JPH07255664A - Switching device of fluid tube path for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a switching device of fluid tube paths for endoscopes, which improves work efficiency for cleaning to reduce stress of the cleaning operator. CONSTITUTION:This device comprises a space S between an attachment member 27 and a piston 34 in stopped state at a piston stopper 127 and a communication path 133 for communicating the contacting part of the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34 with the outer space T to the contacting part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided in, for example, an electronic endoscope having a solid-state image pickup device, an endoscope having an image guide fiber, and the like, and is a fluid tube for an endoscope for switching air supply or water supply. The present invention relates to a route switching device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an endoscope for digestive organs, mucus or the like in a patient's body may adhere to an objective lens of an observation optical system during an endoscopic examination, thereby obstructing the field of view of the observation optical system. Therefore, an air / water supply nozzle is provided in the vicinity of the objective lens of the endoscope, and an air / water supply mechanism for spraying air or cleaning water from the air / water supply nozzle onto the surface of the objective lens to remove mucus is provided. It is installed in the endoscope.

In this air / water supply mechanism, the air / water supply nozzle is provided in the middle of each fluid pipe connecting the gas supply source and the washing water supply source on the external side, and the connection state of each fluid pipe is established. Is provided to control the outflow state of air or wash water from the air / water supply nozzle. A typical example thereof is shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-88603.

The fluid conduit switching device is provided with a cylinder embedded in the operating portion of the endoscope and a piston slidably fitted in the cylinder for switching air supply and water supply. There is. In this case, the cylinder is connected to an upstream air supply pipe and a water supply pipe communicating with the gas supply source and the cleaning water supply source and a downstream air supply pipe and a water supply pipe communicating with the air supply / water supply nozzle. Has been done. Then, the air supply and the water supply are switched by moving the position of the piston in the cylinder in the axial direction.

A piston mounting member is removably attached to the outer end of the operating portion of the cylinder, which is projected to the outside of the casing. A stopper (inward projection) that restricts the movement of the piston in the outward direction of the cylinder is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member.

Further, a coil spring (urging member) is interposed between the mounting member and the piston for urging the piston in the direction of contacting the stopper. And, in the natural state, the piston is constantly operated by the spring force of this coil spring,
It is stopped at a fixed position in close contact with the stopper, and the piston is pushed in against the spring force of the coil spring to switch between air supply and water supply. .

A finger contact member is screwed and fixed to the outer end of the piston. The finger contact member is provided with a cover portion that prevents the coil spring from being exposed to the outside. Further, the mounting member is also provided with a similar cover portion. In this case, the cover portion of the finger contact member is loosely fitted to the cover portion of the mounting member. In the natural state, the coil spring is covered by the cover portion of the finger contact member and the cover portion of the mounting member so that the coil spring does not appear in the appearance.

Further, the mounting member, the piston and the coil spring are integrally assembled into a unit. The piston unit is detachably attached to the cylinder integrally by a mounting member.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 33 (A) and 33 (B), for example, the suction piston 270 of the conventional endoscope has a butting portion 271 for restricting the vertical positioning of the suction piston 270. It is provided over the entire circumference of 270. Further, the stopper 272 that abuts against the abutting portion 271 also has a ring shape. Therefore, when the suction piston 270 is not pushed in, the abutting portion 271 and the stopper 272 come into contact with each other to form the dead end 273.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the device of the '03 publication, the piston is not pushed in and the coil spring is held in a natural state, and the piston is stopped at a fixed position in close contact with the stopper. At this time, a dead end-shaped space is formed inside the cover portion of the attachment member and the cover portion of the finger contact member. Therefore, when cleaning the endoscope, the piston unit mounting member is removed from the cylinder, and when the piston unit is immersed in the cleaning liquid, the inside of the bag-passage-shaped space inside the cover of the mounting member and the cover of the finger contact member is removed. There is a problem that the cleaning liquid that has infiltrated into the tank is difficult to flow out from the space in the sac after the cleaning operation.

Therefore, when the cleaning liquid adhering to the piston unit is washed out after the cleaning work is completed, the piston is pushed against the biasing direction of the coil spring and the contact between the piston and the stopper of the mounting member is released. , It is necessary to wash away the cleaning liquid remaining in the sack-like space inside the cover part of the mounting member and the cover part of the finger contact member by performing a troublesome operation such as rocking in clean water while keeping it held. There is.

Further, when the clean water is drained, similarly, the piston unit is maintained by holding the finger contact member upward while keeping the piston pressed against the biasing direction of the coil spring. Since it is necessary to perform an operation such as holding for a proper time in a vertical posture, cleaning work of the piston unit becomes troublesome, and there is a problem that operator fatigue increases.

Further, when cleaning the suction piston 270 of FIGS. 33 (A) and 33 (B), there is a problem that cleaning liquid or water is likely to collect in the bag path 273. Therefore, in order to discharge this, it is necessary to push in the suction piston 270 to release the contact state between the abutting portion 271 of the suction piston 270 and the stopper 272 to open the space of the dead end, which is troublesome at the time of cleaning. This is the cause.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to improve the work efficiency of the cleaning work and reduce the burden on the operator during the cleaning work. It is to provide a fluid line switching device.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting member detachably mounted on a fluid line switching cylinder mounted on an operating portion of an endoscope, and a step on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting member. And a stepped portion of the mounting member, which protrudes so as to form a portion and which regulates the outward movement of the cylinder of the fluid line switching piston slidably inserted in the cylinder. And a piston, and a biasing member that biases the piston in the direction of abutting the protrusion is provided in the fluid channel switching device for an endoscope, wherein the piston is the protrusion. A space between the mounting member and the piston in a state of being abutted with,
The contact portion is provided with a communication passage that communicates between the protrusion and the outer space of the contact portion of the piston.

[0016]

By holding the piston in the upward direction, the residue such as fluid, powder, and granules remaining in the space between the mounting member and the piston is removed from the contact portion between the protrusion and the piston. It is designed to be discharged naturally by its own weight through the communication passage.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the entire endoscope system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an operation unit of this endoscope. The operating portion 1 is provided with a grip portion 2 for holding it by hand.

A base end portion of the insertion portion 3 and a base end portion of the universal cord 4 are connected to the operation portion 1, respectively. Here, a connector 5 is provided at the tip of the universal cord 4. The connector 5 is connected to a light source device 6 that supplies illumination light.

Further, the insertion portion 3 is provided with a long flexible tube portion 3a, and the bending portion 8 is provided on the distal end side of the flexible tube portion 3a.
And a tip portion 9 connected to the tip thereof.
In this case, the bending portion 8 is bent by the angle knob 7 provided on the operation portion 1.

Further, the distal end portion 9 is provided with a nozzle 117 and the like for supplying air and water to the distal end opening portion of the forceps channel arranged inside the insertion portion 3 and the objective lens (not shown) of the observation optical system. Has been.

The opening on the proximal end side of the forceps channel is communicated with the forceps opening 10 provided in the operating section 1. A forceps plug 11 is attached to the forceps opening 10 as needed. A fold stop (not shown) is provided at the end of the insertion section 3 on the side of the operation section to prevent damage, and this fold stop is covered by a fold stop cover 12.

An air supply device 13 and a water supply device 14 are connected to the connector 5, and a video processor 15 for processing a video signal is connected via a connection adapter 16.

Further, the video processor 15 has a monitor 1 for displaying a subject image based on a video signal which has been subjected to signal processing.
7, a VTR deck 18 for recording and reproducing a video signal, and a video printer 19 for printing a subject image according to the video signal
And a video disk 20 which is a large-capacity storage device for recording video signals.

The operation unit 1 also includes a video processor 15
Is provided with a switch 21 for operating, and an air / water supply switching device (fluid conduit switching device) 22 and a suction operation device 23 for suctioning. The air / water supply operation from the nozzle 117 is controlled by the air / water supply switching device 22.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of the air / water switching device 22. This air / water supply switching device 22
A cylinder 128 for fluid line switching fixed to the casing 1a of the operating portion 1 and a piston unit 101 detachably mounted on the cylinder 128 are provided in the cylinder. The cylinder 12 is provided inside the operation unit 1.
An endoscope built-in object connected to the insertion portion 3 side is provided below the reference numeral 8. In FIG. 2, the left side of the piston unit 101 in the cylinder 128 is shown in a natural state, and the right side is shown in a pushed state.

Further, the cylinder 128 is provided with a substantially cylindrical cylinder body 31 having a step. The upper end of the cylinder body 31 is inserted into a through hole formed in the casing 1a of the operation unit 1 and protrudes to the outside.
The base 30 is screwed into the upper end protruding portion of the cylinder body 31 and is fixed to the casing 1a.

Further, the cylinder body 31 and the casing 1a
A washer 33 is provided at a joint portion with. And
The washer 33 disperses the force applied to the cylinder body 31 and prevents damage due to stress concentration. Further, an O-ring 32 is attached to the cylinder body 31. The O-ring 32 is press-fitted into the through hole of the casing 1a of the operation unit 1 to prevent gas and liquid from entering the operation unit 1.

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder main body 31, in order from the top, an air supply outlet pipe 39 which is a gas outlet, an air supply inlet pipe 42 which is a gas inlet, and a liquid supply outlet pipe 44 which is a liquid outlet. A liquid feed inlet pipe 46 that is a liquid inlet is joined and fixed to each other. In this case, the air supply outlet pipe 39, the air supply inlet pipe 42, and the liquid supply inlet pipe 46 are projected from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31 substantially in the direction of the switch 21. The air outlet pipe 39 is arranged at an angle of 90 ° or less and 45 ° or more with respect to the cylinder shaft 129. Furthermore, the liquid delivery outlet pipe 4
Reference numeral 4 projects from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31 in a direction substantially toward the insertion portion 3.

Further, a base end portion of an air supply elastic tube 41 is fitted on the air supply outlet pipe 39. In this case, an annular stopper 57 is projectingly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the air supply outlet pipe 39. The base end portion of the air supply elastic tube 41 is in contact with the stopper 57 and is adhered to the air supply outlet pipe 39 without any clearance. Furthermore, a coil 40 for protecting the tube 41 is loosely fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the tube 41. The base end of the coil 40 is in contact with the stopper 57 and is fastened and adhered to the air-feeding elastic tube 41. The air supply elastic tube 41 is gently bent without buckling, and its tip is guided in the direction of the insertion section 3.

Further, the tip of the air supply tube 43 is tightly attached to the air supply inlet pipe 42 so as to be exteriorly adhered thereto without any clearance. Similarly, the proximal end of the liquid feeding tube 45 is fastened to the liquid feeding outlet pipe 44, and the distal end of the liquid feeding tube 47 is fastened to the liquid feeding inlet pipe 46 so as to be externally attached and adhered without a gap. The material of the tubes is, for example,
It is composed of PTFE, FEP, TFE and the like. Here, the distal end portion of the liquid feeding tube 45 is guided in the direction of the insertion portion 3, the air feeding device 13 is connected to the proximal end portion of the air feeding tube 43, and the water feeding device is connected to the proximal end portion of the liquid feeding tube 47. 14 are connected.

Further, a bottom plate 48 is fitted into the lower opening of the cylinder body 31 and joined without any clearance. The cylinder body 31 has a corner radius of 0.5 mm.
It is set above.

The piston unit 101 has a substantially cylindrical piston 34, a mounting member 27 for removably mounting the piston 34 to the mouthpiece 30 of the cylinder body 31, and a space between the mounting member 27 and the piston 34. An intervening coil spring (biasing member) 26 is provided.

Here, the spring receiving member 25 is screwed and fixed to the head of the piston 34. A substantially ring-shaped finger contact member 24 formed of an insulating material is previously integrated with the spring bearing member 25 by screwing and fixing, and the gap between the contact portions of the spring bearing member 25 and the finger contact member 24 is filled with a filler. Alternatively, it is filled with an adhesive to form a smooth outer surface.

The head of the piston 34 is the finger contact member 2
4, the opening 74 of the finger contact member 24 communicates with the in-cylinder passage 34a of the piston 34. In this case, in this embodiment, the communication passage formed by the opening portion 74 of the finger contact member 24 and the in-cylinder passage 34a of the piston 34 is gently tapered downward in the range of the inner diameter of 3.8 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less. Is formed in a state.

Furthermore, the outer surface is smoothly formed with a filler or an adhesive filled in a slight gap 162 between the contact portion between the head of the piston 34 and the finger contact member 24. In this case, a filler or an adhesive is applied from the opening 74 of the finger contact member 24 to the slight gap 162 between the head of the piston 34 and the finger contact member 24, and after filling the gap 162, an extra portion of the surrounding area is provided. It is smoothed by wiping off a different filler or adhesive. In addition,
The material of the finger contact member 24 is made of synthetic resin such as modified PPO, PSF, PET or the like, or FRP material containing them as the main component.

Further, the mounting member 27 is provided with a substantially cylindrical piston receiver 29 and an insulating exterior member 28 made of an elastic material which covers the piston receiver 29.
The material of the exterior member 28 is, for example, rubber, preferably silicone rubber, PVC, EBR or the like, or a mixture thereof. Further, at the lower end of the exterior member 28, a hook portion 28a that engages removably in a ring-shaped recess 30a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouthpiece 30 is provided. When the piston unit 101 is mounted on the cylinder body 31 side, the exterior member 28 of the mounting member 27 is pushed into the cylinder body 31 side with the piston 34 inserted in the cylinder body 31. Along with the pushing operation of the mounting member 27, the hook portion 28a of the exterior member 28 of the mounting member 27 is ring-shaped by overcoming the upper edge portion of the ring-shaped recess 30a of the base 30 from above the cap 30 of the cylinder body 31. By being press-fitted into the recess 30a and the hook portion 28a of the exterior member 28 being locked in the ring-shaped recess 30a of the base 30, the piston unit 1
01 is releasably locked to the cylinder body 31 side.

Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the piston receiver 29, a piston stopper (inward projecting portion) 127 for restricting the movement of the piston 34 in the outward direction of the cylinder body 31 is provided.

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34, an annular flange 126 is provided projecting on the upper side so as to come into contact with the piston stopper 127 in a separable manner. in this case,
The coil spring 26 of the piston unit 101 is the piston 3
It is interposed between the spring receiving member 25 on the fourth side and the piston stopper 127 of the piston receiving 29. Then, the piston 34 is biased upward by the spring force of the coil spring 26 against the piston receiver 29, and in a natural state, the flange 126 of the piston 34 abuts the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34 is locked. Has been done.

The mounting member 27 has a coil spring 26.
Is provided with a lower cover portion 27a that covers substantially the lower half of the. Further, an outer peripheral portion of the finger contact member 24 on the piston 34 side is provided with a substantially tubular (substantially umbrella-shaped) upper cover portion 24a protruding toward the attachment member 27 side. The upper cover portion 24 a is the lower cover portion 27 of the mounting member 27.
It is arranged outside a. A gap is always maintained between the upper cover portion 24a and the lower cover portion 27a even in a natural state where the piston 34 is not pushed in or in a state where the piston 34 is pushed in. The upper cover portion 24a and the lower cover portion 27a prevent the coil spring 26 from being exposed to the outside.

Thus, even if the liquid is applied to the outside of the finger contact member 24 from above or from the side, there is no possibility that the liquid will enter the inside. Further, even when a good conductor is used for the built-in component of the operation unit 1, the coil spring 26 is not directly touched by a finger, which is safe.

A slider ring 35 is arranged below the flange 126 on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34.
The slider ring 35 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31. Further, a sliding contact surface 130 that slidably contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31 is also provided on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34 on the lower end side. Then, the slider ring 35
Since the eccentricity of the piston 34 is prevented at two points on the sliding contact surface 130, airtightness and watertightness between the piston 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31 are ensured.

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34, below the slider ring 35, a substantially ring-shaped first seal member 36, valve body 37, and second seal member 38 are attached to the piston 34 in this order from the top. It is installed in a watertight and airtight manner. Then, these first seal member 36 and valve body 3
7. The second seal member 38 forms a fluid flow path between the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31. Here, since the slider ring 35 is located outside the fluid flow path, even if dirt is attached, dirt does not enter the pipeline. The material of the slider ring 35 is made of synthetic resin such as PP, modified PPO, PSF, PET or the like, or FRP material containing them as a main component.

The first seal member 36 has the first seal member 36, and the valve body 37 has the second and third seal portions 5.
The ninth and 60th and second sealing members 38 are provided with fourth and fifth sealing portions 61 and 62, respectively. in this case,
The third seal portion 6 of the valve body 37 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the piston 34.
Communication port 75 communicating with the in-cylinder passage 34a of the piston 34 between 0 and the fourth seal portion 61 of the second seal member 38.
Are formed.

When the piston 34 of the piston unit 101 is held in the natural state (the state in which the piston 34 is not pushed in), the flange 126 of the piston 34 is brought into contact with the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34 is moved. It is held in the locked normal position. In this state, the flow of the liquid from the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 to the liquid feed outlet pipe 44 is blocked by the fifth seal portion 62 of the second seal member 38, and at the same time the first seal member 38 of the second seal member 38 of the piston 34 is closed. The annular fluid passage between the seal portion 61 of No. 4 and the second seal portion 59 of the valve element 37 and the air supply inlet pipe 42 are held in communication with each other. At this time, the gas delivered from the air delivery device 13 is guided from the air delivery tube 43 to the air delivery inlet pipe 42, and then from this air delivery inlet pipe 42 to the piston 3
Fourth seal portion 61 of the second seal member 38 in FIG.
And the second seal portion 59 of the valve body 37, and flows into the communication port 75 of the piston 34 through the fluid passage.
It is designed to flow out from the opening 74 of the finger contact member 24 through the in-cylinder passage 34a.

The communicating port 75 of the piston 34 and the conduit extending from the communicating port 75 are formed so that the inner diameter thereof becomes smaller toward the inner side, so that a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab or a brush can be surely contacted. , Easy to remove dirt. Further, the taper surface of the diameter changing portion of the conduit has an apex angle of 60 degrees or less, and the radius of the corner in the conduit is set to 0.5 mm or more.

When the piston 34 of the piston unit 101 is held in the normal position and the opening 74 of the finger contact member 24 is closed with a finger, the pressure of the gas sent from the air supply device 13 causes the piston 34 to move. Second of valve element 37
The seal part 59 of the cylinder body 3
The second seal portion 59 is released from the inner wall surface of 1. As a result, the gas that has flowed in from the air supply inlet pipe 42 has the first seal portion 58 of the first seal member 36 and the second seal member 3
8 and a fourth seal portion 61, and passes through a flow path in the cylinder body 31 to flow out from the air supply outlet pipe 39.

Further, the third seal portion 60 of the valve body 37 of the piston 34 is in the pushed state in which the piston 34 of the piston unit 101 is pushed in while the fingers are put on the opening portion 74 of the finger contact member 24 to cover it. It is pressed against the tapered surface 31a of the cylinder body 31 to be airtight. At this time, the flow path of the gas sent from the air supply device 13 and guided from the air supply tube 43 to the air supply inlet pipe 42 is blocked, and the fifth seal portion 62 of the second seal member 38 is cut off.
Moves into the large diameter portion 31b at the bottom of the cylinder body 31, and a gap is created between the cylinder body 31 and the inner wall surface of the cylinder body 31.
As a result, the liquid flowing from the liquid supply inlet pipe 46 is
Of the seal member 38 passes through the flow path in the cylinder body 31 formed by the fourth seal portion 61 and flows out of the liquid delivery outlet pipe 44.

The air supply outlet pipe 39, the air supply elastic tube 41, the air supply inlet pipe 42, the air supply tube 43, the liquid supply outlet pipe 44, the liquid supply tube 45, the liquid supply inlet pipe 46, and the liquid supply pipe of the present embodiment. Each of the liquid tubes 47 has an inner diameter of 1.
It is set to 5 mm, and the openings of the cylinder body 31 corresponding to each have the same inner diameter, so that there is no step on the inner surface and the pipe line is smooth.

The air supply elastic tube 41, the air supply tube 43, and the liquid supply tube 47 have a wall thickness of 0.2 mm or more,
Since it is set to 0.3 mm or less, it is easily bent and can be easily placed in the operation portion 1. In addition, the liquid feeding tube 45
Has a wall thickness of 0.4 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less,
It is especially thick and has high bending strength and torsional strength.

Further, the first seal member 3 of this embodiment
6, the second seal member 38 is mounted on the piston 34, the first seal portion 58, the fourth seal portion 61, the fifth seal portion 62, the outer diameter of each cylinder body abuts each other The inner diameter of 31 is set to be 0.2 mm larger. Further, the radius of the annular convex portion of each of the first seal portion 58, the fourth seal portion 61, and the fifth seal portion 62 is 0.2 mm or more and 0.4 or less, and the base portion of the convex portion is smooth. It is an arc. Further, the radius of the convex portion of the third seal portion 60 is 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm.
Below, the base of the protrusion is a smooth arc.

Further, the first seal member 36 of this embodiment,
The second seal member 38 is made of silicone rubber, and has a hardness (hardness calculated based on the test method of JIS K6301, 5.2) of 40 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less. Further, the valve element 37 is also made of silicone rubber and has a hardness of 30 degrees or more and 50 degrees or less. The seal members 36, 38 and the valve element 37 may be formed of other rubber such as EBR, PVC, non-combustible rubber, or a mixture thereof.

The mounting member 27 of the piston unit 101 has a piston stopper 127 of a piston receiver 29.
While the flange 126 of the piston 34 is in contact with the piston stopper 127 at the inner end of the piston, the lower cover portion 27a of the mounting member 27 and the finger contact member 2 on the piston 34 side.
Four communication passages 1 that communicate between the inside of the dead end-shaped space S formed inside the upper cover portion 24a of No. 4 and the outer space T of the contact portion between the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34.
33 is formed. In this case, four communication paths 133
As shown in FIG. 3, four substantially semicircular notches are formed in the peripheral portion of the through hole for inserting the piston 34 formed in the axial center portion of the piston stopper 127.

Here, the semi-circular notch forming the communication passage 133 may be one, two, or more in number, or may be more in number, and the piston stopper 127 may have a polygonal shape such as a triangle. A hole may be formed and the apex portion thereof may be the communication path 133, or may have any shape.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
During the cleaning operation of the endoscope, the piston unit 101 of the air / water supply switching device 22 of the operation unit 1 is removed from the cylinder 128. When the piston unit 101 is removed, the exterior member 28 of the mounting member 27 is attached to the cylinder body 3
It is pulled up in the direction away from 1. The hook portion 28a of the exterior member 28 of the mounting member 27 is attached to the ring-shaped recess 30 of the base 30 in accordance with the pulling-up operation of the mounting member 27.
Since it is pulled over to the outside by overcoming the upper edge portion of a, the hook portion 28a of the exterior member 28 and the ring-shaped recess 30a of the base 30 are disengaged. In this state, by pulling out the piston unit 101 from the cylinder 128, the piston 34 is pulled out to the outside of the cylinder body 31, and the entire piston unit 101 is detached from the operation section 1.

Further, the piston unit 101 removed from the operation section 1 is immersed in the cleaning liquid. At this time, the cleaning liquid flows from the gap between the upper cover portion 24a of the finger contact member 24 and the lower cover portion 27a of the mounting member 27 to the upper side of the lower cover portion 27a of the mounting member 27 and the finger contact member 24 on the piston 34 side. It also flows into the space S formed like a blind alley formed inside the cover portion 24a.

Further, after the entire piston unit 101 is immersed in the cleaning liquid and the cleaning work is completed, the piston unit 101 is taken out from the cleaning liquid, and then the cleaning liquid adhering to the piston unit 101 is washed away. At this time, the piston unit 101 is immersed in the fluid, and is swung to swing the upper cover portion 24a of the finger contact member 24 and the lower cover portion 2 of the mounting member 27.
7a together with a gap between the piston 7a and the piston stopper 127 of the attachment member 27, and is formed inside the lower cover portion 27a of the attachment member 27 and the upper cover portion 24a of the finger contact member 24 on the piston 34 side. The liquid can be circulated in the space S shaped like a dead end. Therefore, it is possible to easily swing the fluid while the piston unit 101 is immersed in the fluid, so that the lower cover portion 27a of the attachment member 27 and the finger contact member 2 on the piston 34 side can be easily formed.
The liquid in the dead end-shaped space S formed inside the upper cover portion 24a of No. 4 is replaced.

Further, by holding the finger unit 24 vertically with the piston unit 101 taken out from the water, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The liquid in the dead end-shaped space S inside the upper cover portion 24a of the finger rest member 24 on the piston 34 side passes through the four communication passages 133 of the piston stopper 127 of the mounting member 27 according to the gravity, and the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34 are separated from each other. It flows out to the outer space T side of the contact portion (outside of the piston unit 101).

Therefore, the following effects can be obtained with the above configuration. That is, four recessed communication passages 133 are formed at the inner end portion of the piston stopper 127 of the mounting member 27 of the piston unit 101, and the mounting member 27 is attached with the flange 126 of the piston 34 in contact with the piston stopper 127. A lower cover portion 27a and an inner space S formed inside the upper cover portion 24a of the finger contact member 24 on the piston 34 side, and an outer space T of a contact portion between the piston stopper 127 and the piston 34. Since the spaces between the piston unit 127 and the piston unit 127 are made to communicate with each other via the communication passage 133 of the piston stopper 127, when the piston unit 101 detached from the operation unit 1 is washed,
When 01 is taken out from the water, the finger contact member 24 is held vertically with the finger contact member 24 facing upward so that the finger cover member 2 on the lower cover portion 27a of the mounting member 27 and the piston 34 side
The liquid in the dead end-shaped space S inside the upper cover portion 24a of No. 4 can be easily discharged to the outside of the piston unit 101 through the four communication passages 133 of the piston stopper 127.

Therefore, when the cleaning liquid adhering to the piston unit 101 is washed away as in the conventional case, the piston 34 is pushed against the biasing direction of the coil spring 26, and the piston 34 and the piston stopper 127 of the mounting member 27 are brought into contact with each other. In the released state, it is not necessary to perform a troublesome operation such as rocking in clean water while keeping the holding state. Therefore, the work efficiency of the cleaning work of the piston unit 101 can be improved, and The burden on the operator can be reduced.

Furthermore, the fluid, powder, or granules that have entered the space S in the form of a blind alley inside the lower cover portion 27a of the mounting member 27 of the piston unit 101 and the upper cover portion 24a of the finger contact member 24. Can be easily flowed out or replaced, so that when dirt enters the inside of the space S in the form of a blind alley, the dirt can be easily discharged.

Also, during cleaning, the cleaning liquid inside the dead end space S is easily replaced, so that the fresh and highly active cleaning liquid can easily come into contact with the inner surface of the dead end space S, resulting in an improved cleaning effect. Increase. This is also the case when disinfecting, and the disinfecting effect of the disinfectant is enhanced.

The same applies when rinsing with clean water after operations such as cleaning and disinfecting.
Substitution is performed quickly, and harmful substances that adversely affect the human body and constituent members can be washed away in a short time.

Further, even when draining water, it is possible to easily drain the inside of the space S in the form of a blind alley, which has been difficult to drain conventionally, and the water remaining inside the space S in the form of a dead bag after draining is also fresh. It also has the effect of drying faster because it is exposed to fresh air.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic structure of the inner end portion of the cylinder body 31. In FIG. 5, the thick arrow indicates the return movement direction of the piston 34, and the thin arrow indicates the deflection direction of the tip portion of the second seal member 38 during the return movement of the piston 34.

Further, the bottom plate 48 of the cylinder body 31 has a dish-shaped upper surface. Here, the cylinder body 31
An overhang 134 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the above in the vicinity of the connecting portion with the liquid supply inlet pipe 46. The overhang 134 has two-stage (first and second) tapered surfaces 1
35 and 136 are formed. Here, the first taper surface 135 has a taper surface apex angle of 20 ° or more and 40 ° or less, and the second taper surface 136 has a taper surface apex angle of 8 ° or more.
It is set to 0 ° or more and 180 ° or less.

The lower end of the first tapered surface 135 and the second
The diameter d ₂ of the corner between the taper surface 136 and the upper end of the tapered surface 136 is set to be at least larger than the outer diameter d _{1 of} the fifth seal portion 62. Therefore, the fifth seal portion 62
Does not contact the corner between the first taper surface 135 and the second taper surface 136, so the return movement of the piston 34 cannot be prevented.

The tip large diameter portion 137 of the piston 34 has a function of supporting the second seal member 38. Here, since the tip large diameter portion 137 is arranged at a cross-section position different from the cross-section position of the fifth seal portion 62 of the second seal member 38 with respect to the cylinder shaft 129, the fifth seal portion is formed. There is an effect that 62 easily bends. Further, in the present embodiment, since the second seal member 38 is provided with the tip concave portion 63, the fifth seal portion 62 has a function of swinging and bending in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, the force required to deform the fifth seal portion 62 becomes small, and the piston 34
Also, the component force in the direction of the cylinder shaft 129 required for the return operation of is reduced, and the responsiveness is improved. In addition, the effect of reducing the fatigue of the operator by eliminating the lubricant used for the seal portion and reducing the equipment capacity of the coil spring 26 is produced.

A ring-shaped recessed groove portion 31c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the cylinder body 31, as shown in FIG. The outer coil 40 of the air supply elastic tube 41 is attached to the overhanging portion 49 below the recessed groove portion 31c with an adhesive, solder,
It is bonded by the first bonding material 50 such as cream solder. As a result, the air supply elastic tube 41 and the coil 40 are fixed to the cylinder body 31 and can be handled as one body. Furthermore, the protruding direction of the air-feeding elastic tube 41 can be arbitrarily determined. As a result, the movement of the air supply elastic tube 41 can be reduced during the work of attaching the cylinder body 31 to the operation portion 1, and the work is not hindered.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the coil 40 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the air-feeding elastic tube 41 by 0.1 mm or more. Therefore, the coil 40 can slide with respect to the air-feeding elastic tube 41, which does not hinder the bending operation.

The first bonding material 50 may be an adhesive, solder, or solder. Further, as in the modified example shown in FIG. 17, the coil 40 of the air supply elastic tube 41 is inserted into the holder hole 161 provided in the overhanging portion 49 of the cylinder body 31.
May be pressed and locked. In this case, the coil 40 may be loosely fitted in the holder hole 161 and bonded by a bonding material.

FIG. 7 shows a joint portion of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 joined to the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31. The pipes other than the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 joined to the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 31, that is, the joints of the air feed outlet pipe 39, the air feed inlet pipe 42, and the liquid feed outlet pipe 44 have the same configuration. Therefore, the joint portion of the liquid supply inlet pipe 46 is shown here as a representative. The other joints have the same structure.

Here, a counterbore hole 31d for joining the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the cylinder body 31. The second bonding material 51 is provided in the axial direction of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 at the contact surface between the end surface 142 of the thick wall portion 138 of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 inserted into the counter bore 31d and the counterbore hole 31d. Instead of being filled and joined. Further, after the tip thick portion 138 of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 is inserted into the countersunk hole 31d, the countersunk hole 31d is inserted.
The third joining material 52 is filled in the inside, and the liquid supply inlet pipe 4
The outer end surface of the thick wall portion 138 of the tip 6 of the third bonding material 5
It is buried in 2. Therefore, since there is no gap at the joint between the counterbore hole 31d and the thick wall portion 138 of the liquid inlet pipe 46, dirt is less likely to collect. The third bonding material 52 is used to improve the tilting strength of the liquid supply inlet pipe 46.

Further, the liquid feed inlet pipe 4 is inserted into the counterbore hole 31d.
The core metal 55 shown in FIG. 7 is used at the time of the joining operation of inserting and joining the tip thick portion 138 of No. 6 in FIG. A coating 56 made of a resin having high heat resistance such as PTFE, FEP, TFE is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cored bar 55. The outer diameter of the coating 56 is substantially the same as the inner diameters of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46 and the opening hole 140 of the cylinder body 31, and is slightly larger.

At the time of the joining operation, the core metal 55 is first press-fitted from the counterbore hole 31d of the cylinder body 31 to the position where it projects into the cylinder body 31 through the opening hole 140. Then, the second bonding material 51 is attached to the end surface 142 of the thick wall portion 138 of the liquid feed inlet pipe 46, and is press-fitted into the countersunk hole 31d of the cylinder body 31. Here, when solder is used as the second bonding material 51, the liquid supply inlet pipe 46 is axially pressed toward the cylinder body 31 and heated until the melting point of the solder is reached, and bubbles inside the solder are discharged. And then cooled, and finally the core metal 55 and the coating 56.
Is removed to obtain a defect-free inner surface smooth joint.

A relatively large chamfered portion 4 (about 0.5 mm) is provided at the corner of the outer surface of the bottom plate 48 of the cylinder body 31.
8a is formed. Therefore, the contact area of the fourth bonding material 53 attached to the bonding portion between the outer surface corner of the bottom plate 48 of the cylinder body 31 and the cylinder body 31 is wide. The second bonding material 51 and the third bonding material 5
The second and fourth bonding materials 53 are made of solder, cream solder, adhesive, or the like.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing a mounting portion for mounting the cylinder body 31 of the cylinder 128 to the casing 1a of the operating portion 1. Here, the peripheral wall surface of the through hole 1a ₁ of the cylinder body 31 formed in the casing 1a has O
A ring mounting groove 1a ₂ and a base mounting groove 1a ₃ are formed respectively. Further, a male screw portion 124a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer end portion of the cylinder body 31. Then, the outer end portion of the cylinder body 31 is inserted into the through hole 1a ₁ and the O-ring 32 is fitted between the cylinder body 31 and the O-ring mounting groove 1a ₂ so that the cylinder body 3
The male screw portion 124a of No. 1 is screwed into the screw hole portion 124b of the base 30, and the cylinder body 31 is fixed to the operation portion 1. At this time, the base 30 is inserted into the base mounting groove 1a ₃ of the casing 1a.

Further, the screw escape cover portion 123 of the cylinder body 31 is fitted into the screw escape portion 122 of the mouthpiece 30 so that the screw escape portion 122 is not exposed to the outside. A filler 125 is filled between the screw escape portion 122 of the base 30 and the screw escape cover portion 123 of the cylinder body 31. The filler 125 is used around the O-ring 32, inside the screw escape portion 122, and the base 3.
The gap between 0 and the mouthpiece mounting groove 1a ₃ of the operation portion 1 is filled, and the protruding portion is wiped off.

Further, the washer 33 provided at the joint between the inner surface of the casing 1a and the cylinder body 31 is formed by press punching. The outer peripheral portion of the washer 33 has a burr-shaped press sag on one side. 64 is projected. When the washer 33 is attached, the casing 1 of the operation unit 1
The press sag 64 is attached to the side opposite to the inner surface side of "a". As a result, the casing 1a of the operating portion 1 which is relatively soft is pressed by the press sag 44 of the washer 33 which is relatively hard.
To prevent scratches.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the grip 2. Here, the grip 2 is the tip portion 9 of the endoscope.
On the left side, with the air / water supply switching device 22 facing upward, as viewed from the opposite side of the angle knob 7.

A liquid feeding tube 4 is provided inside the grip 2.
5, the first connector 76a for connecting the distal end portion of the liquid crystal 5 to the proximal end portion of the distal side liquid feeding tube 78, and the air feeding elastic tube 4
A second connector 76b for connecting the distal end portion of No. 1 to the distal end side air supply tube 79 is provided.

Here, the first connector 76a and the second connector 76a
A through hole having a smooth surface is formed in the axial center portion of the main body 76 of the connector 76b. Furthermore, a substantially cylindrical large-diameter portion 143 having two or more flat surfaces 80 is formed at one end of the connector main body 76, and a tapered portion 144 is formed at the other end of the connector main body 76, which taper toward the tip side. There is. A male screw portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base of the taper portion 144. Further, the large diameter portion 143 of the connector body 76 is provided with a thin pipe-shaped protruding portion 145.

The outer peripheral surface of the nut 77 screwed to the male screw portion of the connector body 76 is flat knurled. Further, a taper tube 121 is arranged inside the nut 77.

When connecting the liquid sending tube 45 and the tip side liquid sending tube 78, the liquid sending tube 45 is first
The connector 76a is connected to the projecting portion 145 of the connector body 76 in a fitted state. Further, the tip side liquid feeding tube 78 is fitted so as to come into close contact with the tapered portion 144 of the connector body 76, and in this state, the nut 77 is screwed to the male screw portion of the connector body 76.
At this time, the taper portion 144 of the connector main body 76 and the taper pipe 1 of the nut 77 are driven by the screwing operation of the nut 77.
The liquid delivery tube 78 on the tip side is clamped and fixed between the tube 21 and the tube 21.

Also, when the air-feeding elastic tube 41 and the tip-side air-feeding tube 79 are connected, the air-feeding elastic tube 41 is similarly fitted to the protruding portion 145 of the connector body 76 of the second connector 76b. It is designed to be connected with. Further, the tip side air supply tube 79 is fitted so as to come into close contact with the tapered portion 144 of the connector body 76, and in this state, the nut portion 77 and the tapered portion 144 of the connector body 76 are screwed into the connector body 76. The tip side air supply tube 79 is clamped and fixed between the taper tube 121 of 77.

In this embodiment, two connectors 7 are used.
6a and 76b are arranged so that the connector body 76 and the nut 77 do not overlap in the axial direction. In this case, either one may be arranged on the side of the tip portion 9. Further, loop-shaped portions 78a and 79a, which are bent and formed in a loop shape, are arranged in the vicinity of the connecting portions of the tip-side liquid supply tube 78 and the tip-side air supply tube 79 with the respective connectors 76a and 76b. . These loop-shaped parts 78
The a and 79a may be arbitrarily formed according to the arrangement of other internal components in the grip 2.

The second portion of the air-feeding elastic tube 41
In the connecting portion with the connector 76b, the thread 146 is squeezed and adhered to the protruding portion 145 of the connector main body 76 while the distal end portion of the air-feeding elastic tube 41 is fitted. In this case, the tip end portion of the coil 40 on the air supply elastic tube 41 is slidably fitted on the air supply elastic tube 41. Therefore, the movement of the tube 41 is not restrained by the coil 40, and there is an effect that it can be freely changed to a desired direction. When the coils 40 are fastened to both ends of the air-feeding elastic tube 41, the coil 40 is used to fasten the air-feeding elastic tube 4
Since the movement of No. 1 is restricted, it is possible to prevent it from being excessively bent and buckled.

Further, FIG. 10A shows the insertion part 3 of this embodiment.
2 shows the internal configuration of the tip portion 9 and the bending portion 8. Here, the tube connecting member 11 is provided at the tip of the flexible tube portion 3a.
2 are provided. The tube connecting member 112 is provided with a water supply pipe 113, an air supply pipe 114, and a collecting pipe 115.

Here, the water supply pipe 113 is formed by a bent pipe having a cylindrical portion 113a at one end and a semi-cylindrical portion 113b at the other end. Further, the air supply pipe 114 has a cylindrical portion 114a formed at one end and a semi-cylindrical portion 114b formed at the other end. The semi-cylindrical portion 114b of the air supply pipe 114 is the water supply pipe 113.
The outer diameter is the same as that of the semi-cylindrical portion 113b. The inner diameter of the collecting pipe 115 is equal to the semi-cylindrical portion 113b of the water supply pipe 113 and the semi-cylindrical portion 114 of the air supply pipe 114.
It is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of b. And FIG.
As shown in (B), the water pipe 1
The semi-cylindrical portion 113b of 13 and the semi-cylindrical portion 114b of the air supply pipe 114 are fitted together, and a fifth bonding material 151 made of an adhesive or solder is densely filled in the gap. As a result, the tube connecting member 112 is formed with three connecting end portions having a smooth inner surface and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface shape, so that the tubes are securely connected.

Further, in the cylindrical portion 113a of the water supply pipe 113 in the tube connecting member 112, the distal end portion of the tip side liquid supply tube 78 and the cylindrical portion 114a of the air supply pipe 114.
The tip end of the tip side air supply tube 79 is connected to each of these.

The base end of the air / water supply tube 116 is connected to the collecting pipe 115 of the tube connecting member 112. The tip of the air / water feeding tube 116 is connected to the base end of the nozzle 117. In this case, the base end portion of the nozzle 117 extends through the tip end portion 9 to the inside of the curved portion 8, and the tip end portion of the air / water feeding tube 116 is connected to this extension end portion.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the nozzle 1
When the solid material 118 is clogged in 17, the air and water cannot be supplied, so the solid material 118 is crushed by the wire 119. The wire 119 is formed of a coil or a wire material of a stranded wire, and a hemispherical tip 120 is attached to the tip of the wire 119 to protect the inner surface of the tube.

Further, the wire 119 is introduced into the air supply outlet pipe 39 opening obliquely above the cylinder body 31 of FIG. 2 from obliquely above, and the air supply elastic tube 41, the tip side air supply tube 79, and the tube connecting member 112. The solid material 118 in the nozzle 117 is crushed by passing through the air supply pipe 114, and is projected to the outside from the opening of the tip of the nozzle 117.

The solid material 118 can be crushed at the clogged position even in the air supply pipe 114 of the tube connecting member 112. After the crushing, by inserting a brush (not shown) similar to the wire 119, the remaining crushed pieces can be scraped off from the air supply pipe line. Therefore, it is possible to always secure an effective pipeline cross-sectional area in the air supply pipeline that is more likely to be clogged than the water supply pipeline in which running water is constantly flowing, and the gas flow rate is maintained as in the initial state.

FIG. 11 shows the folding cover 1 of this embodiment.
It is a cross section on the tip side of the two parts. The folding stop cover 12 is a film-shaped member that is fitted onto the insertion portion 3 and loosely fits into the folding stop 65 that prevents the insertion portion 3 from buckling. A ring-shaped first shape memory member 66 is built in the small diameter portion on the front end side of the folding cover 12.

The material of the first shape memory member 66 may be any of shape memory alloy, shape memory resin, shape memory rubber and the like. Further, the material of the folding cover 12 and the folding stop 65 may be natural rubber, SBR, NBR, EPB, a mixture thereof, or a urethane elastomer.

Further, the first shape memory member 66 keeps a diameter that allows the front end of the folding cover 12 to be water-tightly and air-tightly attached to the insertion portion 3 in the endoscope use environmental temperature range, and is within the endoscope storage temperature range. The diameter is enlarged by heating or cooling, and the shape is memorized so that the front end of the folding cover 12 is loosely fitted in the insertion portion 3. As a result, when the endoscope is used, dirt is prevented from entering the inside of the folding cover 12, and the large diameter portion of the insertion portion 3 of the folding cover 12 is prevented from passing without damaging the endoscope. It is easy and easy to attach and detach.

Further, FIG. 12 shows the rear end portion of the folding cover 12. Here, the attachment member 68 of the folding stop 65 is joined to the inner peripheral surface side of the folding stop 65 and is integrated with the folding stop 65. A screw hole portion 69a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 68. Then, the male screw portion 69b of the grip portion 2 is screwed into the screw hole portion 69a, and the break stop 65 is screwed and fixed to the grip portion 2.

Further, a ring-shaped second shape memory member 67 is built in the large diameter portion on the rear end side of the folding cover 12. The second shape memory member 67 maintains a diameter that allows the rear end of the folding cover 12 to be water-tightly and air-tightly adhered to the large diameter portion of the folding 65 in the environment temperature range where the endoscope is used. The diameter is enlarged by heating or cooling the inside, and the shape is memorized so that the rear end of the folding stopper 12 is loosely fitted into the large diameter portion of the folding stopper 65. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a complicated fixing means such as a screw portion for the fixing portions at both end portions of the folding stop cover 12, so that the diameter of the folding prevention portion can be made smaller.

Further, FIG. 13 shows a mounting state of the folding stopper 65. The break-stop cover 12 is not shown here. The small diameter portion of the folding stopper 65 has a ring-shaped third shape memory member 70, and the large diameter portion has a ring-shaped fourth shape memory member 71. In this case, the third
The shape memory member 70 is watertight and airtight by keeping the tip of the folding stopper 65 in close contact with the insertion portion 3, and the fourth shape memory member 71 is fastened to the fixing attachment portion 72 of the grip portion 2.
In this case as well, the same action and effect as in the case of FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a modification of the means for fixing the small diameter portion at the tip of the folding stop 65 to the insertion portion 3 in a watertight and airtight manner. That is, here, the tip of the break stop 65 loosely fitted to the insertion portion 3 is externally fitted by the ring-shaped fifth shape memory member 73 which is a separate body, and brought into close contact with the insertion portion 3 to be watertight and airtightly fixed. ing. In this case as well, the same action and effect as in the case of FIG. 11 described above are obtained.

It is also possible to form the folding stopper 65 and the folding cover 12 entirely with a shape memory member.
The same actions and effects as those of the above respective configurations are produced. Further, the first shape memory member 66, the second shape memory member 67, the third shape memory member 70, and the fifth shape memory member 73 are heat-shrinkable made of a resin material such as polyolefin, PVC, FEP, or TFE. When replaced with a member, the same action and effect as those of the shape memory member can be obtained only when it is attached once. Heat shrink members are relatively inexpensive and can be discarded without reuse.
Further, the folding stop 65 and the folding stop cover 12 may be formed of a heat shrink member.

FIG. 15A shows a use state in which a suction tube 154 of a suction device (not shown) is detachably fitted in a watertight and airtight manner to the suction mouthpiece 152 of the connector 5 of this embodiment. Here, a small diameter portion 156, a medium diameter portion 157, and a large diameter portion 158 are sequentially formed on the suction mouthpiece 152 from the tip side.

Further, at the connecting end of the suction tube 154 with the suction mouthpiece 152, the large diameter portion 1 of the suction mouthpiece 152 is provided.
A large-diameter first hole portion 159 on the tip end side that is externally fitted to 58.
And a small diameter second hole portion 160 which is fitted onto the small diameter portion 156.
And are formed.

FIG. 15B shows a state in which the suction tube 154 is removed from the suction mouthpiece 152 of the connector 5 and the cleaning tube 153 is connected to the suction mouthpiece 152 instead. The connection end portion of the cleaning tube 153 is detachably fitted to the medium diameter portion 157 of the suction mouthpiece 152 in an airtight and watertight manner. This washing tube 1
A suction pump (not shown) is connected to the base end of 53.

When the washing tube 153 is used, the washing liquid in the suction mouthpiece 152 is sucked by the suction pump and flows rightward in FIG. 15B. for that reason,
The filth that has flowed out from the suction pipe line at the time of cleaning is sucked into the suction mouthpiece 152.
Is accumulated in the gap between the small diameter portion 156 and the cleaning tube 153, and an adherend 155 is formed at the step portion between the small diameter portion 156 and the middle diameter portion 157 in the suction mouthpiece 152.

Further, the suction tube 152 through the cleaning tube 1
When 53 is removed and the suction tube 154 is connected, the large-diameter first hole portion 159 on the tip end side of the suction tube 154 is externally fitted to the large-diameter portion 158 of the suction mouthpiece 152,
The small-diameter second hole portion 160 is fitted onto the small-diameter portion 156.
At this time, the adherend 155 is sealed in the internal space of the connecting portion between the suction tube 154 and the suction mouthpiece 152 and does not flow out to the outside.

Therefore, the adherend 155 is not exposed to the outer surface of the endoscope even if the suction line is repeatedly washed and sucked, and the labor for cleaning the outer surface of the endoscope can be saved. In addition, the adherend 155 accumulated in the internal space of the connecting portion between the suction tube 154 and the suction cap 152 is washed away when the entire endoscope is washed.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 16, the tubular small-diameter ring portion 1 is fitted onto the small-diameter portion 156 of the suction mouthpiece 152 at the tip of the second hole portion 160 of the suction tube 154.
60a may be formed.

FIG. 18 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Instead of forming the communication passage 133 at the inner end portion of the piston stopper 127 in the mounting member 27 of the piston unit 101 as in the first embodiment,
The communication passage 133 is formed in the flange 126 of the piston 34.

In this case, the shape of the through hole of the piston stopper 127 is circular. Furthermore, piston 3
The flange 126 of No. 4 is formed in a circular shape, and the communication passage 133 may be formed by providing a cutout of a semicircular shape or any other shape on the outer peripheral portion of the circular flange 126. Further, the communication path 133 may be formed by forming the flange 126 into a polygonal shape.

Therefore, in the above structure, the through hole 147 of the piston stopper 127 can be formed in a circular shape, so that the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 147 and the piston 3 can be formed.
The clearance between the outer peripheral surface of No. 4 and the outer peripheral surface of No. 4 can be made constant. Therefore, there is an effect that rattling is less likely to occur when the piston 34 slides.

Further, both the piston stopper 127 and the flange 126 may be formed in a different shape other than the circular shape, and the communication passage 133 may be formed by the gap formed between the piston stopper 127 and the flange 126.

19 to 21 show the third embodiment of the present invention. This is a partial modification of the configuration of the cylinder 128 and the piston unit 101 of the air / water switching device 22 of the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

That is, in this embodiment, the air supply outlet pipe 3 of the first embodiment is attached to the cylinder body 102 of the cylinder 128.
The connection pipe portions (pipe branching members) 103, 104, 105 and 106 respectively corresponding to 9, the air supply inlet pipe 42, the liquid supply outlet pipe 44 and the liquid supply inlet pipe 46 are integrally formed. Each of the connecting pipe portions 103, 104, 105,
Air-feeding elastic tubes 41, air-feeding tubes 43, liquid-feeding tubes 45, and liquid-feeding tubes 47 are connected to 106, respectively.

Further, the piston 111 of the piston unit 101 has a seal portion 109 corresponding to the first seal member 36 of the first embodiment and a valve portion 110 corresponding to the valve body 37 of the first embodiment. A third seal member 107 integrally formed and a fourth seal member 108 corresponding to the second seal member 38 of the first embodiment are provided. This piston 111 has the same function as in the first embodiment.
Have an effect.

Since the cylinder body 31 of the cylinder 128 of the first embodiment and the cylinder body 102 of the cylinder 132 of the third embodiment are formed in exactly the same shape, as shown in FIG. The cylinder body 31 of the first embodiment can be used in combination with the piston 111 of the third embodiment, and conversely, the cylinder body 10 of the third embodiment can be used.
2 may be used in combination with the piston 34 of the third embodiment.

Therefore, a plurality of types of pistons can be appropriately and selectively attached to one endoscope as required, and one piston can be appropriately and selectively attached to a plurality of types of endoscopes. it can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21, four round holes are formed in the piston stopper 127 of the piston receiver 29 of this embodiment, and the communication passage 133 is formed by these round holes.

The shape of the hole forming the communication passage 133
Any number may be provided and may be provided on the flange 126 of the piston 111. Further, 147 is a through hole of the piston receiver 29, and the piston 111 is inserted in the through hole 147.
Has been penetrated.

Therefore, in the structure described above, the contact area between the piston stopper 127 and the flange 126 can be increased, and the piston 111 can be easily stabilized vertically in the natural state. Also, the piston 11
1 and the clearance between the through hole 147 and the piston 11
Since it is equal over the entire circumference of 1, the unnecessary eccentricity of the shaft of the piston 111 can be prevented. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 22 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This is the flange 12 of the piston 111
6 is provided with a plurality of independent holes as in the third embodiment to form the communication path 133.

Further, the flange 126 of the piston 111
The communication passage 133 may be formed by providing holes in both the piston receiver 127 and the piston stopper 127 of the piston receiver 29. When holes are provided on both sides in this way, the passage cross-sectional area of the communication passage 133 becomes large and the fluid easily passes through. Therefore, draining and fluid replacement become faster.

23 and 24 show the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. This is the piston receiver 29
24, a plurality of corrugated concave portions 148 and convex portions 149 are formed on the contact surface of the piston stopper 127 of the piston 111 with the flange 126, and each concave portion 148 is formed.
The communication path 133 is formed by. The shape of the unevenness may be rectangular or may be wedge-shaped.
The function and effect of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The piston unit 1 of the fifth embodiment
It goes without saying that 50 can be used in combination with the cylinder body 102 of the third embodiment. Further, as in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.
No. 5 on the flange 126 side of the abutting part between 7 and the flange 126.
The communicating passage 133 may be formed by providing the unevenness as in the above embodiment.

Further, both the flange 126 and the piston stopper 127 may be provided with concavities and convexities so as not to engage with each other, and the communication passage 133 may be provided. If unevenness is provided on both the flange 126 and the piston stopper 127 in this way, the passage cross-sectional area of the communication passage 133 becomes large, the fluid easily passes, and draining and fluid replacement are accelerated.

26 to 32 show the seventh embodiment of the present invention. This is one in which the present invention is applied to a suction line switching device for an endoscope. FIG. 26 shows a schematic configuration of the entire endoscope, in which 201 is an insertion portion, 20
2 is an operation unit connected to the base end of the insertion unit 201, 203
Is a universal cord whose proximal end is connected to the operating portion 202, and 204 is a connector which is connected to the distal end of the universal cord 203.

Further, the operation section 202 is provided with a suction line switching device 206. This suction line switching device 2
Reference numeral 06 denotes a base end portion of the upstream side pipeline 207 and the downstream side pipeline 2
The tips of 08 are connected to each other. In this case, the upstream pipe line 207 extends from the inside of the operation portion 202 to the distal end portion side of the insertion portion 201 through the inside of the insertion portion 201, and is connected to the opening portion provided at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 201. ing.
Further, the downstream side pipeline 208 is the suction pipeline switching device 206.
Through the universal cord 203 from the connector 20
4 is connected to the suction tube connection port 210.

Further, one end of the suction tube 209 is connected to the suction tube connection port 210 of the connector 204. The other end of the suction tube 209 has a suction pump 211.
It is connected to the.

FIG. 27 shows a detailed structure of the suction conduit switching device 206. This suction line switching device 2
06 is composed of a suction cylinder 212, a suction piston 213, a suction button 214, and a mounting portion 215.

The upstream side pipe 207 is connected to the side surface of the suction cylinder 212, and the end of the downstream side pipe 208 is connected to the lower part. Further, a fixing screw portion 218 is provided on the outer upper end portion of the suction cylinder 212. A screw hole 225 of a mouthpiece 224 is screwed into the fixing screw portion 218, and the suction cylinder 212 is watertightly fixed to the operating portion 202 via the O-ring 230 by the mouthpiece 224.

Further, an inclined surface 220 is provided on the inner surface of the suction cylinder 212, and below the inclined surface 220, the piston sliding surface 2 on which the suction piston 213 slides.
19 are provided.

Further, at the bottom of the suction cylinder 212, there is provided an inclined conduit 221 which is a conical conduit connecting the piston sliding surface 219 and the downstream conduit 208. The inclined conduit portion 221 and the piston sliding surface 219 have a circular cross-sectional shape in this embodiment, and this shape is a square, a rhombus, a triangle, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon or other polygonal cross-sections. It may have a shape.

The upper part of the suction cylinder 212 is shown in FIG.
Contact surface 2 for contacting with positioning member 229 shown in FIG.
37 is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 29B and 29C, two fixing projection mounting holes 238 having a spherical cross section are provided. The sectional shape of the fixing projection mounting hole 238 is not limited to a spherical shape, and may be a columnar shape or a rectangular shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the two fixing projection mounting holes 238 are provided at the positions forming an angle of 180 degrees, but other angles may be used. Further, the fixing projection mounting holes 238 are not limited to two places, and may be one place or three or more places.

Further, in this embodiment, the suction piston 213 is made of metal or hard plastic and has a cylindrical shape. Further, in this embodiment, the suction piston 213 has a circular cross-sectional shape, but may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape as long as it has the same cross-sectional shape as the piston sliding surface 219.

Further, inside the suction piston 213, a vertical pipe line portion 216, which is a pipe line provided in the vertical direction, and a suction opening 217 provided at the upper end of the vertical pipe line portion 216, are provided. There is. Although the vertical conduit 216 and the suction opening 217 have a circular cross section in this embodiment, they may have a polygonal cross section other than a circle, or a non-circular cross section such as an ellipse.

Further, in this embodiment, the suction opening 2
17 are provided at two locations on the outer surface of the suction piston 213, and the two suction openings 217 are provided 180 degrees apart. The number of suction openings 217 may be one other than two or three or more.

Further, a groove 222 is provided on the upper side surface of the suction piston 213 in the vertical direction of FIG. An abutting surface 241 is provided at the lower end of the groove 222. As shown in FIG. 28 (A), the groove portions 222 are provided at a total of two positions on the outer surface of the cylinder of the suction piston 213 facing each other, but the number may be one or three or more. .

Further, the cross-sectional shape of the groove 222 may be V-shaped or other polygonal cross-sectional shape instead of the rectangular cross-section shown in this embodiment. Furthermore, the suction piston 21
A screw portion 223 for attaching the suction button 214 to the shaft center portion is provided on the upper end portion of 3.

Further, the suction cylinder 212 is connected to the operation unit 20.
A screw hole 225 is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the mouthpiece 224 used for fixing to the No. 2, and a piston mounting flange 226 is provided on the upper end portion.

Then, the suction cylinder 212 is fixed to the operation portion 202 by screwing the fixing screw portion 218 of the suction cylinder 212 and the screw portion 225 of the base 224. In addition, the suction cylinder 212 and the operation unit 202
The watertightness between and is maintained by the O-ring 230.

The mounting portion 215 is the mounting base portion 2.
27, insert part 228 and positioning member 229
Composed of. Here, the mounting base 227 is formed of a soft resin, for example, a resin such as elastomer, silicone rubber, or natural rubber.

Further, although the mounting base 227 has a shape in which a truncated cone having a large inclination and a truncated cone having a small inclination are combined in this embodiment, it may have a truncated cone shape or a conical shape, for example. Further, a mounting groove 231 having a semicircular cross-sectional shape is provided under the mounting base 227 over the entire circumference.

Also, inside the mounting base 227, an insert part 228 made of a hard plastic material such as modified PPO, polysulfone, hard polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, fluororesin, or a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel or brass is integrally formed. Installed in place. A threaded portion 239 is provided at the bottom of the insert part 228, and an abutment portion 240 is provided at the end of the threaded portion 239.

The positioning member 229 is a modified PPO,
It is formed of a hard plastic material such as polysulfone, hard polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, or fluororesin, or a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or brass. This positioning member 229 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), a ring-shaped annular base portion 232, two pillar portions 233 protruding upward from the annular base portion 232, an abutting portion 234 extending horizontally from the pillar portion 233, and a lower surface of the annular base portion 232. The fixing protrusion 235 is provided and has a spherical outer shape.

The shape of the fixing projection 235 is not limited to a spherical shape, and may be a cylindrical shape or a square shape, as long as it is a shape fit into the fixing attachment hole 238. In the present embodiment, the support 233 and the fixing projection 235 are provided at a position forming an angle of 90 degrees, but the support 233 and the fixing projection 23 are provided.
5 may be provided in a non-angled state, that is, in the same place.

The two pillars 233 are the ring-shaped base 23.
It is provided on the upper part 2 at intervals of 180 degrees. Further, a threaded portion 236 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the ring-shaped base 232. In the present embodiment, the number of the support columns 233 is two, but this number is not limited to two as long as it is the same number as the groove 222 of the suction piston 213, and may be one or three or more. Further, both the column portion 233 and the contact portion 234 have a prismatic shape in this embodiment,
It may have a cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the suction piston 213 and the contact portion of the positioning member 229. As shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 28 (A), the contact portion 234 has the groove portion 222.
And a space 242 is formed between them.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 28 (A), communication passages 243 are provided at both ends of the space 242 to connect the space 242 to the outside of the suction piston 213. As shown in FIGS. 30 and 32, the communication passage 243 and the space 242 are both provided above the abutting surface 241.

Further, as shown in FIG. 30, the positioning member 2
29 and the insert member 228, the screw portion 236 and the screw portion 2
39 is screwed and fixed, and the abutting portion 24
The ring-shaped base portion 232 is brought into contact with 0 to position them. Further, between the positioning member 229 and the suction button 214, a suction spring 255 which is a biasing means of the suction piston 213 is provided.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to the endoscope suction line switching device 206, it can be applied to, for example, an air / water feeding line switching device or another fluid line switching device.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 (A), the contact portion 234
Is slidably inserted into the groove 222 of the suction piston 213. Therefore, since the suction piston 213 does not rotate with respect to the positioning member 229, the suction piston 213
And the positioning member 229 are positioned.

Further, when the suction piston 213 is attached to the suction cylinder 212, FIG. 29 (B) and FIG.
As shown in (C), the fixing projection 235 fits into the fixing projection mounting hole 238. As a result, the positioning member 229 and the suction cylinder 212 are positioned in the rotational direction.

As previously mentioned, the suction piston 213
Is a groove 222 and an abutting portion 23 with respect to the positioning member 229.
The positioning of the suction piston 2 is performed when the positioning member 229 is attached to the suction cylinder 212.
The positioning between 13 and the suction cylinder 212 is performed.

Further, the suction piston 213 is biased upward by the suction spring 255, but when the contact portion 234 contacts the abutment surface 241, the suction piston 213 is urged.
Is positioned in the upward direction.

In this embodiment, each of the fixing projection 235, the fixing mounting hole 238, and the suction opening 217 is one.
It is provided in two places 80 degrees apart and has a bilaterally symmetrical shape. Therefore, when the suction piston 213 is attached to the suction cylinder 212, the suction piston 213 can be attached to the suction cylinder 212 only by rotating the suction piston 213 up to 90 degrees.

When the suction piston 213 is fixed to the suction cylinder 212, the mounting base 227 is elastically deformed, and the mounting groove 231 and the base 224 are fitted to each other to prevent the suction piston 213 from coming off in the upward direction. Since the mounting base 227 is made of an elastic body, it can be attached to and detached from the base 224. Therefore, the suction piston 21
3 is detachably attached to the suction cylinder 212.

Further, the suction conduit switching device 206, in the state where the suction button 214 is not pushed, has the downstream conduit 20.
8, the vertical conduit 216 and the suction opening 217 communicate with each other. At this time, the suction opening 217 is open to the outside.

Then, when the suction button 214 is pushed in, the suction spring 255, which is the biasing means, is compressed and the suction opening 217 is blocked from communicating with the outside, and communicates with the upstream pipe line 207. Therefore, the upstream pipe 207,
The vertical pipe line portion 216, the downstream pipe line 208, the suction tube connection port 210, and the suction tube 209 communicate with each other to operate the suction pump to perform a suction operation.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 28 (A) and 30, the stopper 234 and the abutment surface 241 are provided only on a part of the suction piston 213, not on the entire circumference thereof. Even if the cleaning agent or the cleaning water enters the space 242 between the contact portion 234 and the abutting surface 241, the space 242 communicates with the outside through the communication passage 243 and is not in the form of a blind alley. And wash water does not collect.

Therefore, in the structure described above, in order to regulate the upward movement of the suction piston 213, the abutting surface 241 provided on the suction piston 213 is formed only on a part of the outer circumference of the suction piston 213. However, the stopper 234 that abuts against the abutting surface 241 has the abutting surface 241.
Other than the piston 213, so as not to contact
Since the dead space between the abutting surface 241 and the stopper 234 is eliminated to form the communication passage 243, the cleaning liquid or the cleaning water that has entered the space between the abutting surface 241 and the stopper 234 is promptly discharged to the outside. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to easily discharge dirt and drain water, shorten the working time, and improve the cleaning performance of the suction piston 213. Further, the labor of the worker who performs the cleaning work is reduced.

Further, since the abutting surface 241 of the suction piston 213 and the stopper 234 are provided only on a part of the outer circumference of the suction piston 213, the cleaning agent and the cleaning water that enter between the suction piston 213 and the stopper 234 at the time of cleaning. Is quickly discharged to the outside, so that the cleaning performance of the suction piston 213 can be further improved.

Further, since the suction piston 213 and the mounting portion 215 have a bilaterally symmetrical shape, when the suction piston 213 is attached to the suction cylinder 212, the suction piston 213 can be mounted on the suction cylinder 212 at a maximum of 9 times.
Installation is possible by simply rotating it by 0 degrees, which facilitates installation work.

Furthermore, since there is no pin for positioning the suction piston 213 inside the suction cylinder 212, the projection inside the suction cylinder 212 disappears, and the suction cylinder 212
The cleaning performance of Further, since the cleaning properties of the suction cylinder 212 and the suction piston 213 are improved, the cleaning property of the entire conduit switching device 206 is improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Next, other characteristic technical matters of the present invention will be additionally described as follows.

(Supplementary Note 1) In a conduit switching device for an endoscope connected to a conduit formed of a plurality of elastic members, the conduit is changed to the outer surface of a fluid conduit switching cylinder by changing its direction. A conduit switching device for an endoscope characterized by being stopped.

(Prior Art of Additional Item 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-94
Since the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 501 uses a rigid bent pipe for a bent conduit, it has wrinkles on the inner surface of the bent portion of the pipe. Therefore, the wrinkles on the inner surface tend to collect dirt, which makes cleaning difficult and takes time. In addition, the rigid bending pipe may interfere with other built-in objects during installation work on the operating part,
The flexibility of layout was limited and the operation part was large.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 1) In addition to eliminating wrinkles on the inner surface of the bent pipe, it prevents interference with other built-in objects during installation work on the operation section, increases the degree of freedom in layout, and reduces the size of the operation section. An object of the present invention is to provide a conduit switching device for an endoscope that can be realized.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 1) Since the elastic tube is gently bent, wrinkles do not occur on the inner surface and cleaning is easy. Shortening of cleaning work time. In addition, even if it is connected to other built-in objects, it bends, increasing the degree of freedom in layout and enabling downsizing of the operating unit.

(Additional Item 2) A shaft body, the outer diameter of which gradually decreases toward the end in the axial direction. The shaft body has a passage therein, and is connected to an external pipe connecting means communicating with an internal pipe of an endoscope, and the shaft. The fluid transfer means, which is a flexible conduit member having an inner peripheral portion at an end, which is detachably fitted to the shaft body in an airtight and watertight manner at two different contact positions on the shaft of the body, and the shaft body described above. A cleaning fluid feeding / sucking means formed of a soft pipe line member having an inner peripheral portion at an end portion that is detachably fitted to the shaft body in an airtight and watertight manner at a contact position between the two contact positions. An endoscope characterized in that.

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 2) Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-5
The base of 9726 has a substantially cylindrical shape and an article having an inverted barbed annular portion. In both cases, when a washing tube is attached instead of the suction, air feeding, and water feeding tubes, the contact position is almost the same. It will be in the same position. As a result, dirt remains on the connection part of the cleaning tube, which requires a wiping operation, which is troublesome.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 2) An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of eliminating the trouble of wiping work when a cleaning tube is attached instead of the suction, air supply, and water supply tubes.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 2) Since stains remaining on the mouthpiece during cleaning are not exposed to the inside of the pipe of the air / water / suction tube or the outside of the endoscope, the wiping work is unnecessary and the workability is improved.

(Additional Item 3) A conduit switching device for an endoscope, wherein a substantially cylindrical conduit branching member is integrally formed in advance with a conduit switching cylinder.

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 3)
In Japanese Patent No. 76650, a pipe is watertightly and airtightly joined to a side opening of a cylindrical member. In this case, in order to keep airtightness and watertightness, a joining operation is required, and a slight gap is generated in the joining portion, which easily stains and is difficult to wash, so that it takes time to wash.

(Object of Supplementary Note 3) An object of the present invention is to provide a conduit switching device for an endoscope which can solve the conventional drawbacks.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 3) With the above structure, the joining work is unnecessary, and there is no clearance for dirt to accumulate.
Cleaning work becomes easy.

(Supplementary Note 4) A substantially cylindrical hard exterior member having a plurality of conduits communicating with the inside and outside, and a plurality of the exterior members which are fitted in the exterior member substantially coaxially and are slidable in the axial direction. A substantially cylindrical hard insertion member capable of arbitrarily selecting a plurality of positions for communicating or blocking the conduits with each other, and a watertight and airtight ring-wrapped at the tip of the insertion member, and an inner peripheral surface of the exterior member. An airtight and watertight annular contact portion, and the inner insertion member is not located on the axial cross section of the inner insertion member of the outer peripheral contact portion. .

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 4) Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-4
The tip seal portion of Japanese Patent No. 448 was interposed between the piston and the cylinder. If the seal is kept watertight and airtight, the wall thickness is limited and the compression ratio is large, so the sliding resistance is large and the piston response is poor.

(Purpose of Additional Item 4) It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope conduit switching device capable of enhancing the response of a piston.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 4) When a certain crushing allowance is provided to secure the watertightness and airtightness of the seal portion, the compression ratio of the seal portion is small and the sliding resistance is small because the elastic body is thick. Get smaller. As a result, the amount of operation force of the piston can be reduced and the operation response can be improved. Moreover, it is not necessary to use lubricating oil in the seal portion. Wear of the seal part is reduced and life is extended.

(Additional Item 5) A first tubular member and a second tubular member, which are arranged in parallel and have one end joined to each other, are provided, and the outer circumference of the joined portion of the one end is connected to the first tubular member. An air / water supply conduit for an endoscope, characterized in that the opening formed in a semicircular shape and the opening formed in a semicircular shape of the second tubular member are filled with a bonding material without leaving a gap to form a substantially circular shape. Fittings.

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 5) Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-16
In the air / water supply conduit joint shown in Japanese Patent No. 167, the outer periphery of the end portion on the collecting side has an elliptical shape, and two circular conduits are arranged inside. Therefore, the pipe cross-sectional area occupied in the end cross-sectional area is small, and the external volume is large, which is disadvantageous. In addition, it takes a long time to clean because there is a large step. In addition, the tube to be connected must be formed into an elliptical shape, and the watertightness is ensured.

(Purpose of Supplementary Item 5) An object of the present invention is to provide an air / water supply conduit joint for an endoscope, which can reduce the outer volume and shorten the cleaning time.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 5) The ratio of the pipeline to the end cross section becomes large and the external volume becomes small. In addition, since the step is small and it is easy to wash, the washing time is shortened. Since the connecting tube can be circular, the work becomes easier.

(Additional Item 6) At a connecting portion of a substantially cylindrical conduit member which is a shaft body connected to the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder of the conduit switching means of the endoscope, the conduit member and the cylinder are brought into contact with each other. An endoscope characterized in that the outer diameter of the surface is enlarged and the corresponding contact surfaces are bonded in the axial direction with a bonding material without a gap.

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 6) Showa 59-3
The pipe was inserted into the countersunk hole at the joint of the pipe cylinder of Japanese Patent No. 1211. In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-31211, when the counterbore hole and the pipe are not in contact with each other, a gap remains, and dirt is easily collected in the gap, which makes it difficult to clean.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 6) An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope capable of facilitating this cleaning.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 6) Since there is no gap in the joint portion, dirt does not accumulate. Easy to wash.

(Additional Item 7) A stress buffering member having two planes parallel to each other, which is formed by press molding and is used for attaching a relatively hard member to a relatively soft outer member of an endoscope, is provided at the outer edge. An endoscope in which a parallel plane having sharp projections that are not parallel to the plane is attached to the opposite side of the soft member.

(Prior Art of Supplementary Note 7) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-83
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 44-44 shows an example in which a plate-like member is interposed between the cylinder and the exterior of the operating portion. When the plate-shaped member is press-molded, sharp protrusions are formed on the outer periphery of the plate-shaped member. It was troublesome because the removal work was required so that the protrusions would not damage the exterior member.

(Purpose of Supplementary Note 7) An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope which does not have a risk of damaging the exterior member and which can omit the work of removing the sharp projection on the outer periphery of the plate member.

(Effect of Supplementary Note 7) Since the removing work is unnecessary, labor and time can be saved.

(Additional Item 8) A piston, which is slidably inserted into a cylinder attached to an operating portion of an endoscope and has an abutting portion for restricting upward displacement on an outer surface, and the piston. The mounting member is provided between the piston and the mounting member, and the mounting member is provided with an abutment member that is mounted around the piston and restricts the upward movement of the piston. In a fluid channel switching device for an endoscope including a biasing member that biases, the abutment portion and the abutting portion when the piston is displaced upward by the biasing member to the maximum with respect to the mounting member. While the contact member is in contact, a communication passage is provided for communicating the inner space of the contact portion and the outer peripheral space of a portion inside the cylinder with respect to the contact portion of the piston. Fluid line switching for endoscopes Equipment.

(Additional Item 9) A cylinder, which is provided in the operation portion of the endoscope and to which a plurality of conduits are connected, and a cylinder which is inserted into the cylinder and cooperates with the cylinder to connect the plurality of conduits. A piston for switching and controlling the communication state, and an attachment that is attached to the piston and is detachably attached to the cylinder and that has an abutting portion that regulates the position of the piston in the protruding direction from the cylinder. A member, an abutting surface provided in a non-annular shape on a part of the outer periphery of the piston and abutting the abutting portion, and urging the piston upward, to the abutting portion of the mounting member, In an endoscope fluid line switching device provided with a biasing member for abutting the piston, the piston and the abutting member abut only on the abutting surface, and the piston A fluid channel switching device for an endoscope, wherein a space formed between the piston and the contact member is communicated with an external space of the piston by a communication passage.

[0197]

According to the present invention, the space between the mounting member and the piston, with the piston in contact with the protrusion,
Since the contact portion is provided with a communication passage that communicates between the protruding portion and the outer space of the contact portion of the piston, the work efficiency of the cleaning work can be increased and the burden on the worker during the cleaning work is reduced. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire system of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air / water switching device.

3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an inner end portion of a cylinder body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which an air-sending elastic tube is joined to an overhanging portion on the lower outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a joint portion of a liquid supply inlet pipe joined to an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder body.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an attachment portion for attaching the cylinder body to the casing of the operation portion.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the grip.

10A is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal configurations of the distal end portion and the bending portion of the insertion portion, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fixing portion on the front end side of the folding stop cover portion.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fixing portion on the rear end side of the folding stop cover portion.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of a folding stopper.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modified example of means for fixing the small diameter portion at the tip of the folding stopper to the insertion portion in a watertight and airtight manner.

FIG. 15 (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the suction tube of the suction device is fitted to the suction mouthpiece of the connector,
(B) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a cleaning tube is connected to the suction mouthpiece of the connector.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the suction tube.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the locking means of the coil of the air-feeding elastic tube to the overhanging portion of the cylinder body.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air / water switching device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modification of the third embodiment.

21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire endoscope showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the detailed structure of the suction conduit switching device.

28 (A) is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 27, (B).
27 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 27, and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 29 (A) is a perspective view showing a positioning member,
27B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 27, and FIG. 28C is a plan view showing a state in which the suction cylinder is viewed from above.

FIG. 30 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the contact portion between the suction piston and the positioning member.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a space formed between the contact portion and the groove portion.

FIG. 32 is a side view showing a communication passage and a space above the butting surface.

FIG. 33A is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional suction conduit switching device, and FIG. 33B is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a contact portion between a suction piston and a positioning member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation part, 24a ... Upper side cover part, 26 ... Coil spring (biasing member), 27 ... Attachment member, 27a ... Lower side cover part, 34 ... Piston, S ... Blank space, 127 ... Piston stopper (inner) Direction protrusion), 128 ... Cylinder, 1
33 ... Communication passage.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masaaki Nakazawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yukio Takahashi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hisao Yabe 2-34-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mounting member removably mounted on a fluid line switching cylinder mounted on an operating portion of an endoscope, and a projection for forming a step on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting member. Between the piston, which is provided and which regulates the outward movement of the cylinder of the fluid line switching piston that is slidably inserted in the cylinder, and the stepped portion of the mounting member and the piston. In a fluid channel switching device for an endoscope, which is provided with a biasing member that biases the piston in a direction in which the piston is brought into contact with the protrusion, in a state where the piston is brought into contact with the protrusion. A contact passage is provided in the abutting portion for communicating a space between the mounting member and the piston and an outer space of an abutting portion between the protruding portion and the piston. Fluid line switching device for endoscopes.