JPH0588757A - Automatic ph controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically measure and control the pH for a long period of time with high accuracy by means of a pH sensor. CONSTITUTION:An automatic pH controller is provided with a pH sensor 25 together with a controller which controls the pH value at a prescribed level based on the pH value measured by the sensor 25 and with dropping of a pH control solution, a robot hand which moves the sensor 25, a pH correction liquid tank, a sensor washing tank, and the porous urethane 26 which drains the tip of the sensor 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pH control device for a chemical tank of a dyeing device or an etching device. Since the pH of the chemical solution has a great influence on the characteristics of the device, highly accurate control of the pH is often required.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional pH controller, when a pH sensor is immersed in a chemical solution for a long time and automatically operated, the characteristic value of the pH sensor changes and accurate pH measurement cannot be performed. It was In addition, in order to perform highly accurate control for a long time, it is necessary to calibrate the pH sensor frequently, which makes automation difficult.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional pH control device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional pH control device. In FIG. 3, 1 is a dyeing device, 2
Is a dyeing tank, 3 is a dyeing solution, 4 is a circulation pipe, 5 is a circulation pump, 6 is an apparatus opening, 7 is a pH sensor, 8 is a pH adjusting liquid nozzle, 9 is a glass electrode terminal, and 10 is a reference electrode. Terminal, 11 is a temperature sensor terminal, 12 is a pH adjusting liquid pipe, 13 is a pH adjusting liquid tank, 14 is a pH adjusting liquid, 15
Is a display panel, 16 is a pH detection and controller body, and 17 is a dispenser.

When the pH of the dyeing solution is controlled,
The dyeing solution 3 in the dyeing tank 2 is constantly circulated by a circulation pump 5, and a glass electrode, a reference electrode, and a temperature sensor are built in.
The H sensor is immersed in the liquid and the pH of the dyeing liquid is measured. A predetermined amount of pH is measured by the dispenser 17 according to the measured value.
The adjustment liquid 14 is discharged into the dyeing tank through the nozzle 8.
At this time, the dyeing liquid in the dyeing tank is adjusted to a predetermined temperature.

[0006]

However, when the staining solution is controlled with high accuracy (± 0.01 pH) for a long time by the pH controller having the above-mentioned configuration, it is necessary to calibrate the pH standard solution several times a day. Becomes
When carrying out automation including this calibration, it is necessary to wash the pH sensor with water and dry it accurately at low cost.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an automatic pH control device capable of accurately washing and drying (draining) a pH sensor at low cost and capable of highly accurate pH control of a dyeing solution at low running cost. It is a thing.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pH sensor and a controller for appropriately adjusting a pH adjusting liquid to a predetermined pH value based on a measured pH value. A pH control device is constituted by a moving robot hand, a pH calibration liquid tank, a sensor cleaning tank, and porous urethane for draining water from the tip of the sensor.

[0009]

According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, the pH sensor is taken out of the dyeing solution by the Lopot hand before the characteristic value of the pH sensor shifts out of the predetermined control range, and the pH value of pH6.
Calibrate with 86 standards and pH 4.01 standards. Immediately after taking out the sensor from the various liquids, it is necessary to prevent mutual contamination between the liquids.
As the means for cleaning and drying, the process is performed by dipping in a cleaning tank, cleaning by rocking, and draining and drying the water droplets formed on the lower end of the glass electrode (hemispherical) of the pH sensor by contact with the porous urethane. Automation, cost reduction, and tact improvement.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic pH control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic calibration unit of a pH controller in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a pH sensor in a state where it is left standing after cleaning, and FIG. 4 is a pH controller (sensor).
FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic pH control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 20 is a dyeing tank, 21 is a dyeing solution, 23 is an overflow tank, 24 is a pH sensor moving robot, 25 is a pH sensor, 26 is a pH adjusting solution injection nozzle, and 27 and 28 are dyeing. Liquid circulation pipe, 29 is pH
Sensor cleaning tank, 29a is pure water, 31 is pure water supply pipe, 32 is pure water drain used for cleaning, 32 is pH
Standard solution tank A (for pH 6.86), 33 is an opening / closing lid for tank A, 34 is pH standard solution tank B (pH 4.01)
), 35 is an opening / closing lid for the tank B, 36 is urethane for draining the pH sensor after cleaning, 37 is a pan, and 38 is a drain. In FIG. 5, 20 to 38 are the same as those in FIG. 1, 40 is a pH controller that generates a control signal based on the measured pH value, and 41 is p based on the control signal.
A dispenser for injecting the H adjusting liquid, 42 a pH adjusting liquid tank, 43 a pH adjusting liquid, and 44 a robot controller.

Next, the operation of the automatic pH controller will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

An article to be dyed (for example, a natural polymer) is put into a dyeing tank 20 filled with a dyeing solution 21, dipped for a predetermined time, taken out, and sent to the next step. In this dyeing step, the pH of the dyeing solution is a factor that greatly affects the color characteristics of the dyed object, and therefore it is necessary to perform pH control with high accuracy and in real time.

Usually, the pH measured by the pH sensor 25
If the value is outside the specified control range, pH controller 4
A control signal is generated by 0, the dispenser 41 is driven based on the signal, and the pH adjusting liquid 43 is discharged from the nozzle 21.
Is injected to adjust the pH.

At this time, the pH sensor 25 is constantly dipped in the dyeing solution 21, but if it is dipped for a long period of time, its characteristic value changes depending on the solution, and therefore the pH standard solution is calibrated periodically. The procedure is such that the pH is set by the mobile robot 24 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of immersion of the pH sensor 25.
The sensor 25 is pulled up from the dyeing tank 20 and immersed in the washing tank 29 to wash the attached dyeing solution 21. After that, when the pH sensor is pulled up and left to stand, water droplets are formed at the lower end of the pH sensor 25 as shown in FIG. In order to remove the water droplets, the pH sensor 25 is moved so that its lower end is brought into contact with the porous urethane 36. Next, the lid 33 of the pH standard solution tank A32 is opened, and the robot 25 immerses the pH sensor 25 in the pH standard solution (pH 6.86) held in the tank for calibration. After the calibration is completed, pH is adjusted by the robot 24.
The pH standard solution (pH 6.86) attached to the cleaning tank 29 by pulling up the pH sensor 25 from the standard solution tank A 32
Is washed and brought into contact with the porous urethane 36 to remove water droplets.

Next, similarly, the lid 3 of the pH standard solution tank B34 is used.
5 is opened, and the robot 25 immerses the pH sensor 25 in the pH standard solution (pH 4.01) held in the tank for calibration.

After the calibration, the robot 24 (movable in the directions a, b, and c) moves the pH from the pH standard solution tank B32.
The sensor 25 is pulled up, dipped in the cleaning tank 29 and adhered
H standard solution (pH 4.01) was washed and porous urethane 3
Contact 6 to remove water droplets.

Finally, the pH sensor 25 by the robot 24
Is immersed in the dyeing solution 21 to start pH measurement. When the measured pH value exceeds the control range, a command is issued from the controller 40, the buret 41 is operated, and the pH is set from the nozzle 26.
The adjustment liquid is discharged and a constant pH value can be maintained. The above steps are also shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The shape of the porous urethane is a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylinder, and the height of the porous urethane is made sufficiently high with respect to the area of the bottom, so that the dry state of the upper portion in contact with the pH sensor can be improved. In addition, since the porous urethane removes only pure water, the degree of contamination is low and it can withstand long-term use, but depending on the degree of cleaning, contamination may progress, so confirmation is necessary. As a material, besides porous urethane, an appropriate porous material can be selected.

The automatic pH control device of the present invention, which has the above-mentioned structure, does not require a large-scale drying facility, etc., and enables the pH sensor to be washed and dried (drained) accurately and at low cost, resulting in low running. It is possible to perform highly accurate pH control of the dyeing solution at a cost.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the robot for moving the pH sensor and the controller for appropriately adjusting the pH adjusting liquid to a predetermined pH value based on the measured pH value and the pH sensor. By configuring an automatic pH control device with a hand, a pH calibration liquid tank, a sensor cleaning tank, and porous urethane for draining the sensor tip, it is possible to accurately wash and dry (drain) the pH sensor at low cost. In addition, it is possible to control the pH of the dyeing solution with high accuracy at low running cost and facilitate automation. Also, p
Since the H sensor is regularly cleaned, the life can be extended and the running cost can be further reduced.

The automatic pH control device can be applied not only to the dyeing solution but also to various solutions requiring pH control (eg, etching solution).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic pH control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pH sensor for an automatic pH control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional pH controller.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of automatic pH calibration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the automatic pH control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Staining Tank 21 Staining Liquid 24 Robot for Moving pH Sensor 25 pH Sensor 26 Nozzle for pH Adjusting Liquid 29 Cleaning Tank 32 Tank for pH Standard Liquid (pH 6.86) 34 Tank for pH Standard Liquid (pH 4.01) 36 Porous Urethane 37 pan 40 pH controller 41 buret 42 pH adjusting liquid tank 43 pH adjusting liquid 44 robot controller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pH based on a pH value measured by a pH sensor.
A controller that adjusts the adjusted solution to a predetermined pH value, a robot hand that moves the pH sensor, a pH calibration solution tank, a sensor cleaning tank, and an automatic pH control that has porous urethane for draining the sensor tip. apparatus. 2. A dyeing device having the automatic pH control device according to claim 1. 3. A wet etching apparatus having the automatic pH control device according to claim 1.