JPH08318996A - Detachable type switching device for pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make pipe switching easy and efficient and reduce a burden on a worker, by providing running devices equipped with movable pipes which have connection ports, free to be attached/detached to/from oil assorting, and which run aligned couplers, thereby attaching the connection orifices to the oil assorting of the couplers. CONSTITUTION: Under a three-way coupler 14 are rails 52A, 52B, and 52C laid along the line of the three-way coupler, and running devices 50A of an A system, 50B of a B system, and 50C of a C system run on the corresponding rails. The running devices 50A, 50B, and 50C are provided with anti-slip-out female couplers 30B, 30A, and 30C which are so arranged as to face male couplers 16B, 16A, and 16C, respectively. These female couplers 30B, 30A, and 30C can be connected to the male couplers 16B, 16A, and 16C, respectively, which are on the same straight line. Thus, by making the running devices 50A, 50B, and 50C run, the switch of the supply of a fluid into a blending tank is facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detachable switching device having a plurality of pipes, and in particular, mixing several kinds of raw materials from a raw material tank in which several tens of kinds of liquids are individually stored to a mixing tank. In addition, the present invention relates to a detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes, which is a facility for producing a wide variety of products, and which switches the pipes communicating from the mixing tank to each liquid raw material tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facility for producing a wide variety of products by feeding several types of raw materials from a raw material tank in which dozens of liquids are individually stored to a predetermined amount of a mixing tank and mixing them, the product switching is required. It is necessary to switch the piping connected to the raw material tank each time. This connection switching of the pipes is performed by linking with the product type switching of the mixing tank, and it is required to simultaneously supply a plurality of raw materials to the mixing tank in order to shorten the cycle time. In response to this request, conventionally, several raw material supply pipes to the mixing tank and several tens of pipes from the raw material tank are connected and switched using a coupler, and this work is performed manually by the operator. ing.

[0003]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional method is a manual operation by an operator, there is a problem that the operator's burden is heavy and there is a risk of human error. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to easily and efficiently perform the switching work, and by automating the switching work, human error of the work is eliminated and the burden on the operator is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes that can reduce the above-mentioned problems.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of desired fluids from a plurality of storage tanks respectively storing a plurality of fluids of different types to a mixing tank. In, a detachable switching device of a plurality of pipes for switching the pipe path between the storage tank and the mixing tank,
A plurality of the aligned plurality of pipes extending from the plurality of storage tanks are arranged in line with each other, and each of the plurality of the plurality of aligned pipes has a joint having an attachment port and a connection port detachable from the attachment port. A traveling device that travels between the joints and attaches the connection port to the joint opening of the joint, and a flexible pipe that connects the connection port of the traveling device and the mixing tank, Characterize.

In order to achieve the above object, in order to supply a plurality of desired fluids from a plurality of storage tanks respectively storing a plurality of different kinds of fluids to a mixing tank, the storage tank and the mixing tank A detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes for switching a pipe path to and from a tank, the plurality of pipes having different connection directions arranged in line with the pipe ends of the pipes extending from the plurality of storage tanks. A joint provided with a joint and a plurality of joints provided on the aligned plurality of joints are grouped by joints having the same connection direction, and one of the plurality of grouped groups is formed. A plurality of traveling devices having a dedicated connection port that can be attached and detached only at the joint of the group, and which travels between the plurality of joints and attaches the dedicated joint that fits the joint joint of the joints; Specialties for traveling equipment Characterized in that and a flexible pipe connecting between the blending tank and the connection port.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid is supplied from the storage tank to the mixing tank by connecting the joint of the storage tank in which the desired liquid is stored and the flexible pipe. It is performed by connecting the connection port of the traveling device communicated with. When the fluid supplied to the mixing tank is switched, the traveling body is caused to travel so that the connection port communicates with the switching destination.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the joint is provided with a plurality of joint openings, and a plurality of traveling devices each having a dedicated connection opening at the joint openings are made to travel, so that a plurality of fluids are transferred. It can be supplied to the blending tank at the same time. Further, the switching device can be automated by programmatically controlling the control of the traveling device of the present invention.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of a switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side view of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the three-way joints 14, 1 are provided on the body frame 12 of the switching device 10.
4, ... Are arranged in a straight line to form a three-way joint row. Each three-way joint 14 has a pipe connection port 15 at its upper end.
Is provided, and male couplers 16B, 16A, 16C with check valves are disposed on the lower end and both side surfaces near the lower end. The connection port 15 and the male coupler 16
B, 16A, and 16C are in communication with each other.

Pipes 18 and 18 'communicating with a liquid raw material storage tank (not shown) are connected to the connection ports 15, 15, ... Provided in the three-way joints 14, 14 ,. One of the pipes 18, 18, ... Is connected to a raw material storage tank having an even number, and the other pipe 18 ', 18' ,.
Are connected to the odd-numbered raw material storage tanks.
In addition, in the middle of the pipes 18 and 18 ', the pipes 18 and 1
The raw material receiving source valves 20, 20, ..., The raw material receiving flow rate control valves 22, 22, ..., The raw material receiving flow rate controllers 24, 24, ... Are installed in order from the upstream side of 8 ′, and the amount of the raw material to be supplied can be adjusted. It is like this. In addition, the raw material receiving flow rate control valve 2
, And the raw material receiving flow rate controllers 24, 24, ... Are connected to air purge pipes 26, 26, ...
Solenoid valves 28, 2 for air purging provided on 6, 26, ...
By controlling 8, ..., Compressed air can be injected into the pipes 18, 18 '.

On the other hand, below the three-way joints 14, 14, ..., Rails 52A, 52B, 52 are arranged along the three-way joint rows.
C is laid, and the traveling device 50 of system A is installed on this rail.
A / B system traveling device 50B, C system traveling device 50C
Runs. Then, the respective traveling devices 50A, 50
The male couplers 16B, 16B, ...
16C, 16A, ..., 16C, 16C ,.
30C is provided. This female coupler 30B, 30
A and 30C are male couplers 1 on the same straight line, respectively.
6B16B, ..., 16A, 16A, ..., 16C, 16
It is possible to connect to C, .... That is, the female coupler 30B can be connected to the male couplers 16B, 16B, ... Installed below the three-way joints 14, 14 ,.
System connection), the female coupler 30A is a three-way joint 14,
It is possible to connect with the male couplers 16A, 16A, ... Installed on the right side of the ... (A system connection). Further, the female coupler 30C can be connected to the male couplers 16C, 16C, ... Installed on the left side of the three-way joints 14, 14, ... (C system connection).

FIG. 3 shows the male coupler 16A of the A system of the three-way joint 14 and the female coupler 30A of the traveling device 50A of the A system.
It is the figure which connected. As shown in the same figure, the female coupler 3 connected to the A system is installed on the right side of the three-way joint 14.
0A communicates with one end of the pipe 32A. The pipe 32A is slidably supported by an A-system connecting traveling machine 34A that moves along the arrangement direction of the three-way joints 14, 14 ,. Further, a sleeve 37A having a rack 36A formed on the peripheral surface is inserted and fixed to the pipe 32A. A pinion gear 38A fixed to a rotary shaft of a drive motor (not shown) is meshed with the rack 36A, and by driving the drive motor, the female coupler 30A causes the male couplers 16A and 16A to operate.
Move back and forth with respect to A, ....

Further, the female coupler 30A is provided with a retaining mechanism 40A and is constructed as follows. At the tip of the female coupler 30A, balls 42A, 4
2A, ... Are provided so as to be retractable on the inner peripheral surface of the female coupler 30A. In addition, at the tip of the female coupler 30A,
Collar 4 urged in the tip direction by a spring 44A while sliding on the balls 42A, 42A, ...
6A is inserted. Further, an electromagnet 48A is installed after the collar 46A.
The collar 46A moves forward and backward by driving the. On the other hand, a groove 17A into which the balls 42A, 42A, ... Are fitted is formed at the tip of the male coupler 16A.

When connecting the female coupler 30A and the male coupler 16A configured as described above, first, the electromagnet 48 is connected.
A is driven to retract the collar 46A by its suction force. In this state, connect the female coupler 30A to the male coupler 16A.
Fit along. Female coupler 30A is male coupler 1
When completely inserted into 6A, balls 42A, 42A, ... Provided in female coupler 30A are inserted into grooves 17A formed in male coupler 16A. When the collar 46A is advanced in this state, the movement of the balls 42A, 42A, ... In the radial direction is stopped by the collar 46A, and the balls 42A, 42A ,. Axial movement is locked. Also, a female coupler 30A and a male coupler 16A
When the connection is to be released, first, the electromagnet 48A is driven to retract the collar 46A by its attractive force. As a result, the locking of the movement of the balls 42A, 42A, ... In the radial direction is released. Then, in this state, the female coupler 30A is retracted. Thereby, the female coupler 30
The connection between A and the male coupler 16A is released. Similarly, the B-system male coupler 16B and the C-system male coupler 16C of the three-way joint 14 can be attached to and detached from the female coupler 30B of the B-system traveling device 50B and the female coupler 30C of the C-system traveling device 50C, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the A-system connecting traveling machine 34A is installed on a traveling apparatus 50A capable of traveling by itself. The traveling device 50A includes a rail 5 installed along the arrangement direction of the three-way joints 14, 14, ....
Move on 2A. Also, each of the three-way joints 14, 14,
Are provided with position light emitters 64A, 64A, ..., respectively, and a position detector 62A is attached to the A-system connection traveling machine 34A so as to face the position light emitters 64A, 64A ,. Has been done. The traveling device 50A is
The position detector 62A is attached to each of the three-way joints 14, 14, ...
By transmitting / receiving light to / from the position light emitters 64A, 64A, ... Provided in the, it is possible to position the connection with the desired male coupler 16A.

The pipe 32A, which is supported by the A-system connecting traveling machine 34A and has one end connected to the female coupler 30A, has the other end connected to a flexible pipe 56A through a connection pipe 54A. A flange 58A is connected to the end of the flexible pipe 56A, and the flexible pipe 56A is connected to each mixing tank (not shown) through the flange 58A. Also, this flexible pipe 56A is
The cable carrier 60A is formed so as to be able to extend and contract, and can always be maintained in the extended state regardless of the position of the traveling device 50A by the cable bear 60A.

Similarly, the female coupler 30B of the traveling device 50B of the B system and the female coupler 3 of the traveling device 50C of the C system.
0C is also formed in the same manner as the female coupler 30A connected to the A system, and is also connected to the mixing tank with the same configuration. A pipe 18 'arranged at the right end of FIG. 2 among the plurality of pipes 18' is communicated with a cleaning liquid storage tank (not shown), and the male coupler 16A communicated with the pipe 18 '.
The female couplers 30A and 30 are attached to ‘16B’ and 16C ’.
When B and 30C are communicated with each other, the cleaning liquid stored in the tank is supplied and each member is cleaned.

The operation of the embodiment of the detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention constructed as described above is as follows.
In the detachable switching device 10 of the present embodiment, three systems of connections A, B, so that three types of liquid raw materials can be simultaneously supplied,
Although there is C, the connections of each system are connected by the same operation, so the connection of the A system will be described below as a typical example. Further, the removable switching device 10 of the present embodiment is driven and controlled by a control device (not shown), and a program for positioning the traveling machine, attaching / detaching the coupler, opening / closing the solenoid valve, etc. is input to the control device in advance. The operation is performed automatically.

First, a traveling device 50A equipped with an A-system connecting traveling machine 34A travels toward a male coupler 16A of a three-way joint 14 which communicates with a desired liquid raw material tank, and a male coupler 16A provided at the three-way joint 14 thereof. And the female coupler 30A provided on the A-system connecting traveling machine 34A are positioned so as to face each other and stop. This positioning operation is performed by the position light emitter 64A provided on the three-way joint 14.
And a position detector 62 provided on the A-system connecting traveling machine 34A
It is performed by transmitting and receiving light with A.

Next, the drive motor of the pinion gear 38A provided in the A-system connecting traveling machine 34A is driven to advance the female coupler 30A toward the male coupler 16A. When the female coupler 30A advances toward the male coupler 16A, the female coupler 30A and the male coupler 16A are fitted to each other, whereby the female coupler 30A and the male coupler 16A are mounted. After confirming this mounting, the raw material receiving flow rate control valve 22 is opened and the female coupler 30 is moved from the male coupler 16A side.
Feed the raw material into the A side. The amount of the raw material flowing from the male coupler 16A side to the female coupler 30A side is detected by the raw material receiving flow rate controller 24, and after the detected value reaches a desired value, the raw material receiving flow rate control valve 22 is closed. After closing the raw material receiving flow rate control valve 22, the air purge solenoid valves 28, 28, ... Are opened to inject compressed air into the pipe 18 to purge the liquid raw material in the pipe communicating with the mixing tank.

Next, the female coupler 30A is removed. To remove the female coupler 30A, first, the electromagnet 48A is driven to retract the collar 46A by its attractive force.
In this state, the drive motor of the pinion gear 38A is driven to retract the female coupler 30. As a result, the connection between the female coupler 30A and the male coupler 16A is released. The above operation completes the first supply of the raw material to the blending tank.
By repeating the series of operations a plurality of times, the necessary raw materials can be sequentially supplied to the blending tank.

In the case of the B system connection and the C system connection, the required raw materials can be sequentially supplied to the mixing tank by the same operation. If there is a risk of cross-contamination due to the raw materials adhering to the inside of the pipes only by air purging, the female couplers 30A, 30B are connected to the male couplers 16A ′, 16B ′, 16C ′ that communicate with the cleaning liquid storage tank in which the cleaning liquid is stored. Attach 30C and wash.

As described above, according to the detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes of this embodiment, the female couplers 30A, 30B, 30C connected to the mixing tank are connected to the traveling device 50.
By running A, 50B, 50C, arbitrary male couplers 16A, 16A, ..., 16B, 16B ,.
It can be easily switched to 6C, 16C, .... Further, each of the three-way joints 14, 14, ... Has three male couplers 16A, 16A, ..., 16B, 16B ,.
Since 6C, ... Are provided, a plurality of raw materials can be simultaneously supplied. At this time, the pipes do not interfere with each other.

Further, since the operation of the apparatus can be program-controlled, the attachment / detachment switching operation can be automatically performed. This saves the labor of the operator and eliminates the risk of human error. In addition,
In this embodiment, each of the three-way joints 14, 14, ... Has three male couplers 16A, 16A, ..., 16B, 16B ,.
16C, 16C, ... Are attached, but the number is not limited to this, and for example, one may be provided.

The female couplers 30A, 30B, 30C
Also, by providing the check valve, the device for air purging can be omitted. Further, in this embodiment, the collars 46A, 46B and 46C for preventing the female couplers 30A, 30B and 30C from coming off are provided with electromagnets 48A, 48B and 4C.
It is moved back and forth by the suction force of 8C, but this color 4
The device for moving the 6A, 46B, and 46C forward and backward is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a cylinder.

Further, in this embodiment, the female coupler 30A,
Although the forward and backward movement of 30B and 30C is performed by the rack and pinion mechanism, the present invention is not limited to this and may be, for example, a cylinder.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the fluid supplied to the mixing tank can be easily switched by traveling the traveling device. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since a plurality of connection ports communicating with the mixing tank and corresponding connection ports are provided,
Multiple liquids can be fed to the blending tank simultaneously. As a result, the production cycle time can be shortened.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention can be automated by controlling the program.
It is possible to eliminate human error and reduce the burden on the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of essential parts of an embodiment of a detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Removable switching device 14 ... Three-way joint 16A, 16B, 16C ... Male coupler 18 ... Piping 26 ... Air purging pipe 28 ... Air purging solenoid valve 30A, 30B, 30C ... Female coupler 50A, 50B, 50C ... Traveling device 56A, 56B, 56C ... Flexible piping

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A piping path between the storage tank and the mixing tank is provided to supply a plurality of desired fluids to the mixing tank from a plurality of storage tanks respectively storing a plurality of different kinds of fluids. A detachable switching device for switching a plurality of pipes, which is arranged in line with the pipe ends of the pipes extending from the plurality of storage tanks, has a joint with a joint, and is detachable from the joint. A running device that has a connection port and travels between the aligned plurality of joints and attaches the connection port to the joint opening of the joint, and connects the connection port of the traveling device and the blending tank. A detachable switching device for a plurality of pipes, comprising: 2. A pipe path between the storage tank and the mixing tank is provided to supply a plurality of desired fluids to the mixing tank from a plurality of storage tanks respectively storing a plurality of different kinds of fluids. A detachable switching device for switching a plurality of pipes, arranged in line with the pipe ends of the pipes extending from the plurality of storage tanks, and a joint provided with a plurality of connecting ports having different connection directions, A plurality of joints provided on a plurality of aligned joints can be grouped by joints having the same connection direction, and can be detachably attached to only one joint of the plurality of grouped joints. Having a dedicated connection port, a plurality of traveling devices that travel between the plurality of joints and attach the dedicated connection port that fits the joint opening of the joint, and the respective dedicated connection ports of the respective traveling devices, Contact with the mixing tank A plurality of removable pipe switching devices, characterized by comprising: a continuous flexible pipe. 3. The multi-pipe detachable switching device according to claim 1, wherein the operation control of the traveling device is automatically controlled by a program controller. 4. A compressed air pipe is connected to the plurality of pipes via a valve.
Detachable switching device for multiple pipes as described.