to transmit the pushing and twisting operations to the tip.

  (Purpose of Supplementary Item A) In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is rich in rebound resilience while maintaining the current flexibility, small variation among individuals, and softening more than necessary even after long-term use. An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube for an endoscope and a method for manufacturing the same.

  (Means for Solving the Problem of Additional Item A) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a blade coating step of coating a blade on at least the outer side of the flex, softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, In a method of manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope having a tubing process for forming an outer skin by attaching the flexible tube, the flexible tube is reciprocated in a state of being bent along at least one pulley. It has an aging process of bending over at least a part of the tube.

  (Operation of Additional Item A) The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B). FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the flexible tube in the embodiment of the aging process, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the flexible tube after the execution of the aging process. According to the present invention, the adhesive 27 soaked into the blade 24 as shown in FIG. 5 (A) can be cut into pieces as shown in FIG. 5 (B) to improve flexibility and rebound resilience. In addition, the amount of the hard elastomer can be increased as the flexibility becomes good. FIG. 5B schematically shows the tearing portion of the adhesive 27 in a wedge shape, but in reality, no space is generated in the tearing portion unless the flexible tube is bent. In addition, since the influence of the penetration of the adhesive 27 into the blade 24 on the flexibility can be reduced, the variation in flexibility among individuals can be reduced. Furthermore, unnecessarily softening due to the tearing of the adhesive 27 soaked into the blade 24 that occurs when the endoscope is used is reduced.

  The expansion and contraction of the adhesive 27 by bending the flexible tube is likely to occur between the bundles of blade strands. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, most of the tearing of the adhesive 27 occurs between the bundle of strands of the blade 24, and the adhesive 27 in the portion where the bundle of strands of the blade 24 is present is not torn. Therefore, the adhesion between the blade 24 and the outer skin 25 required for strength is ensured.

  (Effects of Supplementary Item A) As described above, according to the present invention, the resilience is rich while maintaining the current flexibility, the variation among individuals is small, and it is more than necessary even after long-term use. It is possible to obtain an excellent endoscope flexible tube that is not softened easily.

  (Additional Item 1) An internal structural member of a flexible tube is formed by coating a blade, which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex, which is a spiral tube in which at least a belt-like plate is spirally wound. An inner structural member forming step, a tubing step for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; and at least one pulley after the tubing step is completed An arc-shaped contact portion between the flexible tube and the pulley by reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube And an aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion.

  (Additional Item 2) After the tubing step is completed, a coating step for coating a top coat with a coating agent is provided on the outer surface of the outer skin, and the aging step is performed after the coating step. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of Additional remark 1.

  (Supplementary Item 3) The supplementary item 1 is characterized in that after the tubing step is completed, the aging step is performed, and then the coating step of covering the outer surface of the outer skin with a top coat with a coating agent is performed. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes as described in any one of.

  (Additional Item 4) An internal structural member of the flexible tube is formed by covering at least the flex, which is a spiral tube in which a belt-like plate is spirally wound, with a blade, which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided in a mesh shape. An internal structural member forming step, a tubing step of softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin; and after completion of the tubing step, the flexible tube An intermediate step of heating the intermediate molded product in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin, and after completion of the annealing step, the flexible tube along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley In the state in which the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and bent, the adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arc-shaped contact portion of the pulley Manufacturing method of the flexible tube, characterized in that a and aging step of shredding.

  (Additional Item 5) The inner structural member of the flexible tube is formed by covering at least the flex which is a spiral tube in which a belt-like plate is spirally wound with a braid which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided in a net shape. An internal structural member forming step, a tubing step of softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin; and after completion of the tubing step, the flexible tube A method of manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: an annealing step of heating the intermediate molded product in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin.

  (Additional Item 6) In the aging step, after the annealing step, the flexible tube is wound in a state in which the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. 5. The internal view according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive soaked into the blade is shredded at a pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arc-shaped contact portion of the pulley by reciprocating in the axial direction. Manufacturing method of flexible tube for mirror.

  (Additional Item 7) After completion of the tubing step, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. Thereby providing an aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley, and performing the annealing step after completion of the aging step Item 6. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 5, wherein the flexible tube is ordered.

  (Additional Item 8) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 6, further comprising a coating step of forming a film on a surface of the outer skin.

  (Additional Item 9) The method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube according to Additional Item 8, wherein the coating step is performed before the annealing step and the aging step.

  (Additional Item 10) The method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube according to Additional Item 8, wherein the coating step is performed after the annealing step and the aging step.

  (Additional Item 11) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 8, wherein the coating step is performed between the annealing step and the aging step.

  (Additional Item 12) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Items 5 to 11, wherein the annealing step includes a step of heating in an atmosphere of 90 ° C. to 110 ° C. Manufacturing method.

  (Additional Item 13) The annealing according to any one of Additional Item 5 to Additional Item 12, wherein the annealing step includes a step of heating in an atmosphere of 90 ° C. to 110 ° C. for 4 hours to 8 hours. Manufacturing method of flexible tube for mirror.

  (Additional Item 14) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to either Additional Item 4 or Additional Item 5, wherein the annealing step includes a step of cooling at room temperature after the annealing step. Production method.

  (Additional Item 15) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 5 to 14, wherein the annealing step is performed by making the flexible tube substantially linear.

  (Additional Item 16) The aging step is performed using a pulley having a diameter of 30 mm to 60 mm. The endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 4, Additional Item 6 to Additional Item 15, A manufacturing method of a flexible tube.

  (Additional Item 17) In the additional item 1 to the additional item 4, the aging step is configured to bend each portion of the flexible tube in a range curved along the pulley in at least two different directions. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of appendices 6 to 16.

  (Additional Item 18) The aging step is performed after the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. The flexible tube is rotated in the direction around its central axis, and the flexible tube is repeatedly reciprocated in the axial direction, so that each part of the range bent by the pulley is bent in at least two different directions. Item 18. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 17, wherein the method is performed.

  (Additional Item 19) Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 4, Additional Item 6 to Additional Item 18, wherein the aging step includes a step of applying a twisting force in a direction around an axis to the flexible tube. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes in any one of.

  (Additional Item 20) The additional item 1 is characterized in that the aging step includes a step of placing the flexible tube along a plurality of pulleys, and performing a bending portion of the flexible tube in the same number as the number of the pulleys. Thru | or additional item 4, additional item 6 thru | or additional item 19, the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes.

  (Additional Item 21) The aging step is performed such that a portion that bends the flexible tube along at least one pulley and a portion that bends along a pulley other than the pulley are continuous. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of Additional remark 20 to do.

  (Additional Item 22) In the aging process, at least an end portion and an end portion of the flexible tube that are curved along one of the pulleys and a portion that is curved along the pulley other than the pulley Item 22. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 20, wherein the method is performed so as to overlap with each other.

(Additional Item 23) The aging step is expressed by the following equation 8

Item 22. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 20, wherein the method is performed so that

  (Additional Item 24) Any one of Additional Item 20 to Additional Item 23, wherein the aging step is performed by placing the flexible tube along an odd number of pulleys and having the same number of curved portions as the number of pulleys. A method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1.

  (Additional Item 25) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 24, wherein the aging step is performed along the three flexible pulleys with three flexible portions. Manufacturing method.

  (Additional Item 26) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 25, wherein the aging process is performed along five flexible pulleys with five curved portions. Production method.

  (Additional Item 27) Additional Item, wherein the plurality of pulleys are arranged such that the bending direction of the flexible tube is changed in a range of 80 ° to 180 ° in any of the pulleys. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes in any one of 20 thru | or additional item 26.

  (Additional Item 28) The flexible tube is divided into a plurality of parts along the axial direction, and the aging process is performed so that at least a part of each of the divided parts is curved for each divided part. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes according to any one of the supplementary items 1 to 4, and the supplementary items 6 to 27.

  (Supplementary Item 29) The range curved by the aging process performed on a part of the plurality of delimiters and the range curved by the aging process performed on at least a part other than the part are continuous. Item 29. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 28.

  (Additional Item 30) At least a part is overlapped with a range curved by the aging process performed on a part of the plurality of delimiters and a range curved by an aging process performed on at least a part other than the part. Item 29. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to Item 28, wherein the method is performed.

  (Additional Item 31) Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 4, Additional Item 6 in which the flexible tube is reciprocated so that the entire length of the flexible tube is curved in the aging step. Thru | or the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes in any one of the additional items 30.

  (Additional Item 32) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 31, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a mixture of polyurethane and polyester.

  (Additional Item 33) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 1 to Additional Item 31, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is polyurethane.

  (Additional Item 34) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of additional items 1 to 31, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is mainly polyurethane.

  (Additional Item 35) The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Items 1 to 31, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is mainly composed of polyester.

  (Additional Item 36) An internal structural member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade, which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided, on the outside of a flex, which is a spiral tube in which at least a belt-like plate is wound spirally. An inner structural member forming step, a tubing step for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; and at least one pulley after the tubing step is completed An arc-shaped contact portion between the flexible tube and the pulley by reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state where the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the flexible tube An endoscope flexible tube manufactured by a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube having an aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at a pressure contact portion.

  (Additional Item 37) An internal structural member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade, which is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided in a net shape, on the outside of a flex, which is a spiral tube in which at least a belt-like plate is wound spirally. An internal structural member forming step, a tubing step of softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin; and after completion of the tubing step, the flexible tube An endoscope flexible tube manufactured by a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube, comprising: an annealing step of heating the intermediate molded product in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin. .

  (Additional Item 37-2) An internal structural member of the flexible tube is formed by coating a blade that is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex that is a spiral tube in which at least a belt-shaped plate is spirally wound. An inner structural member forming step to be formed, a tubing step in which a thermoplastic elastomer is softened and melted, and this is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the inner structural member to form an outer skin; An annealing process in which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube is heated in an atmosphere at a temperature near the softening point of the outer skin, and after the annealing process is finished, along the part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley, When the flexible tube is wound and bent, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction, so that the blade penetrates into the blade at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley. Endoscopic flexible tube, characterized in that it is manufactured by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube and a aging step of shredding the adhesive.

  (Additional Item 38) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 36 or 37, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a mixture of polyurethane and polyester.

  (Additional Item 39) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 36 or 37, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is polyurethane.

  (Additional Item 40) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 36 or 37, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is mainly made of polyurethane.

  (Additional Item 41) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Item 36 or 37, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is mainly made of polyester.

  (Additional Item 42) Two chuck devices for gripping both ends of the flexible tube for endoscope, a pulley around which a portion between both ends of the flexible tube for endoscope is wound, and one end side of the flexible tube The chuck device is located on the other end side of the flexible tube through the bending portion of the flexible tube that is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the pulley as the chuck device is pulled in the axial direction of the flexible tube. Chuck reciprocation that adjusts the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube by cutting the adhesive at the pressure contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley by following the chuck device. A flexible tube aging device for an endoscope.

  (Additional Item 43) The chuck reciprocating device keeps the amount of traction force of the chuck device on the traction side constant, and follows the chuck device on the tracking side in a direction according to the traction force at a predetermined speed and acceleration. The aging apparatus for an endoscope flexible tube according to Item 42, further comprising means for performing an aging process on the flexible tube.

  (Additional Item 44) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device can arbitrarily set a traction force amount of the chuck device on a traction side.

  (Additional Item 45) The chuck reciprocating device is on the traction side against a resistance force amount generating unit that generates a certain amount of resistance force on the chuck device on the tracking side, and a resistance force amount of the resistance force amount generating unit. 43. The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to item 42, further comprising means for reciprocating the flexible tube by pulling the chuck device at a predetermined speed and acceleration.

  (Additional Item 46) The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to Additional Item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device can arbitrarily set a resistance force amount of the chuck device on the tracking side.

  (Additional Item 47) The chuck reciprocating device pulls the chuck device on the pulling side at a predetermined speed / acceleration, and causes the chuck device on the tracking side to follow in the corresponding direction at the same speed / acceleration. 44. The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to Item 42, further comprising means for reciprocating the flexible tube.

  (Additional Item 48) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a slack amount of the flexible tube.

  (Additional Item 49) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocation start position and a folding position of the flexible tube. Aging device.

  (Additional Item 50) The flexible endoscope according to any one of the additional items 42 to 49, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocating speed of the flexible tube. Pipe aging device.

  (Additional Item 51) The flexible endoscope for any one of Additional Items 42 to 50, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocating acceleration of the flexible tube. Pipe aging device.

  (Additional Item 52) The endoscope reflex device according to any one of Additional Item 42 to Additional Item 51, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting the number of reciprocations of the flexible tube. Pipe aging device.

  (Additional Item 53) Additional Item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a chuck rotating device that rotates the chuck device with the central axis of the flexible tube gripped by the chuck device as a rotation axis. Thru | or any additional item 52. The aging apparatus of the flexible tube for endoscopes.

  (Additional Item 54) The additional item 53, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for repeating the predetermined number of times by reciprocating the flexible tube a predetermined number of times and rotating the flexible tube by a predetermined angle pitch. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to 1.

  (Additional Item 55) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 54, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting the angular pitch.

  (Additional Item 56) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 54 or Additional Item 55, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting the number of repetitions.

  (Additional Item 57) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Items 53 to 56, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with a play on one of the chuck rotating devices. .

  (Supplementary Item 58) The supplementary item 53 to the supplementary item 57, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for twisting the flexible tube by rotating only one of the chuck devices. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope as described.

  (Additional Item 59) The flexible endoscope according to additional item 58, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for reciprocating the flexible tube in a state where the flexible tube is twisted. Pipe aging device.

  (Additional Item 60) The flexible tube for endoscope according to Additional Item 58 or Additional Item 59, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting an angle for twisting the flexible tube. apparatus.

  (Additional Item 61) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of Additional Items 42 to 60, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has a groove portion along a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the pulley. Aging device.

  (Additional Item 62) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 61, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has a V-shaped groove.

  (Supplementary Item 63) The supplementary item 42, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a plurality of pulleys, and forms the same number of curved portions as the pulleys by causing the flexible tube to follow the pulleys. Or an aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of appendixes 62.

  (Additional Item 64) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 63, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for attaching the pulley to an arbitrary position.

  (Additional Item 65) In the additional statement 63 or the additional item 64, the chuck reciprocating device is configured such that the rotation shaft of at least one of the pulleys is not parallel to the rotation shaft of the other pulley. A flexible tube aging device for endoscopes.

  (Additional Item 66) The endoscope reciprocating device according to any one of additional items 63 to 65, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with a groove portion along a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of all the pulleys. Flexible tube aging device.

  (Additional Item 67) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 66, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has a V-shaped groove.

  (Supplementary Item 68) The supplementary item 66 or the supplementary item 67, wherein in the chuck reciprocating device, the rotational axes of the at least two pulleys are parallel to each other, and the positions of the grooves in the rotational longitudinal direction are different from each other. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to 1.

  (Additional Item 69) The additional item 63 to the additional item, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a pulley moving device that moves at least one of the pulleys, and includes means for changing a curve of the flexible tube. 68. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of 68.

  (Additional Item 70) The chuck reciprocating device has means for making the flexible tube suddenly curved when the flexible tube is reciprocated and loosening the curve except when reciprocating the flexible tube. Item 70. The flexible tube aging device for endoscope according to item 69.

  (Additional Item 71) The flexible endoscope for any one of Additional Items 42 to 70, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with means for improving slipperiness of an outer surface of the pulley. Pipe aging device.

  (Additional Item 72) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 71, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is formed of the pulley with a material excellent in slipperiness.

  (Additional Item 73) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 72, wherein the chuck reciprocating device uses POM as a material of the pulley.

  (Additional Item 74) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 71, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has a lubricant applied to an outer surface of the pulley.

  (Additional Item 75) The endoscope reciprocating device according to any one of the additional items 42 to 74, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with a pulley driving device that actively rotates at least one of the pulleys. Flexible tube aging device.

  (Additional Item 76) The chuck reciprocating device sets the rotational angular velocity of the pulley rotated by the pulley driving device so that the tangential velocity at the contact portion with the flexible tube is equal to the reciprocating velocity of the flexible tube. Item 76. The flexible tube aging device for endoscope according to additional item 75, wherein

  (Additional Item 77) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 75 or 76, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is configured to actively rotate the plurality of pulleys.

  (Additional Item 78) The endoscope according to Additional Item 77, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a rotation transmission device that transmits the rotation of the pulley rotated by the pulley driving device to another pulley. Aging device for flexible tube.

  (Additional Item 79) The above-mentioned chuck reciprocating device is provided with means for holding the central axis of the end portion of the flexible tube held by the chuck device at a fixed position on the chuck device. Item 79. The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to any one of Items 42 to 78.

  (Additional Item 80) In the chuck reciprocating device, the chuck device has a structure in which an end portion of the flexible tube is sandwiched by at least three gripping surfaces, and the three gripping surfaces are the ends of the flexible tube to be gripped. 80. The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to additional item 79, wherein the gripping surfaces adjacent to each other are parallel to the central axis of the portion and are not parallel to each other.

  (Additional Item 81) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 80, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with an anti-slip means on the gripping surface.

  (Additional Item 82) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to Additional Item 81, wherein the chuck reciprocating device is provided with irregularities on the surfaces of the three gripping surfaces.

  (Additional Item 83) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to Additional Item 81 or Additional Item 82, wherein in the chuck reciprocating device, the surfaces of the three gripping surfaces are formed of a material having poor slip properties. Aging equipment.

  (Additional Item 84) The flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of additional items 80 to 83, wherein the chuck reciprocating device has a gripping force amount by the gripping surface of 50 N to 200 N. Aging device.

  (Additional Item 85) The aging of the flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of the additional items 42 to 84, wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a storage unit that stores at least one operation pattern. apparatus.

  (Additional Item 86) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 85, wherein the storage unit includes a unit that stores a plurality of operation patterns.

  (Additional Item 87) The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to Additional Item 85 or Additional Item 86, wherein the storage unit includes a unit that continuously outputs a plurality of operation patterns.

  (Additional Item 88) The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to any one of the additional items 85 to 87, wherein the storage unit includes a unit that selects an operation pattern to be output.

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention manufactures an elongated flexible tube disposed in an insertion portion of an endoscope and uses the endoscope flexible tube manufacturing method, and the endoscope flexible tube and its aging device technical field. It is effective in.

The perspective view which shows schematic structure of the whole system of the endoscope apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the flexible tube of the endoscope of 1st Embodiment. The side view which shows the state which wound the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of 1st Embodiment to the pulley substantially half circumference. The operation of rotating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube by the method for manufacturing the flexible tube for an endoscope according to the first embodiment around the axis and the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube along the pulley to the full length Explanatory drawing explaining the combination state with the operation | movement which crosses and reciprocates. The principal part structure of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of 1st Embodiment is shown, (A) is the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube before an aging process. (B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube after an aging process. Explanatory drawing explaining the aging process by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the aging process by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The aging process by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of the 4th Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated, (A) is explanatory drawing explaining the aging process at the time of using two pulleys, ( B is an explanatory diagram for explaining an aging process when three pulleys are used, and (C) is an explanatory diagram for explaining an aging process when five pulleys are used. Explanatory drawing explaining the state by which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube was set to the initial position at the aging process at the time of using the pulley by the manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes of 4th Embodiment. Explains the moving state in which the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube is moved in the axial direction from the initial position in the aging process when three pulleys according to the method for manufacturing the flexible tube for an endoscope of the fourth embodiment are used. FIG. 5A and 5B show a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view of an aging device used in an aging process according to a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the aging device. . XII-XII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The side view of the principal part of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. The front view of the principal part of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. XV-XV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The front view of the principal part which shows the transmission disk for replacement | exchange of the transmission disk of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. The rotation chuck | zipper of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment is shown, (A) is a front view which shows the non-slip | skid member of the nail | claw of a rotation chuck, (B) is a side view. The side view of the fixed aging pulley of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. The example of arrangement | positioning of the fixed aging pulley and moving aging pulley of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment is shown, (A) is a top view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning when one aging pulley is used, (B) is aging. The top view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning when three pulleys are used, (C) is a top view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning when five aging pulleys are used. Explanatory drawing explaining the state by which the moving aging pulley was set to the initial position in the case of performing aging using two fixed aging pulleys and one moving aging pulley in the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the movement state to which the movement aging pulley was moved from the initial position with the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of a right chuck | zipper unit at the time of use of the aging apparatus of 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the principal part of the aging apparatus which shows the 6th Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the principal part of the aging apparatus which shows the 7th Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the principal part of the aging apparatus which shows the 8th Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the principal part of the pulley drive device of the aging apparatus which shows the 9th Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the principal part of the aging apparatus which shows the 10th Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the rotation transmission state to the two moving aging pulleys by the 3rd transmission belt of the aging apparatus of 10th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the rotation transmission state to the fixed aging pulley by the 1st, 2nd transmission belt of the aging apparatus of 10th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

    22 ... flexible tube, 23 ... flex, 24 ... blade, 25 ... outer skin, 27 ... adhesive, 28 ... internal structural member, 29 ... pulley.

Claims (27)

An internal structural member forming step of forming an internal structural member of a flexible tube by coating a blade that is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex that is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is spirally wound When,
A tubing process for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin;
After the tubing step is completed, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state in which the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. An aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at a press-contact portion between the flexible tube and the arcuate contact portion of the pulley is provided. An internal structural member forming step of forming an internal structural member of a flexible tube by coating a blade that is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex that is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is spirally wound When,
A tubing process for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin;
A post-process performed after the tubing step is completed;
Comprising
The post-process includes an annealing process for heating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube in an atmosphere near the softening point of the outer skin,
By reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state in which the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley, a circle between the flexible tube and the pulley is obtained. An aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion with the arc-shaped contact portion;
The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes characterized by comprising.   The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the aging process is performed after the annealing process.   The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a coating step of forming a film on a surface of the outer skin. The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the coating step is performed before the aging step.   The said annealing process has a process cooled at room temperature after the said annealing process, The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes in any one of Claim 2 or Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The aging step includes a step of placing the flexible tube along a plurality of pulleys and performing the bending portion of the flexible tube in the same number as the number of the pulleys. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes as described in any one of. The aging process has the following formula 1

The method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 7 , wherein:   The aging step is performed by dividing the flexible tube into a plurality of parts along an axial direction, and for each of the divided parts, at least a part of each of the divided parts is curved. The manufacturing method of the flexible tube for endoscopes in any one of 1 and 2. An internal structural member forming step of forming an internal structural member of a flexible tube by coating a blade that is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex that is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is spirally wound When,
A tubing process for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin;
After the tubing step is completed, the flexible tube is reciprocated in the axial direction in a state in which the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley. And an aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at a press-contact portion between the flexible tube and the arc-shaped contact portion of the pulley. A flexible tube for an endoscope. An internal structural member forming step of forming an internal structural member of a flexible tube by coating a blade that is a mesh tube in which blade strands are braided on the outside of a flex that is a spiral tube in which at least a strip plate is spirally wound When,
A tubing process for softening and melting the thermoplastic elastomer, and applying this to the outer peripheral surface of the blade of the internal structural member to form an outer skin;
A post-process performed after the tubing step is completed;
Comprising
The post-process includes an annealing process for heating the intermediate molded product of the flexible tube in an atmosphere near the softening point of the outer skin,
By reciprocating the flexible tube in the axial direction in a state in which the flexible tube is wound and curved along a part of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of at least one pulley, a circle between the flexible tube and the pulley is obtained. An aging step of chopping the adhesive soaked into the blade at the pressure contact portion with the arc-shaped contact portion;
An endoscope flexible tube manufactured by a method for manufacturing an endoscope flexible tube comprising: The flexible tube for an endoscope, which is manufactured by the method for manufacturing a flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 11 , wherein the aging step is performed after the annealing step. Two chuck devices for gripping both ends of the endoscope flexible tube;
A pulley around which a portion between both ends of the endoscope flexible tube is wound;
The flexible tube is bent through the bending portion of the flexible tube that is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the pulley as the chuck device at one end of the flexible tube is pulled in the axial direction of the flexible tube. By making the chuck device on the other end of the blade follow, the blade and the outer skin are formed when forming the outer skin on the outer surface of the internal structural member formed by covering the flex with the blade when the flexible tube is manufactured. A chuck reciprocating device that adjusts the flexibility and rebound resilience of the flexible tube by chopping the adhesive interposed between the flexible tube and the pressure contact portion of the arcuate contact portion of the pulley. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope, comprising: The chuck reciprocating device maintains the traction force amount of the chuck device on the traction side constant, and allows the chuck device on the tracking side to follow in a direction corresponding to the traction force at a predetermined speed and acceleration. aging device of the flexible tube according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a means for performing aging wrinkled tube process. 15. The flexible tube aging device for endoscope according to claim 14 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device can arbitrarily set a traction force amount of the chuck device on a traction side. The chuck reciprocating device comprises a resistance force amount generating section for generating a certain amount of resistance force in the chuck device on the following side,
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising means for reciprocating the flexible tube by pulling the chuck device on the pulling side at a predetermined speed and acceleration against the resistance force amount of the resistance force generation unit. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to 1. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to claim 16 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device can arbitrarily set a resistance force amount of the chuck device on the tracking side. The chuck reciprocating device pulls the chuck device on the pulling side at a predetermined speed / acceleration and causes the chuck device on the tracking side to follow the same direction in the corresponding direction at the same speed / acceleration. 14. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to claim 13 , further comprising means for reciprocating the tube. 19. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to claim 18 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a sag amount of the flexible tube. The flexible endoscope for use according to any one of claims 13 to 19 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocation start position and a folding position of the flexible tube. Pipe aging device. 21. The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to any one of claims 13 to 20 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocating speed of the flexible tube. The aging device for an endoscope flexible tube according to any one of claims 13 to 21 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting a reciprocating acceleration of the flexible tube. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to any one of claims 13 to 22 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for arbitrarily setting the number of reciprocations of the flexible tube. 24. The chuck reciprocating device according to any one of claims 13 to 23 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes a chuck rotating device that rotates the chuck device using a central axis of the end of the flexible tube held by the chuck device as a rotation axis. An aging device for a flexible tube for an endoscope according to any one of the above. 25. The endoscope according to claim 24 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device includes means for repeating a predetermined number of times by reciprocating the flexible tube a predetermined number of times and rotating the flexible tube by a predetermined angle pitch. Aging device for flexible tube for mirror. 26. The endoscope flexible tube aging device according to claim 25 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting the angular pitch. 27. The flexible tube aging device for an endoscope according to claim 25 or 26 , wherein the chuck reciprocating device has means for arbitrarily setting the number of repetitions.

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