JP6863063B2 - Container support and distributor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container support and a distribution device including the container support.

Conventionally, it has been installed in a blood purification device for performing blood purification treatment while enabling injection of replacement fluid to a patient, and for suspending and holding a plurality of replacement fluid bags that are communicated with each other while accommodating the replacement fluid. An invention relating to a hanger for a replacement fluid bag is known (see Patent Document 1 below).

The replacement fluid bag hanger described in Patent Document 1 is characterized in that it includes an upright portion and an extension portion. The erection part is erected in a substantially vertical direction from a predetermined part of the blood purification device. The extension portion is extended in a substantially straight line while being inclined downward or upward from the upper end portion of the standing portion. Further, the extension portion is formed with a plurality of hanging means for holding the replacement fluid bag in the longitudinal direction (the same document, claim 1 and the like).

With the above configuration, it is possible to improve the visibility of each replacement fluid bag at the time of injecting the replacement fluid while improving the workability of suspending and holding the replacement fluid bag, and also to reduce the size and improve the degree of freedom of the installation space. (See the same document, paragraph 0014, etc.).

Further, regarding the medical hanger, in particular, an invention relating to a medical hanger having a configuration capable of supporting a large number of medical containers such as an infusion bag and a large number of medical instruments and being easily sterilized is known (). See Patent Document 2 below).

The medical hanger described in Patent Document 2 is characterized in that it includes a plurality of support arms, bearings, and a case. The plurality of support arms are configured so that a medical container or instrument can be hooked. The bearing rotatably supports the base end of the support arm so that the axis of rotation is horizontal. The case houses the bearing and is formed with a slit through which the base end portion of each support arm or a portion in the vicinity thereof is inserted (see the same document, claim 1 and the like).

With the above configuration, the infusion bag or the like can be supported by each of the plurality of support arms in a hooked state. Further, if the support arm is rotated so that the rotation axis is horizontal and the support arms are rotated and folded so that the support arms are parallel to each other or close to each other, the support arm can be housed in a small autoclave. (See the same document, paragraph 0018, etc.).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-318 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-198

The replacement fluid bag hanger described in Patent Document 1 can improve the visibility of the replacement fluid bag and the degree of freedom of the installation space as long as the number of replacement fluid bags to be handled is about five. Further, the medical hanger described in Patent Document 2 can obtain the above-mentioned effect as long as the number of infusion bags handled is up to about eight. However, in these conventional hangers, when the number of containers to be handled is increased to, for example, 10 or more, the density of the containers to be handled becomes high, and the visibility is lowered and the degree of freedom of the installation space is lowered. Deterioration of workability such as stopping work becomes a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a container support and a container support thereof that can improve workability as compared with the conventional case when a plurality of containers are handled in a limited space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution device. The present invention is particularly useful when, for example, small-lot, high-mix production or characteristics of the contents contained in a container make it unsuitable for full automation.

In order to achieve the above object, the container support of the present invention is a container support that supports a plurality of containers, and has a support portion extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction and a support portion supported by the support portion of the support portion. It is characterized by including a plurality of arm portions extending in a direction intersecting in a extending direction and a vertical direction, and a plurality of holding portions supported by the arm portions and holding the container detachably.

With this configuration, the container support of the present invention can be supported by the support portion by arranging a plurality of arm portions in the extending direction of the support portion extending in the direction intersecting the vertical direction. The plurality of arm portions extend in a direction intersecting the extending direction and the vertical direction of the supporting portion. Each arm portion has, for example, a plurality of holding portions that detachably hold the container in the extending direction thereof. Thereby, a plurality of containers can be held in the plurality of holding portions of each arm portion, and the plurality of arm portions holding the plurality of containers can be supported side by side in the extending direction of the supporting portion. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container support that can improve workability as compared with the conventional case when a large number of containers are handled in a limited space.

The distribution device of the present invention includes the container support, a tube for distributing the contents to the plurality of containers supported by the container support, and a pumping unit for pumping the contents through the tube. It is characterized by being prepared.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container support and a distribution device capable of improving workability as compared with the conventional case when a plurality of containers are handled in a limited space.

The schematic perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the container support which concerns on this invention. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The enlarged view which shows an example of the attachment / detachment part of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic plan view which shows the modification of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic side view which shows the modification of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic plan view which shows the modification of the container support shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container support shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container support shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic perspective view which shows the modification of the support part of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which shows the modification of the support part and the arm part of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic plan view which shows the modification of the holding part of the container support shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the holding portion of the container support shown in FIG. The schematic block diagram which shows an example of the Embodiment of the distribution device which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the container support and the distribution device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the container support will be described first, and then an embodiment of the distribution device will be described.

(Container support)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the container support according to the present invention. The container support 10 of the present embodiment is, for example, a jig, a mechanism, a structure, or a device for suspending and supporting a plurality of containers C. The method of supporting the container C is not limited to hanging, and for example, the container C may be fixed upward and supported. The container support 10 of the present embodiment includes a support portion 11 extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction, and a plurality of arms supported by the support portion 11 and extending in an extending direction of the support portion 11 and extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction. It is characterized in that it includes a portion 12 and a plurality of holding portions 13 that are supported by the arm portion 12 and hold the container detachably.

The plurality of containers C suspended and supported by the container support 10 are, for example, containers for accommodating suspensions containing cells and drugs in the pharmaceutical field. As such a container C, for example, a bag formed in a bag shape by laminating and welding resin films can be exemplified. The container C can have various ports, including, for example, an inlet port for filling the contents, an outlet port for discharging the filled contents, and an exhaust port for discharging the gas.

The use of the container C supported by the container support 10 is not limited to the medical field, and may be, for example, a container for accommodating foods including seasonings and beverages. Further, the container C is not limited to the flexible bag made of the resin film described above, and may be a container having rigidity capable of maintaining a predetermined shape. The container support 10 is suitable for handling a container C in which a fluid content such as a liquid substance or a granular substance is aseptically filled.

Further, the container support 10 is suitable for an application in which a plurality of containers C are suspended and the contents are dispensed into these containers C, for example, 5, 8, or more than 10. In the container support 10 of the present embodiment, for example, it is assumed that 100 or more containers C are handled. Although not shown in FIG. 1, each container C is connected to, for example, a tube 20 connected to various ports, and is connected to a supply source 30 that supplies contents through the tube 20. (See FIG. 8). The tube 20 may be provided with, for example, a pumping unit 40 such as various pumps that pump the contents from the supply source 30 to each container C. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part of the container support 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The support portion 11 extends in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction and supports a plurality of arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the support portion 11 has a main shaft 11a extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the leg portions 11b are provided at both ends of the main shaft 11a in the extending direction. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of the main shaft 11a of the support portion 11 is referred to as the extending direction of the support portion 11. The legs 11b support the spindle 11a at a predetermined height in the vertical direction from a surface on which the container support 10 is arranged, such as a floor surface or a mounting surface. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the leg portion 11b has a rod shape extending in the vertical direction and has a rectangular plate-shaped pedestal 11c at the lower end portion. The configuration of the legs 11b is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the support portion 11 may have a plurality of leg portions 11b that are inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

The support portion 11 may have an extension portion 11d capable of extending the length of the support portion 11 in the extending direction. The extension portion 11d is made of, for example, the same material as the support portion 11, and has substantially the same cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area as the support portion 11. For example, the length of the extension portion 11d in the extending direction may be equal to the length of the support portion 11 in the extending direction, and may be shorter or longer than that. For example, a male screw or a female screw is formed at the end of the support portion 11 in the extending direction, a female screw or a male screw is formed at the end of the extension portion 11d, and a female screw or a female screw of the extension portion 11d is formed at the end of the support portion 11. Alternatively, by fastening a male screw, the extension portion 11d can be attached to the end portion of the support portion 11 to extend the length of the support portion 11 in the extending direction. The method of connecting the support portion 11 and the extension portion 11d is not limited to fastening with screws, and any connection method can be adopted.

The arm portion 12 is supported by the support portion 11 and extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction and the vertical direction of the support portion 11. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the arm portion 12 is formed in a rod shape or a shaft shape extending in a direction substantially horizontal and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main shaft 11a of the support portion 11. Further, the plurality of arm portions 12 are supported by the support portions 11 so as to be parallel to each other, for example.

The support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 may be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, or may be bent in the middle of the extending direction, for example. Further, the extending directions of the plurality of arm portions 12 do not have to be parallel to each other, and may be inclined at different angles with respect to the extending directions of the main shaft 11a of the support portion 11. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 12, that is, the axial direction is referred to as the extending direction of the arm portion 12.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the arm portion 12 extends to both sides of the support portion 11. Here, both sides of the support portion 11 mean, for example, spaces existing on both sides of the support portion 11 in a direction intersecting the extending direction and the vertical direction of the support portion 11. The arm portion 12 does not necessarily have to extend to both sides of the support portion 11, and may extend to only one side of the support portion 11 or may extend alternately.

The arm portion 12 may have an extension portion 12a capable of extending the length of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction. The extension portion 12a is made of, for example, the same material as the arm portion 12, and has substantially the same cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area as the arm portion 12. For example, the length of the extension portion 12a in the extending direction may be equal to the length of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction, and may be shorter or longer than that. For example, a male screw or a female screw is formed at the end of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction, a female screw or a male screw is formed at the end of the extension portion 12a, and a female screw or a female screw of the extension portion 12a is formed at the end of the arm portion 12. Alternatively, by fastening a male screw, the extension portion 12a can be attached to the end portion of the arm portion 12 to extend the length of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction. The method of connecting the arm portion 12 and the extension portion 12a is not limited to fastening with screws, and any connecting method can be adopted.

The holding portion 13 is, for example, arranged at intervals in the extending direction of each arm portion 12 and supported by the arm portion 12, and has a configuration in which the container C can be detachably held. The holding portion 13 may be provided on the arm portion 12, or may be detachably attached to the arm portion 12. Specifically, the holding portion 13 can be configured by, for example, a clip that holds the container C, a magnet that holds the container C by a magnetic force, or the like. The clip holds the container C by an elastic force such as a spring. The magnets may be arranged on both sides of the container C, for example, and may detachably hold the container C by magnetic force. Further, the container C may be detachably held by the holding portion 13 by attracting the magnet provided on the container C to the magnet provided on the holding portion 13.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the arm portions 12 adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the supporting portion 11 are arranged at the same position where the holding portions 13 overlap each other when viewed from the extending direction of the supporting portion 11. The arrangement of the holding portion 13 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the arm portions 12 adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the supporting portion 11 may be arranged so as to be displaced so that at least a part of the holding portion 13 does not overlap with each other when viewed from the extending direction of the supporting portion 11. ..

In the container support 10 of the present embodiment, the support portion 11, the arm portion 12, and the holding portion 13 are preferably made of a material having resistance to ultraviolet sterilization or hydrogen peroxide sterilization. Specifically, as the material of the support portion 11, the arm portion 12, and the holding portion 13, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel can be used.

In the container support 10, the arm portion 12 may be joined to the support portion 11 by welding or the like and fixed to the support portion 11. Further, the container support 10 may be provided with a detachable portion 14 to which the arm portion 12 can be detachably attached to the support portion 11 between the arm portion 12 and the support portion 11.

2A to 2C are enlarged views showing an example of the attachment / detachment portion 14 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. 2A to 2C are enlarged views of the detachable portion 14 seen from the extending direction of the arm portion 12 shown in FIG. 1, in which the arm portion 12 is cut along the extending direction of the support portion 11. Is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B, the detachable portion 14 is provided, for example, at the lower or upper portion of the support portion 11 and has an arc-shaped or partially cylindrical shape that supports the arm portion 12 from below and from the side. ing. The detachable portion 14 has, for example, an opening 14a that opens laterally, upwardly, or diagonally upward to accept the arm portion 12. The detachable portion 14 is made of, for example, a metal material that can be elastically deformed, and the opening width of the opening 14a is slightly smaller than the diameter of the arm portion 12.

The detachable portion 14 shown in FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B is elastically deformed so that the opening 14a expands by pushing the arm portion 12 into the opening 14a, and is restored after the arm portion 12 has passed through the opening 14a. As a result, the arm portion 12 is engaged with the inside of the arc-shaped or partially cylindrical portion to be supported from below and from the side. Further, by applying a force toward the outside of the opening 14a to the arm portion 12 engaged with the attachment / detachment portion 14, the opening portion 14a is elastically deformed so as to expand, and the arm portion 12 is detached from the attachment / detachment portion 14. It can be removed from the inside of the arc-shaped or partially cylindrical part of.

In the example shown in FIG. 2C, the detachable portion 14 is formed on the upper surface of the support portion 11 as a recess for engaging the arm portion 12. In this case, the detachable portion 14 can have an opening 14a having an opening width equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the arm portion 12 without elastic deformation. As described above, in the configuration in which the support portion 11 has a recess for engaging the arm portion 12 as the detachable portion 14 to which the arm portion 12 can be detachably attached, as compared with the examples shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, The arm portion 12 can be easily attached to and detached from the support portion 11.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the cross-sectional shape of the arm portion 12 is circular, but the cross-sectional shape of the arm portion 12 is not particularly limited. Further, the shape of the detachable portion 14 can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the arm portion 12.

3A to 3C are enlarged views showing an example of the attachment / detachment portion 14 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 3A to 3C are enlarged views of the attachment / detachment portion 14 seen from the extending direction of the support portion 11 shown in FIG. 1, in which the support portion 11 is cut along the extending direction of the arm portion 12. Is shown. As shown in FIG. 3A, the detachable portion 14 can be provided, for example, in the lower part of the arm portion 12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the attachment / detachment portion 14 can be provided on, for example, the arm portion 12 and the support portion 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the detachable portion 14 is formed in a square U shape having an opening 14a in one direction, and is engaged with the outside of the support portion 11 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. In this example, the detachable portion 14 may be made of, for example, a metal material capable of elastic deformation, and the opening width of the opening 14a may be slightly smaller than the lateral width of the support portion 11.

As a result, the detachable portion 14 is elastically deformed so as to expand the opening 14a by pushing the support portion 11 into the opening 14a, for example, and sandwiches the support portion 11 from both sides in the lateral direction. In this way, the arm portion 12 is attached to the support portion 11 via the attachment / detachment portion 14. Further, by applying an upward force in the direction away from the support portion 11 to the arm portion 12, the detachable portion 14 engaged with the outside of the support portion 11 is disengaged from the support portion 11, and the arm portion 12 Can be removed from the support portion 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the detachable portion 14 is composed of, for example, a protrusion 12b provided on the arm portion 12 and a concave groove portion 11e provided on the support portion 11. The protrusion 12b is provided so as to project from the arm portion 12 toward the support portion 11, for example. When the width direction of the protrusion 12b is parallel to the extending direction of the arm portion 12, the width of the tip portion separated from the arm portion 12 is larger than the width of the base end portion connected to the arm portion 12. There is. The concave groove portion 11e is formed in a groove shape that is continuous from one end to the other end along the extending direction of the support portion 11, for example. When the direction parallel to the extending direction of the arm portion 12 is the width direction, the width near the bottom of the lower end of the concave groove portion 11e is larger than the width near the opening at the upper end of the concave groove portion 11e, and is inside the concave groove portion 11e. A stepped portion is formed.

With such a configuration, in the attachment / detachment portion 14 shown in FIG. 3B, the protrusion 12b of the arm portion 12 is inserted into the concave groove portion 11e from the end portion of the support portion 11 in the extending direction, and the tip portion of the protrusion portion 12b is inserted. The arm portion 12 can be attached to the support portion 11 by engaging with the stepped portion of the concave groove portion 11e. Further, in the detachable portion 14 shown in FIG. 3B, the arm portion 12 is supported by the support portion 11 by pulling out the protrusion 12b from the concave groove portion 11e in the extending direction of the support portion 11 at the end portion of the support portion 11 in the extending direction. Can be removed from. In this way, the detachable portion 14 can attach the arm portion 12 to the support portion 11 in a detachable manner.

The support portion 11 may have a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the detachable portion 14 also functions as a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the detachable portion 14 which is the movable support portion 15 of the support portion 11 can slide the arm portion 12 in the extending direction of the support portion 11 by engaging the protrusion portion 12b with the concave groove portion 11e. I support it in a good condition. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the arm portion 12 is arranged on the support portion 11, but the arm portion 12 is formed by the protrusion 12b which is turned upside down and engaged with the concave groove portion 11e of the support portion 11. May be supported so as to be suspended from the support portion 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 3C, the detachable portion 14 is composed of, for example, a magnet 14b provided on the arm portion 12 and a magnet 14c provided on the support portion 11. The magnet 14b of the arm portion 12 is, for example, fitted into a recess provided on the lower surface of the arm portion 12 and fixed to the arm portion 12. The magnet of the support portion 11 is, for example, fitted into a recess provided on the upper surface of the support portion 11 and fixed to the support portion 11. The detachable portion 14 is configured so that the arm portion 12 can be detachably attached to the support portion 11 by attracting the magnet 14b of the arm portion 12 to the magnet 14c of the support portion 11.

The support portion 11 may have, for example, a slip prevention portion 16 that prevents the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, the magnet 14c of the support portion 11 also functions as a slip prevention portion 16 that prevents the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11. The anti-slip portion 16 of the support portion 11 is not limited to the magnet 14c, and is, for example, a non-slip unevenness formed on the surface of the support portion 11, a non-slip rubber provided on the surface of the support portion 11, or the like. There may be.

The arm portion 12 may have, for example, a slip prevention portion 16 that prevents the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, the magnet 14b of the arm portion 12 also functions as a slip prevention portion 16 for preventing the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11. The anti-slip portion 16 of the arm portion 12 is not limited to the magnet 14b, and is, for example, a non-slip unevenness formed on the surface of the arm portion 12, a non-slip rubber provided on the surface of the arm portion 12, or the like. There may be.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the cross-sectional shape of the support portion 11 is rectangular, but the cross-sectional shape of the support portion 11 is not particularly limited. Further, the shape of the detachable portion 14 can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the support portion 11. Further, in the examples shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the arm portion 12 can be attached to an arbitrary position in the extending direction of the support portion 11. Therefore, the support portion 11 may be marked with a mark indicating the mounting position of the arm portion 12, such as a V-shape or a corrugated recess. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C is suitable when the arm portion 12 extends on both sides of the support portion 11.

FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above in the vertical direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the plurality of arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction of the support portion 11 alternately extend to the opposite side of the support portion 11. It is not necessary for the arm portions 12 to extend to the opposite side one by one, and the arm portions 12 may extend to the opposite side of the support portions 11 alternately every other plurality.

FIG. 4B is a schematic side view showing a modified example of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the horizontal direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the plurality of arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction of the support portion 11 are alternately arranged at the upper position and the lower position. It is not necessary that the arm portions 12 are alternately arranged at the upper position and the lower position one by one, and the arm portions 12 may be alternately arranged at the upper position and the lower position every other plurality.

FIG. 5A is a schematic enlarged plan view showing a modified example of the container support 10 shown in FIG. The plan view is a view of the object viewed from directly above. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the support portion 11 has a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. The movable support portion 15 rotatably supports, for example, the arm portion 12 around an axis Z parallel to the vertical direction. As a result, the movable support portion 15 rotatably supports the arm portion 12 from a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction and the vertical direction of the supporting portion 11 to the extending direction of the support portion 11.

FIG. 5B is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the support portion 11 showing a modified example of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the support portion 11 has a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. The movable support portion 15 rotatably supports, for example, the arm portion 12 around an axis X parallel to the extending direction of the support portion 11. As a result, the movable support portion 15 rotatably supports the arm portion 12 from a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction and the vertical direction of the support portion 11 to the vertical direction.

FIG. 6A is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the support portion 11 showing a modified example of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the arm portion 12 is elastically deformed by the load of the container C held by the holding portion 13 and filled with the contents, so that the direction or position of the arm portion 12 is changed. have. The elastically deformed portion 17 is composed of, for example, an elastic member capable of elastically deforming such as a spring or rubber, one end of which is fixed to the side surface of the support portion 11, and the other end of which is fixed to the base end portion of the arm portion 12. .. The elastically deformed portion 17 may be provided on the support portion 11, or may be a separate member independent of the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12.

The support portion 11 may have a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the elastically deformed portion 17 that changes the direction or position of the arm portion 12 also functions as a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. For example, by applying a pulling force to the arm portion 12 in a direction away from the support portion 11, the elastically deformed portion 17 is elastically deformed and extended, and the arm portion 12 is stretched in the extending direction and the vertical direction of the support portion 11. It can be moved in the extending direction of the intersecting arm portions 12. That is, the elastically deformed portion 17 that also functions as the movable support portion 15 movably supports the arm portion 12 not only in the extending direction of the arm portion 12 but also in the vertical direction and the extending direction of the support portion 11. ..

FIG. 6B is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the support portion 11 showing a modified example of the container support 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the arm portion 12 has an elastically deformed portion 17 that changes the position of the arm portion 12 by being elastically deformed by the load of the container C held by the holding portion 13 and filled with the contents. doing. The elastically deformed portion 17 is composed of, for example, an elastic member capable of elastically deforming such as a spring or rubber, one end of which is fixed to the lower surface of the support portion 11, and the other end of which is fixed to the central portion of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction. Has been done.

In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 have a guide portion 18 that guides the arm portion 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the support portion 11 and the extending direction of the arm portion 12. ing. The guide portion 18 has, for example, a shaft portion 18a fixed to the support portion 11 and a slide portion 18b fixed to the arm portion 12. The shaft portion 18a is fixed to the lower surface of the support portion 11, extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the support portion 11 and the extending direction of the arm portion 12, and is inserted into the elastically deformed portion 17. The slide portion 18b has a through hole through which the shaft portion 18a is inserted.

The support portion 11 may have a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the elastically deformed portion 17 that changes the position of the arm portion 12 also functions as a movable support portion 15 that movably supports the arm portion 12. For example, by applying a force to the arm portion 12 in a direction away from the support portion 11, the elastically deformed portion 17 is elastically deformed and extended, and the arm portion 12 can be moved in the vertical direction. That is, the elastically deformed portion 17 that functions as the movable support portion 15 movably supports the arm portion 12 in the vertical direction.

FIG. 7A is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the support portion 11 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. The support portion 11 may have a grid-like structure. The support portion 11 may have, for example, a plurality of through holes 11f penetrating the support portion 11 in a direction intersecting the extending direction and the vertical direction of the support portion 11. The through hole 11f is formed to have a size equal to or slightly larger than the size of the arm portion 12 so as to insert and support the arm portion 12 in the extending direction of the arm portion 12.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing a modified example of the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. The support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 can have, for example, a stretchable configuration. For example, the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 can be composed of a plurality of tubular portions whose diameters are gradually increased from one end to the other end. As a result, the tubular portion having a small diameter can be nested inside the tubular portion having a large diameter, and the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction.

FIG. 7C is a schematic plan view showing a modified example of the holding portion 13 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7C, the holding portion 13 for holding the container C is composed of the frame portion 13a for holding the container C. The frame portion 13a has a groove portion 13b for engaging a part of the container C. More specifically, the frame portion 13a is formed in a frame shape corresponding to the shape of the container C, and has a groove portion 13b for engaging the peripheral edge portion of the container C which is a part of the container C. The frame portion 13a has a through hole 13c through which the arm portion 12 is inserted on one side of the outer edge portion, and is attached to the arm portion 12 by inserting the arm portion 12 through the through hole 13c. As a result, the holding portion 13 is supported by the arm portion 12. The holding portion 13 may be a groove portion provided in the arm portion 12 to engage a part of the container C, or the frame portion 13a may omit the groove portion by sandwiching the container C, for example.

FIG. 7D is a schematic view showing a modified example of the holding portion 13 of the container support 10 shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 7D, the holding portion 13 for holding the container C is provided, for example, by branching the arm portion 12, and has a locking portion 13d capable of locking a part of the container C. The holding portion 13 may be supported by the arm portion 12 via an appropriate configuration such as a hook. More specifically, the holding portion 13 is arranged on both sides of the port so as to sandwich the port of the container C, and has a locking portion 13d that supports the lower end of the cap that closes the port from both sides in the radial direction. The container C is locked.

Hereinafter, the operation of the container support 10 of the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, the container support 10 of the present embodiment is a jig, mechanism, structure, or device that supports a plurality of containers C. As described above, the container support 10 of the present embodiment has a support portion 11 extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction, and a support portion 11 supported by the support portion 11, and a direction in which the support portion 11 intersects in the extending direction and the vertical direction. It is provided with a plurality of arm portions 12 extending in a direction thereof, and a plurality of holding portions 13 supported by the arm portions 12 and holding the container C detachably.

With this configuration, the container support 10 of the present embodiment can be supported by the support portion 11 by arranging a plurality of arm portions 12 in the extending direction of the support portion 11. The plurality of arm portions 12 extend in a direction intersecting the extending direction and the vertical direction of the supporting portion 11. Each arm portion 12 has, for example, a plurality of holding portions 13 that detachably hold the container C in the extending direction thereof.

As a result, for example, a plurality of containers C are held and suspended from the plurality of holding portions 13 of each arm portion 12, and the plurality of arm portions 12 holding the plurality of containers C are placed in the extending direction of the support portion 11. Can be supported side by side. Therefore, even when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, the density of the containers C suspended from the holding portion 13 attached to the arm portion 12 is reduced, and the work space and the visibility of the containers C are ensured. , Workability can be improved. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the container support 10 capable of improving workability as compared with the conventional case.

More specifically, as described above, the tube 20 (see FIG. 8) was connected when the contents such as suspension and food were distributed and aseptically filled in the plurality of containers C. In some cases, the ports of the individual containers C are operated to sequentially fill the contents. In such a case, according to the container support 10 of the present embodiment, the accessibility to each container C can be improved, and the workability can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIGS. 3A to 3C, when the container support 10 includes a detachable portion 14 to which the arm portion 12 can be detachably attached to the support portion 11, if necessary. The number of arm portions 12 supported by the support portion 11 can be increased or decreased. This makes it possible to flexibly respond to changes in the number and dimensions of the containers C to be handled. Therefore, even when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, the density of the containers C suspended from the holding portion 13 attached to the arm portion 12 can be reduced, and workability can be improved.

Further, after suspending the plurality of containers C from the plurality of holding portions 13 provided on the arm portion 12 in advance, the arm portion 12 can be attached to the support portion 11 via the attachment / detachment portion 14, and the workability can be improved. Can be improved. Further, when the filling of the contents into all the containers C suspended from the plurality of holding portions 13 provided on the arm portion 12 is completed, the arm portion 12 can be removed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the container C that has been filled with the contents from becoming an obstacle when handling the container C that has not been filled with the contents, and to secure the visibility of the work space and the container C for the work. The sex can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, the arm portion 12 or the support portion 11 is engaged with the attachment / detachment portion 14, and the arm portion 12 is attached to the support portion 11. It is possible to prevent the arm portion 12 from being unintentionally detached from the support portion 11 that supports the arm portion 12. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the arm portion 12 from falling off from the support portion 11 during filling of the contents of the container C.

Further, as described above, in the container support 10, at least a part of the holding portions 13 overlaps each other when the arm portions 12 adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the supporting portion 11 are viewed from the extending direction of the supporting portion 11. It may be arranged so as not to be in a position where it does not become. In this case, not only can the visibility of the container C on the back side be improved when viewed from the front side in the extending direction of the support portion 11, but also the container C on the front side to the back side in the extending direction of the support portion 11 can be improved. The container C on the front side does not become an obstacle when handling, and workability can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the arm portion 12 extends to both sides of the support portion 11. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the spaces on both sides of the support portion 11. Therefore, even when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, the density of the containers C suspended from the holding portion 13 attached to the arm portion 12 can be reduced, and workability can be improved.

Further, in the container support 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, even if a plurality of arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction of the support portion 11 alternately extend to the opposite side of the support portion 11. Good. In this case, the arm portion 12 extending to one side of the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 extending to the opposite side can be supported by shifting in the extending direction of the support portion 11. Therefore, for example, when the minimum distance between the arm portions 12 adjacent to the extension direction of the support portion 11 is limited, the minimum distance between the adjacent arm portions 12 is secured and the support portion 11 is adjacent to the extension direction. The distance between the holding portions 13 can be increased. Therefore, even when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, the density of the containers C suspended from the holding portion 13 attached to the arm portion 12 can be reduced, and workability can be improved.

Further, in the container support 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, even if a plurality of arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction of the support portion 11 are alternately arranged in the upper position and the lower position. Good. In this case, the container C can be held by shifting the container C up and down to the holding portion 13 between the arm portions 12 adjacent to the supporting portion 11 in the extending direction. As a result, not only can the visibility of the container C on the back side be improved when viewed from the front side in the extending direction of the support portion 11, but also the container C on the front side to the back side in the extending direction of the support portion 11 can be improved. The container C on the front side does not become an obstacle when handling, and workability can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, etc., the container support 10 of the present embodiment includes a movable support portion 15 in which the support portion 11 movably supports the arm portion 12. You may have. These movable support portions 15 support the arm portion 12 in a state of being movable in one or more of the vertical direction, the extending direction of the support portion 11, and the extending direction of the arm portion 12. As a result, the arm portion 12 can be moved with respect to the support portion 11 as needed, the arm portion 12 can be stored, the position of the arm portion 12 with respect to the support portion 11 can be changed, and the support portion 11 can be extended. The angle of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction with respect to the direction can be changed. Therefore, for example, the arm portion 12 supported by the movable support portion 15 can be moved to secure a work space around an arbitrary container C in which the filling of the contents is not completed, and the workability can be improved.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the movable support portion 15 movably supports the arm portion 12 in the extending direction of the support portion 11 by the protrusion portion 12b and the concave groove portion 11e, the support portion 11 Unless the arm portion 12 is moved to the end portion in the extending direction of the arm portion 12, the arm portion 12 does not come off from the support portion 11. Therefore, when the containers C suspended from the arm portions 12 arranged in the extending direction of the support portion 11 are sequentially handled from the arm portion 12 on the front side, the arm portion 12 that supports the container C that has been handled is removed. As a result, the risk of mishandling the container C can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, when the arm portion 12 can be attached to an arbitrary position in the extending direction of the support portion 11, a mark indicating the attachment position of the arm portion 12 with respect to the support portion 11 The arm portion 12 can be attached to a predetermined position by attaching. As a result, the distance between the containers C can be kept constant, the rows of the containers C can be easily confirmed, and the workability can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the arm portion 12 has a slip prevention portion 16 for preventing the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11, such as a magnet 14b, a non-slip unevenness, and a non-slip rubber. It is possible to prevent the arm portion 12 from being displaced with respect to the support portion 11. As a result, the contents can be stably dispensed into the plurality of containers C supported by the arm portions 12 via the plurality of holding portions 13.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the container support 10 of the present embodiment is elastically deformed by the load of the container C held by the holding portion 13 and filled with the contents, thereby causing the arm portion thereof. A configuration may be provided having an elastically deformed portion 17 that changes the direction or position of the twelve. In this case, for example, when the container C is suspended from the holding portion 13 of the arm portion 12 and the container C is filled with the contents, the weight of the contents filled in the container C increases, and the load thereof increases. The elastically deformed portion 17 is elastically deformed and the direction or position of the arm portion 12 changes. Therefore, the arm portion 12 in which the contents of the container C have been filled and the arm portion 12 in which the contents of the container C have not been filled can be discriminated according to the direction or position of the arm portion 12.

Further, the arbitrary arm portion 12 can be pulled away from the support portion 11 to extend the elastically deformed portion 17, and the arbitrary arm portion 12 can be pulled out from the plurality of arm portions 12. As a result, the state of any container C supported by the arbitrary arm portion 12 via the holding portion 13 can be immediately confirmed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2C, 3C, and 7A, the container support 10 of the present embodiment has a grid-like structure in which the support portion 11 has a recessed portion (detachable portion) with which the arm portion 12 is engaged. Of the configuration having 14), the configuration having the extension portion 11d capable of extending the length of the support portion 11 in the extending direction, and the configuration having the anti-slip portion 16 for preventing the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11. Any one or more configurations can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 7A, since the support portion 11 has a grid-like structure, the arm portion 12 is passed between the grids of the support portion 11 and the arm portion 12 is supported at an arbitrary position between the grids of the support portion 11. be able to. Therefore, the arrangement of the container C can be easily changed according to the size of the container C and the work purpose. Further, the height of the arm portion 12 can be changed in a plurality of stages, and more containers C can be handled in a limited space. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the support portion 11 has the attachment / detachment portion 14 as a recess for engaging the arm portion 12, so that the arm portion 12 can be arranged at a predetermined position of the support portion 11. it can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the support portion 11 has an extension portion 11d capable of extending the length of the support portion 11 in the extending direction, the number of containers C to be handled increases or decreases, or the container to be handled When the size or arrangement of C is changed, it can be flexibly dealt with by attaching and detaching the extension portion 11d. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, since the support portion 11 has the anti-slip portion 16, the arm portion 12 is prevented from sliding in the extending direction of the support portion 11, and the arm portion 12 is the support portion 11. It is possible to prevent misalignment in the extending direction of the.

Further, the container support 10 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the arm portion 12 has an extension portion 12a capable of extending the length of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3C. , One or more of the configurations having the anti-slip portion 16 for preventing the arm portion 12 from sliding with respect to the support portion 11 can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the arm portion 12 is provided with an extension portion 12a capable of extending the length of the arm portion 12 in the extending direction, so that the arm portion 12 can be handled when the number of containers C to be handled increases or decreases. When the size or arrangement of the container C is changed, it can be flexibly dealt with by attaching and detaching the extension portion 12a. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, by providing the arm portion 12 with the anti-slip portion 16 for preventing the support portion 11 from sliding, the arm portion 12 can slide in the extending direction of the support portion 11. This is prevented, and it is possible to prevent the arm portion 12 from being displaced with respect to the support portion 11.

Further, in the container support 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7C, and 7D, the holding portion 13 for holding the container C is engaged with a clip for holding the container C and a part of the container C. It can be configured by any one or more of a groove portion 13b to be combined, a frame portion 13a for holding the container C, a magnet for holding the container C by magnetic force, and a locking portion which can lock a part of the container C. .. As a result, the container C can be easily held by the holding portion 13, and the container C held by the holding portion 13 can be easily removed. Therefore, when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, workability can be improved.

In particular, by forming the holding portion 13 with a clip or a magnet, there is an advantage that it is easy to correspond to a container C having various shapes. In addition, a relatively large change in the shape of the container C can be tolerated when the contents are filled in the container C. On the other hand, by forming the holding portion 13 by the groove portion 13b, the frame portion 13a, or the locking portion 13d, it is possible to hold the container C, which is difficult to support by a clip or a magnet, and suspend it from the arm portion 12. It will be possible.

Further, in the container support 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the support portion 11, the arm portion 12, and the holding portion 13 can be made of a material having resistance to ultraviolet sterilization or hydrogen peroxide sterilization. As a result, for example, the container support 10 can be used in a state of being housed inside a clean bench or an isolator, and workability can be improved when handling a plurality of containers C.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the container support 10 capable of improving workability as compared with the conventional case when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space.

(Distributor)
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an embodiment of the distribution device according to the present invention. The distribution device 100 of the present embodiment pumps the contents through the container support 10 described above, a tube 20 for distributing the contents to a plurality of containers C supported by the container support 10, and the tube 20. It is characterized by including a pumping unit 40 and a pumping unit 40.

For example, one end of the tube 20 is connected to a supply source 30 for supplying the contents, and the other end is branched into a plurality of tubes and connected to the ports of the individual containers C. As the pumping unit 40, a pump suitable for aseptically pumping the contents can be used, for example, a peristaltic pump that pressurizes the tube 20 from the outside to pump the contents. Further, the branch of the tube 20 and the port of the container C can have a valve that can be opened and closed.

As described above, the plurality of containers C supported by the container support 10 are connected to the supply source 30 that supplies the contents via the tube 20. Therefore, depending on how the containers C are arranged, when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space, the containers C and the tubes 20 connected to the containers C may be congested and workability may be reduced.

On the other hand, the distribution device 100 of the present embodiment is provided with the container support 10, so that when the contents are distributed to the plurality of containers C via the tube 20 by the pumping unit 40, a plurality of the contents are distributed in a limited space. Even when handling the container C, workability can be improved. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the distribution device 100 capable of improving workability as compared with the conventional case when a plurality of containers C are handled in a limited space.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. Also, they are included in the present invention.

10 Container support 11 Support 11d Extension 12 Arm 12a Extension 13 Holding 13a Frame 13b Groove 13d Locking 14 Detachable part (recess)
15 Movable support part 16 Anti-slip part 17 Elastic deformation part 20 Tube 40 Pumping part 100 Distributor C Container

Claims (10)

A container support that supports multiple containers,
A support portion extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction, a plurality of arm portions supported by the support portion and extending in the extending direction of the support portion and extending in a direction intersecting in the vertical direction, and the container supported by the arm portion and attached / detached. The arm portion is provided between a plurality of freely holding portions and the support portion and the arm portion, and is elastically deformed by the load of the container held by the holding portion and filled with the contents. A container support comprising an elastically deformed portion that changes the direction or position of the container. The container support according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable portion to which the arm portion can be detachably attached to the support portion. The arm portions adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the supporting portion are arranged so as to be offset from each other at a position where at least a part of the holding portions does not overlap each other when viewed from the extending direction of the supporting portion. The container support according to claim 1 or 2. The container support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arm portion extends on both sides of the support portion. The container support according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of arm portions arranged in the extending direction of the support portion alternately extend to the opposite side of the support portion. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of arm portions arranged in the extending direction of the support portion are alternately arranged at an upper position and a lower position. Support. The support portion has a movable support portion that movably supports the arm portion.
Claim 1 is characterized in that the movable support portion supports the arm portion in a movable state in one or more of a vertical direction, an extending direction of the support portion, and an extending direction of the arm portion. The container support according to any one of claims 6. The holding portion for holding the container includes a clip for holding the container, a groove for engaging a part of the container, a frame for holding the container, a magnet for holding the container by magnetic force, and one of the containers. The container support according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the container is composed of any one or more of the locking portions capable of locking the portions. The container support according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the support portion, the arm portion, and the holding portion are made of a material having resistance to ultraviolet sterilization or hydrogen peroxide sterilization. .. The container support according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , a tube for distributing the contents to the plurality of containers supported by the container support, and the contents via the tube. A distribution device including a pumping unit for pumping.

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