JP6162036B2 - Powder input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a granular material charging apparatus for charging a granular material from a side of the charging port into a container that has a charging port that leads to a space isolated from the external environment and can accommodate the granular material. .

  For tablets such as pharmaceuticals, foods, agricultural chemicals, soft capsules, pellets, granules, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as powders), for example, during the manufacturing process, a transport container The work to put into a processing container for performing a predetermined process is performed.

  On the other hand, when such a granular material contains, for example, a substance that is toxic to the human body, it is necessary to prevent exposure of the worker to the granular material. In addition, for example, it may be necessary to prevent contamination of the granular material due to foreign matters from the external environment. In these cases, the charging operation of the powder is performed in a space isolated from the external environment. In this way, so-called containment technology for isolating the work space of the granular material from the external environment is also called containment or isolation, and in particular, in the pharmaceutical manufacturing field, it has been very important in recent years. Things are being developed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a containment technique in which a glove is used to perform the operation of charging a granular material from a transport container to a reaction kettle in a space isolated from an external environment by a glove box. Yes.

Japanese Patent No. 5197168

  However, since the work in the isolated space disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a glove and releases or binds the leading end of the bag disposed in the transport container, it is complicated. It is a thing.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to facilitate the operation of putting powder particles in a space isolated from the external environment.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the granular material charging apparatus of the present invention has an input port that leads to an isolated space isolated from the external environment, and is placed in a container that can store the granular material from the side of the input port. A granular material charging apparatus for charging granular material, wherein the granular material is supplied from the outside to the inside of the isolation space and supplied to an end portion in the isolation space in order to supply the granular material to the container. A supply pipe having a mouth and the position of the end portion being variably configured; and an operating means connected to the supply pipe and enabling the position of the end portion to be operated from outside the isolation space. The charging unit is configured to stop charging of the granular material by placing the granular material from the supply port into the container by the operation means, and the supply port is disposed above the charging position. and the position, Ri switchable der, the supply pipe can dissection outside the isolated space A connecting portion, isolation means for isolating the supply tube is disconnected by the connection unit from the external environment is provided on the supply pipe, in order for dissecting the connecting part, that the supply pipe is deformed It is characterized by.

With this configuration, from outside the isolation space, the operating means can be used to put the granular material into the container with the end of the supply pipe as the input position, or the end of the supply pipe as the input stop position. Can be stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated operations such as releasing or bundling using a glove in the isolation space in the charging operation of the granular material. That is, in the granular material charging device of the present invention, the granular material charging operation in the isolation space can be facilitated. Moreover, after supplying a granular material to a container in the state which connected the connection part, a connection part can be cut off and the inside of the supply pipe cut off by the connection part can be isolated from an external environment. As a result, in the state where the inside of the supply pipe cut off at the connection part is isolated from the external environment, the granular material charging device and the transport container attached to each supply pipe cut off at the connection part are moved to different locations. It becomes possible to make it. Further, when separating the connecting portion, it is not necessary to relatively separate the powder and particle feeding device attached to each supply pipe separated by the connecting portion from the transport container.

  In the above configuration, the supply pipe may include a flexible portion having flexibility, and the position of the end portion may be configured to be variable by bending deformation of the flexible portion.

  If it is this structure, since a supply pipe can be made into a simple structure, the manufacturing cost of a supply pipe can be reduced, and, thereby, the manufacturing cost of a granular material injection device can be reduced. In addition, since the supply pipe can have a simple structure, the cleaning performance of the supply pipe can be improved, thereby improving the cleaning performance of the granular material charging device.

  In any one of the configurations described above, the operation means may be an actuator that moves the end.

  If it is this structure, since an operation means can be made into a simple structure, the manufacturing cost of an operation means can be reduced, and, thereby, the manufacturing cost of a granular material injection device can be reduced. In addition, since the operating means can have a simple structure, it is possible to improve the cleaning performance of the operating means, thereby improving the cleaning performance of the granular material charging apparatus.

The front Symbol supply pipe has a second flexible portion having flexibility, in order for dissecting the connecting portion, said second flexible portion is equal to the bending deformation, the supply pipe Can be made a simple structure. Further, if the isolation means is made of a heat seal material that is airtightly attached to the supply pipe to cover the connection portion and is heat-sealed in a state where the connection portion is separated, the isolation means Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the injection | pouring operation | work of the granular material in the space isolated from the external environment can be made easy.

It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view which shows the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a granular material charging apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the granular material is a pharmaceutical tablet.

  The granular material charging device 1 has a charging port 2a communicating with the inside of the isolation space S isolated from the external environment, and the granular material is charged into the container 2 capable of storing the granular material from the side of the charging port 2a. Is to do. In this embodiment, the granular material charging device 1 is provided in the casing 3a of the granular material processing device 3, and the isolation space S is formed in the casing 3a. The container 2 is a rotating drum attached to the granular material processing device 3, and the rotational drum is driven to rotate around the inclined axis, and a predetermined amount is applied to the accommodated granular material during the rotation. Perform processing.

  In this embodiment, the granular material charging device 1 loads the granular material from the transport container 4 to the container 2. The transport container 4 is a so-called IBC (intermediate bulk container) for transporting tablets. The transport container 4 has a discharge port 4b at its lower end via a container opening / closing valve 4a.

  The granular material charging device 1 includes a supply pipe 5 and an actuator 6 as an operation means of the supply pipe 5 as main components. The supply pipe 5 is disposed through the casing 3 a from the outside to the inside of the isolation space S in order to supply the granular material to the container 2. The supply pipe 5 has a supply port 5 a at an end in the isolation space S.

  In the present embodiment, the supply pipe 5 includes a supply part 5b having a supply port 5a, a first flexible part 5c, a through part 5d penetrating the casing 3a in an airtight manner, a supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e, and a straight part. 5f, a second flexible portion 5g, a bent portion 5h, and a connecting portion 5i. The supply pipe 5 is connected to the discharge port 4b of the transport container 4 via the connecting portion 5i. The supply pipe 5 extends downward from the connecting portion 5i to the bent portion 5h, bends at the bent portion 5h, and extends obliquely downward to the penetrating portion 5d. In addition, in FIG. 1-7, about the supply pipe | tube 5, the whole region is made into the longitudinal cross-sectional view. The internal structure of the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is not shown.

  The supply part 5b, the 1st flexible part 5c, and the penetration part 5d are mutually fixed. The straight portion 5f, the second flexible portion 5g, and the bent portion 5h are fixed to each other.

  The discharge port 4b of the transport container 4 and the connecting portion 5i of the supply pipe 5 are detachably connected, for example, by fixing the ferrule portions provided on each of them with a clamp.

  Between the connecting part 5i and the bent part 5h, between the linear part 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e, between the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e and the through part 5d, for example, the ferrule parts provided respectively are connected to each other. It is detachably connected by fixing with a clamp.

  The first flexible part 5c and the second flexible part 5g are made of a flexible material, for example, a resin such as polypropylene. The supply part 5b is comprised with the material which does not have flexibility, for example, a cloth | cross. The penetrating portion 5d, the straight portion 5f, the bent portion 5h, and the connecting portion 5i are made of a material having no flexibility, for example, a metal such as stainless steel.

  A cylindrical heat seal material 7 is attached to the supply pipe 5. The heat seal material 7 functions as an isolating means for maintaining the inside of the supply pipe 5 isolated from the external environment when the connecting portion 5j between the linear part 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is disconnected. Both ends of the heat seal material 7 are airtightly attached to the supply pipe 5 via, for example, an O-ring or the like, and cover the connection portion 5j with an intermediate portion of the heat seal material 7. As will be described in detail later, the heat seal material 7 is heat sealed in a state where the connection portion 5j is separated. Further, the second flexible portion 5g is bent and deformed in order to separate the connection portion 5j.

  In addition, a support tube 8 that supports the second flexible portion 5g is attached to the supply tube 5. The support tube 8 has a partial arc shape in cross section, and the second flexible portion 5g can be detached from above. One end of the support tube 8 is fixed to the bent portion 5h, and the other end is detachably attached to the straight portion 5f by, for example, a snap lock. As will be described in detail later, in the state where the attachment of the other end of the support tube 8 to the straight portion 5f is released, the connecting portion 5j between the straight portion 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is the second flexible portion 5g. It can be separated by bending deformation.

  A cleaning liquid injection port 5k for injecting the cleaning liquid is provided outside the isolation space S in the through portion 5d of the supply pipe 5.

  The actuator 6 is slidably connected to the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5, and allows the position of the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5 to be operated from outside the isolation space S. In the present embodiment, the actuator 6 is a cylinder type, and can be driven and stopped from outside the isolation space S by a control means (not shown). The actuator 6 is installed in the casing 3a above the isolation space S, and moves the supply portion 5b of the supply pipe 5 linearly along the vertical direction.

  The position of the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5 is variably configured by bending deformation of the first flexible part 5c. In the supply section 5b of the supply pipe 5, the supply port 5a is disposed at a predetermined position below the actuator 6 by the actuator 6, and a supply position P1 for supplying the granular material from the supply port 5a to the container 2 and a supply port 5a are the input position P1. It is possible to switch to a charging stop position P2 that is disposed at a predetermined position above the time and stops the charging of the granular material.

  Next, the usage method of the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus 1 is demonstrated, referring FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first, the container 4 filled with the granular material is lifted by the lifter with the container opening / closing valve 4 a closed, and the discharge port 4 b of the container 4 is connected to the supply pipe 5. The part 5i and the bent part 5h are connected to each other. The straight line portion 5f and the closed supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e are connected to each other in a state where both ends of the cylindrical heat seal material 7 are airtightly attached. Then, the connecting portion 5j between the straight portion 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is covered with the intermediate portion of the heat seal material 7.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the container opening / closing valve 4a is opened. Then, the granular material in the container 4 for conveyance is supplied to the supply pipe | tube 5, and is stopped with the supply pipe | tube opening / closing valve 5e of a closed state.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is adjusted so that it can be connected to the penetrating part 5d by moving the transport container 4 with a lifter.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e and the penetrating part 5d are connected. At this time, the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5 is in the charging stop position P2. That is, the supply port 5a is disposed at a predetermined position in the isolation space S. Thereafter, the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is opened. Thereby, although a granular material moves by dead weight and is supplied to the 1st flexible part 5c, it is not supplied to the supply port 5a, but is not discharged | emitted from the supply port 5a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the actuator 6 is driven from outside the isolation space by control means (not shown) to move the supply unit 5b downward. As a result, the first flexible portion 5c is bent and deformed, and the supply pipe 5 becomes the charging position P1. That is, the supply port 5a is disposed at a predetermined position below the charging port 2a of the container 2, and the supply port 5a faces downward. Then, the granular material is supplied to the supply port 5 a, and the granular material is released from the supply port 5 a by its own weight and supplied into the container 2. In this state, the granular material is continuously supplied from the transport container 4 to the container 2 through the supply pipe 5.

  Then, when the charging of the granular material into the container 2 from the inside of the transport container 4 is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the actuator 6 is driven from outside the isolation space S by a control means (not shown), and the supply unit 5b is moved upward. As a result, the first flexible portion 5c is bent and deformed, and the supply pipe 5 becomes the charging stop position P2. That is, the supply port 5a is disposed in a predetermined position in the isolation space S above the input position P1, and the supply port 5a is directed obliquely upward.

  Thereafter, the container opening / closing valve 4a and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e are closed. Then, the attachment of the other end of the support pipe 8 to the linear portion 5f is released, and the connection of the connecting portion 5j between the linear portion 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e is also released. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the second flexible portion 5g is bent and deformed to form a space between the straight portion 5f and the supply pipe opening / closing valve 5e, and in that space, the heat seal material 7 is formed. The two places 7a and 7b are heat sealed. Then, 7c between the two heat-sealed portions 7a and 7b of the heat seal material is cut with scissors or the like.

  Thereafter, the transport container 4 is moved to a predetermined place by the lifter. For example, the transport container 4 and the supply pipe 5 (the connecting portion 5i, the bent portion 5h, the second flexible portion 5g, the straight portion 5f). Wash. The granular material charging apparatus 1 injects the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid injection port 5 k and cleans the inside of the casing 3 a of the granular material processing apparatus 3 and the container 2.

  In the granular material charging device 1 configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  From the outside of the isolation space S, the actuator 6 puts the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5 into the charging position P1 and puts the granular material into the container 2, and the supply part 5b of the supply pipe 5 as the charging stop position P2 The injection of granules can be stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated operations such as releasing or bundling using a glove in the isolation space S. That is, in the granular material charging device 1 of the present embodiment, the granular material charging operation in the isolation space S can be facilitated.

  Since the actuator 6 is a cylinder type and has a simple structure, the cost of the operating means can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the granular material charging device 1 can be reduced. Moreover, since the actuator 6 has a simple structure, the cleaning property of the actuator 6 can be improved, and the cleaning property of the granular material charging device can be improved.

  After supplying the granular material to the container 2 with the connecting portion 5j connected, the connecting portion 5j can be disconnected and the inside of the supply pipe 5 disconnected by the connecting portion 5j can be isolated from the external environment. As a result, in the state where the inside of the supply pipe 5 separated by the connection portion 5j is isolated from the external environment, the granular material charging device 1 and the transport container 4 attached to each supply pipe 5 separated by the connection portion 5j. Can be moved to different locations.

  In addition, since the supply pipe 5 is deformed in order to detach the connection part 5j, when the connection part 5j is disconnected, the granular material charging device attached to each supply pipe 5 that is disconnected by the connection part 5j. There is no need to relatively separate 1 and the container 4 for transportation.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea. For example, in the above embodiment, the operating means for operating the supply pipe is an actuator, but a simple bar may be connected to the supply pipe and the bar may be moved manually. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the operation means was moved linearly along the connected site | part, for example, you may move it in the shape of a curve in the up-down direction.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the position of the supply part was comprised variably by the bending deformation of the 1st flexible part, the position of the supply part may be comprised variably by other means. For example, the position of the supply unit may be configured to be variable by attaching the supply pipe to the supply pipe and bending the supply pipe at the joint. Further, the position of the supply unit may be configured to be variable by bending the supply unit side of the supply pipe and rotating the bending unit in the circumferential direction on the side opposite to the supply unit of the supply pipe.

  In the above embodiment, the second flexible portion is bent and deformed to separate the connection portion. However, the supply pipe may be deformed in other ways to separate the connection portion. Good. For example, the length of the supply pipe may be modified by a bellows structure or a nested structure. Further, a joint may be provided in the supply pipe, and the supply pipe may be bent at this joint.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the isolation means for isolating the inside of the supply pipe separated by the connection portion from the external environment is composed of a heat seal material, but is not limited to this. For example, the isolation means is The split butterfly valve provided in the connection portion may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the granular material was a tablet of a pharmaceutical, for example, tablets, such as a foodstuff and an agrochemical, a soft capsule, a pellet, a granule etc. may be sufficient. Moreover, in the said embodiment, what was filled with the granular material thrown into a container was IBC (intermediate bulk container), However, It is not limited to this, A hopper, a drum, etc. may be sufficient. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the container into which a granular material is thrown by the granular material injection | throwing-in apparatus was the rotating drum of the granular material processing apparatus, a container for conveyance etc. may be sufficient, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder object injection device 2 Container 2a Input port 5 Supply pipe 5a Supply port 5b Supply part (end part)
5c 1st flexible part 5g 2nd flexible part 6 Actuator (operation means)
7 Heat seal material P1 Input state P2 Input stop state S Isolation space

Claims (5)

A powder input device for supplying a granular material from the side of the input port into a container capable of accommodating the granular material, having an input port that leads to an isolated space isolated from the external environment,
In order to supply the granular material to the container, the supply is arranged from the outside to the inside of the isolation space, has a supply port at the end in the isolation space, and the position of the end is variable. Tube,
An operation means connected to the supply pipe and enabling operation of the position of the end from outside the isolation space;
The end portion is placed by the operating means to put the powder into the container from the supply port, and the supply port is arranged above the time of the charge position to stop the injection of the powder. in a turned stop position, Ri switchable der,
Having a connection part in which the supply pipe can be disconnected outside the isolation space;
Isolation means for isolating the inside of the supply pipe separated by the connection portion from the external environment is provided in the supply pipe,
In order to cut off the connecting portion, the supply pipe is deformed, and the granular material charging device. The supply pipe has a flexible portion having flexibility;
The granular material charging device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the end portion is variably configured by bending deformation of the flexible portion.   The granular material charging device according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is an actuator that moves the end portion. The supply pipe has a flexible second flexible portion;
To that disconnect the connection portion, granular material feeder according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible portion, characterized in that the bent and deformed. Claim 1, wherein the isolation means is mounted airtightly covering the connecting portion with respect to the supply pipe, characterized in that it consists of a heat-sealing material is heat sealed in a state where the connecting portion is disconnected The granular material charging device described in 1.

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