WO2008035673A1

WO2008035673A1 - Process for producing hollow fiber membrane module and apparatus therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2008035673A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/068084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masatsugu Uehara; Yasutaka Tanaka; Yoshihiko Oosawa
Original assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-09-20
Filing date: 2007-09-18
Publication date: 2008-03-27
Also published as: CN101516480A; KR20090071535A

Abstract

A process for producing a hollow fiber membrane module through inflecting of hollow fiber membrane bundle and placing of the same in a tubular case, characterized in that while by a pusher member, while inflecting the hollow fiber membrane bundle and an easily slidable sheet disposed in advance between the tubular case and the hollow fiber membrane bundle in U-form toward the tubular case, portions of the easily slidable sheet and the hollow fiber membrane bundle are pressed in the tubular case, and that thereafter the portion of the easily slidable sheet is grasped and drawn into the tubular case and simultaneously the pusher member is shifted toward the in-draw direction of the easily slidable sheet to thereby accomplish placing of the hollow fiber membrane bundle in the tubular case.

Description

Specification

Method and apparatus for manufacturing hollow fiber membrane module

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module that enables automatic manufacture of a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is folded in a U shape and stored in a cylindrical case.

Background art

A water purifier attached to a faucet or the like of a water supply uses a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane is bent in a U shape and stored in a cylindrical case. By bending the hollow fiber into a U shape, the filling rate of the hollow fiber bundle of the module can be increased, and as a result, it is configured to achieve a small size and high filtration performance. Here, the hollow fiber bundle filling rate represents the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the hollow fiber bundle to the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical case.

[0003] Conventionally, the process of bending a hollow fiber membrane bundle as described above into a U-shape and incorporating it into a cylindrical case has been performed manually. Skilled workers could achieve a certain level of work efficiency and product perfection, but workers with a low level of proficiency could not easily increase the yield because they had hollow fibers that were easily damaged. It was. In addition, the work of folding into a U-shape and the process of incorporating it into the case are separate, or a complicated work such as wrapping a non-woven fabric etc. once to fold the U-shape and pulling it out after assembling the case Therefore, it was difficult to improve productivity.

[0004] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method and an apparatus for automating the process of bending the hollow fiber membrane bundle described above into a U-shape and incorporating it into a cylindrical case. These documents disclose a configuration in which the work is completed by pushing into the cylindrical case as it is deformed into a U-shape by pushing near the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle aligned in one direction. Have

[0005] However, any of the methods described in any of the documents has a problem that the pushing force acts on the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. That is, when the hollow fiber bundle is bent into a U shape, a pressing force that resists the frictional force between the hollow fibers is required. When assembling, it is necessary to stake and push the frictional force generated between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the inner wall of the cylindrical case. Such force is applied to the hollow fiber membrane bundle by the pushing member. Therefore, the pushing force acts on the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. For this reason, there is a risk of damaging the hollow fiber membrane at the bent portion, causing defects such as thread breakage and thread crushing. Patent Document 2 discloses that the use of a slippery sheet can be expected to reduce the frictional force when the hollow fiber membrane bundle is assembled in the cylindrical case. However, the hollow fiber bundle filling rate is disclosed. If it is high, it may not be effective enough!

[0006] Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a method for housing a hollow fiber membrane bundle in a cylindrical case by vacuum suction as a method for housing a hollow fiber membrane bundle by the same inventors as Patent Document 1. In this method, not only the pushing force but also the bow I penetration force by suction is applied to the hollow fiber membrane bundle, but this method causes partial dropout of the hollow fiber by the same inventors in Patent Document 1. It has been clarified that there is a problem that the storage form becomes uneven. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3623856

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-062435

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-241521

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to produce a hollow fiber membrane module that reduces the degradation of the quality of the hollow fiber membrane and improves the productivity in the process of folding the hollow fiber membrane bundle into a U-shape and incorporating it in a cylindrical case. It is to provide a method and a manufacturing apparatus.

Means for solving the problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by the following configurations.

(1) A method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent and stored in a cylindrical case, wherein the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the tubular case and the hollow fiber membrane bundle are The hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet are pushed into the tubular case while the slippery sheet disposed in the direction is bent in a U shape toward the tubular case by a pushing member, and then And gripping a part of the slippery sheet and pulling it into the cylindrical case, and simultaneously moving the pushing member in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet, A method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, comprising storing a hollow fiber membrane bundle in the cylindrical case.

(2) A method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent and stored in a cylindrical case, wherein the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the tubular case and the hollow fiber membrane bundle are The hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet are placed in the tubular shape while bending the slippery sheet arranged in a U shape toward the tubular case with a pushing member having two flat plates. After pushing into the case, a part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, and at the same time, one of the two flat plates is moved in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet. A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module, comprising housing the hollow fiber membrane bundle in the cylindrical case.

(3) A part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, and at the same time, the pushing member or the one of the two flat plates is attached to the bow I of the slippery sheet. When the slippery sheet is moved, the slippery sheet or the one of the two flat plates, after the start of pulling of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case, The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module according to (1) or (2), wherein the movement in the pull-in direction is started.

(4) A part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, and at the same time, the pushing member or the one of the two flat plates is pulled in the slipping direction of the slippery sheet. When moving the slippery sheet, the pulling speed of the slippery sheet is set to be equal to or higher than the moving speed of the one slippery sheet of the push-in member or the two flat plates in the pulling direction. The method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of! /, (1) to (3).

(5) A device for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent and stored in a cylindrical case, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle is U-shaped toward the cylindrical case together with a slippery sheet. Pushing the hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case while bending it, and gripping part of the slippery sheet and pulling it into the tubular case Thread bundle pulling means for pulling the hollow fiber membrane bundle into the cylindrical case, and the pushing means pulls the slippery sheet of the yarn bundle pulling means. The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module is configured to move in the pull-in direction of the slippery sheet in synchronism with each other.

(6) The push-in means has two flat plates, and one of the two flat plates moves in the pull-in direction in synchronization with the slipping-in sheet of the yarn bundle pull-in means. (5) The apparatus for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to (5).

(7) Of the two flat plates, only one flat plate has a bifurcated portion at the tip, and the flat plate not having the bifurcated portion moves in the retracting direction in synchronization with the slipping of the slippery sheet. The apparatus for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to (6) above.

The invention's effect

[0009] According to the present invention, as described below, in the process of folding a hollow fiber membrane bundle into a U-shape and incorporating it into a cylindrical case, the quality of the hollow fiber membrane is suppressed and the quality is excellent. A hollow fiber membrane module can be obtained. As a result, productivity is also increased.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a manufacturing apparatus of a hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention, ω is a schematic view seen from the front, and (b) is seen from the direction A in FIG. It is a schematic diagram.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a hollow fiber membrane bundle and a slippery sheet.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which the hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent into a U shape by the yarn bundle U-shaped means.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a place where the yarn bundle drawing means grips the slippery sheet.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle bent in a U shape is housed in a cylindrical case.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing an operation of extracting the slippery sheet remaining in the cylindrical case.

Explanation of symbols

[0011] 1 Hollow fiber membrane bundle

2 Tubular case

3 Thread bundle U-shaped means

3a Flat plate (with bifurcated part)

3b Flat plate (without bifurcated part) 4 Slippery sheet

5 Thread bundle pull-in means

5a Sheet gripping mechanism

5b Movement mechanism

6 drum roller

7 Guide

8 Yarn bundle guide unit

9 Thread bundle fixing air chuck

10 Air chuck for sheet removal

11 Air cylinder for sheet removal

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an example of the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing apparatus, in which (a) is a schematic front view and (b) is a schematic side view.

[0013] The hollow fiber membrane module in the present embodiment is a so-called U-shaped hollow fiber membrane module, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle is folded in half in a U shape and filled into a cylindrical case. After that, both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle are configured by potting the resin into the opening of the cylindrical case.

[0014] Further, the hollow fiber membrane bundle in the present embodiment is composed of a microporous membrane having filtration performance or the like, and is composed of, for example, a polysulfone resin. The hollow fiber membrane bundle may be dry or wet. In order to fill a cylindrical case, a wet hollow fiber membrane bundle is preferable from the viewpoint of ease of handling, but it is necessary to perform a drying process in order to prevent poor adhesion in potting in a later step. In the dry state, the drying process is not necessary, but the friction resistance between the hollow fibers and the yarn bundle and the cylindrical shape are compared to the wet state, where the hollow fibers are repelled by the static electricity and are difficult to handle. The case has a high frictional resistance and tends to be difficult to fill.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a pair of freely rotating drum rollers (cylindrical rollers in which the outer diameters at both ends in the rotational axis direction are larger than the outer diameters at the central part) arranged at intervals. 6 Yarn bundle with interior Yarn bundle forming means 3 having pushing means for reciprocating between the guide unit 8 and the pair of drum rollers 6 and the yarn bundle drawing arranged between the pair of drum rollers 6 and below. The cylindrical case 2 is arranged between the yarn bundle drawing-in means 5 and the pair of drum-type rollers 6 during operation.

[0016] The yarn bundle guide unit 8 has a concave groove to the extent that the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 can be laid down. The use of the drum roller 6 can also suppress damage to the hollow fiber membrane when the hollow fiber membrane bundle described later is stored in the cylindrical case. A hole through which the bent hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 can be passed to the cylindrical case 2 is provided at the center of the concave groove of the yarn bundle guide unit.

[0017] The yarn bundle U-shaped means 3 has a pushing member composed of two flat plates 3a and 3b, and the pushing member is disposed between the pair of drum-shaped rollers 6, that is, in a cylindrical shape arranged as described later. Case 2 is arranged to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction. The pushing member can be reciprocated by a necessary amount by a driving means such as a Norse motor.

[0018] The push-in member may be a single plate-like member, but is preferably composed of two flat plates 3a and 3b as in this embodiment. As a result, when pushing the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 into a U shape, two pushing members are used, and when the hollow fiber membrane is actually pulled into the cylindrical case 2, one of the two pieces is used as a guide. The force S can be moved in synchronization with the bundle pull-in means 5.

[0019] The flat plate 3a used only when the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is bent into a U-shape is bifurcated from the viewpoint of ease of guiding to the cylindrical case 2, and is a portion in contact with the hollow fiber. Is chamfered to the extent that it does not damage the hollow fiber. The tip of the push-in member 3b that is also used when stored in the cylindrical case 2 may have a bifurcated shape like the push-in member 3a, but it is no longer restricted in the case in a direction perpendicular to the push-in direction. However, it is preferable that the corners of the bifurcated portions are flat because they are obstructive.

[0020] The yarn bundle drawing means 5 is arranged on the opposite side of the cylindrical case 2 from the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3, and a part of the slippery sheet 4 is placed inside the cylindrical case 2. A sheet gripping mechanism 5a for gripping and a moving mechanism 5b for reciprocating in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case 2 are provided. After the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is bent by the pushing member, it is between the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the cylindrical case 2 A part of the slippery sheet 4 is gripped in the cylindrical case 2, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is pulled into the tubular case 2 through the slippery sheet 4. The yarn bundle pull-in means 5 easily and easily sucks air in advance from the viewpoint of reliably gripping a part of the slippery sheet 4 in the cylindrical case 2 and preventing operation stop trouble due to gripping failure. It is also preferable to provide means for cueing a part of the sliding sheet 4. Further, at the time of work, from the viewpoint of suppressing damage to the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1, it is also preferable to dispose a funnel-shaped guide guide 7 in the opening portion on the side of the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3 of the cylindrical case 2. It is possible to prevent a part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 from pulling the end of the opening of the cylindrical case 2 and damaging the hollow fiber membrane.

[0021] A procedure for incorporating the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 into the cylindrical case 2 in the apparatus as described above will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0022] First, as shown in FIG. 2, the hollow fiber membranes loaded in the cylindrical case are easily arranged in a state where a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are aligned in one direction and cut to a predetermined length, that is, as a hollow fiber membrane bundle 1. It is arranged in the concave groove of the yarn bundle guide unit 8 together with the sliding sheet 4.

[0023] The slippery sheet 4 is not particularly limited as long as it has good slipperiness and has a certain tensile strength, but a resin film, a fabric, and the like are preferable. In particular, a resin film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester preferably has a thickness in the range of 5-30111.

[0024] The supply method of the slippery sheet 4 is such that the slippery sheet 4 is finally disposed between the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the cylindrical case 2, that is, the yarn bundle. For example, a predetermined length may be automatically cut out from a roll-like slippery sheet and placed on the yarn bundle guide unit 8 as long as it can be supplied between the guide unit 8 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1. It is preferable from the viewpoint of being able to supply the slippery sheet 4 continuously and efficiently! /.

[0025] Although the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 can be supplied manually, there is no problem, but industrially, a conveyor, a robot or the like is automatically supplied onto the slippery sheet 4, and the yarn bundle guide is supplied. It is a preferred embodiment to set in the concave groove of the unit 8.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the central portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is pushed in the direction of the cylindrical case 2 by the flat plates 3a and 3b which are pushing members of the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3, and the hollow The membrane bundle 1 is bent into a U shape with a slippery sheet 4. At this time, a flat plate as a pushing member 3a and 3b are such that the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the slippery sheet 4 are bent in a U-shape and part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the slippery sheet 4 are pushed over the cylindrical case.

Yes

[0027] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sheet gripping mechanism 5a of the yarn bundle drawing means 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape from the opening on the opposite side to the side where the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is inserted in the cylindrical case 2. Grip a part of the slippery sheet 4 in the case and pull it into the cylindrical case 2. When a part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, at the same time, one flat plate 3b of the pushing member is moved in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet. Here, in order for the drawing operation to work effectively, it is preferable that tension is applied to the film held by the sheet holding mechanism 5a of the yarn bundle drawing means 5. Therefore, the sheet gripping mechanism 5a starts a pulling operation before the movement of the flat plate 3b starts (that is, after the slipping of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case by the sheet gripping mechanism 5a starts, It is preferable to start the movement in the sliding sheet retracting direction). Also, from the same viewpoint, the speed at which the yarn bundle drawing means 5 draws the slippery sheet should be equal to or higher than the moving speed of the flat plate 3b (that is, higher than the moving speed of the flat plate 3b in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet). Is also preferable. If the push-in member is not composed of the two flat plates 3a and 3b but is composed of a single plate-like member, the pull-in operation of the sheet gripping mechanism 5a must be started before the movement of the plate-like member. It is preferable that the speed at which the yarn bundle drawing means 5 pulls in the slippery sheet is equal to or higher than the moving speed of the plate-like member. The other flat plate 3a of the pushing member is retracted from the cylindrical case 2 when the sheet gripping mechanism 5a of the yarn bundle drawing means 5 grips a part of the slippery sheet 4. In this way, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 bent in a U shape is stored in the cylindrical case 2 in a state of being wrapped in the slippery sheet 4.

[0028] Thereafter, if necessary, treatment such as removal of the slippery sheet 4, sealing of the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1, excision, and drying when the hollow fiber membrane bundle is wet is performed. This completes the hollow fiber membrane module.

[0029] Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, when storing the cylindrical case, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the slippery sheet 4 are pushed toward the cylindrical case 2 with a pressing member. ¾ After pushing part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 and the slippery sheet 4 into the cylindrical case 2 Then, grip a part of the slippery sheet 4 and pull it into the cylindrical case 2. In this way, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is drawn into the cylindrical case 2. At this time, in order to assist the movement of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, the pushing member is moved in the drawing direction of the slippery sheet simultaneously with the pulling of the slippery sheet 4. That is, in the present embodiment, the force required to store the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 in the cylindrical case 2 is generated by the pulling action that basically acts on the yarn bundle via the sheet, and at the same time, the push-in operation is performed. It is set as the structure which assists by the movement by a member. In the case of only the pull-in operation, the bending portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is not damaged, but if the sheet slips between the hollow fiber membrane bundle or the sheet falls out of the gripping mechanism 5a, the desired position is obtained. The hollow fiber membrane bundle can no longer be drawn. On the other hand, in the case of only the pushing operation, the hollow fiber membrane bundle can be moved to the desired position, but the hollow fiber membrane bundle is moved only by the pushing force applied to the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. When the filling rate of the hollow fiber membrane is increased, the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle may be damaged. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the force required to store the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 in the cylindrical case 2 is generated by a pulling action that basically acts on the yarn bundle via the sheet, and at the same time, the pushing portion It is configured to assist by movement with materials. Thus, the hollow fiber membrane bundle can be reliably moved to a desired position, and the pushing force applied by the pushing member 3b of the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3 to the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage such as thread crushing.

Then, the start timing and speed of each operation will be described. In order for the pulling operation to work effectively, it is necessary that a tension is applied to the sheet gripped by the sheet gripping mechanism 5a of the yarn bundle pulling means 5. If the flat plate 3b starts moving before the thread bundle pulling means 5 operates, the distance between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the gripping mechanism 5a is shortened, and the sheet of the gripping part is loosened. The pulling force may not be generated even if the means starts to operate. Therefore, the operation of the thread bundle pulling means is started before the movement of the flat plate 3b (that is, after the slipping of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case by the sheet gripping mechanism 5a is started, the slippery sheet of the flat plate 3b is started. It is preferable to start movement in the pull-in direction). In addition, if the push-in operation is faster than the pull-in operation, the gripping portion of the sheet is loosened. Therefore, the thread bundle retracting means 5 retracts the slippery sheet. It is also preferable to set the speed to be higher than the moving speed of the flat plate 3b (that is, higher than the moving speed of the flat plate 3b in the slipping direction of the slippery sheet)!

[0031] The pushing member may be a single plate-like member as described above, but the significance of the two flat plates 3a and 3b will be described as follows.

[0032] When the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is bent into a U-shape, the contact of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is not limited to chamfering the end face of the pushing member in order to prevent damage such as yarn crushing at the bent portion. It is preferable to reduce the pressure acting on the surface. Therefore, it is preferable to secure a certain pushing area of the pushing member. On the other hand, when the hollow fiber membrane bundle is stored in the case, when the pushing member enters the cylindrical case 2, the volume occupied by the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 in the cylindrical case 2 is reduced by the volume of the pushing member. For this reason, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is pushed to the inner wall of the cylindrical case, and damage such as deformation and thread crushing is likely to occur. The slippery sheet 4 can be expected to have a slippery effect. S For products with a high filling rate, the risk of damage is particularly high. Yes. As described above, in order to satisfy the former requirement, it is preferable that the thickness of the pushing member is thicker. In order to satisfy the latter requirement, it is preferable that the thickness is thinner. Therefore, the push-in member of the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3 is composed of two flat plates 3a and 3b, and when they are bent into a U shape, the two members act simultaneously to ensure a contact area with the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1. However, when the hollow fiber membrane bundle is accommodated in the cylindrical case, it is preferable that only one sheet acts.

Example

[Example 1]

Using the above hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing apparatus, a hollow fiber membrane module was manufactured.

[0034] As the hollow fiber membrane, a polysulfone-based hollow fiber membrane having an outer diameter of 0.45 mm was used, and a hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 was obtained by bundling 700 pieces and cutting them to a length of 200 mm. The slippery sheet 4 was configured such that a length of 120 mm was cut out from a polyethylene sheet wound into a roll having a width of 120 mm and a thickness of 0.01 mm and supplied onto the yarn bundle guide unit 8.

[0035] After the slippery sheet 4 is set on the yarn bundle guide unit 8, the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is supplied from the previous process by the conveyor, and is inserted into the concave groove of the yarn bundle guide unit 8 by the robot node. It was configured to be transferred.

[0036] The cylindrical case 2 is made of acrylic styrene having an inner diameter of 26 mm and a length of 70 mm. The cylindrical case 2 is supplied from the case supply conveyor almost simultaneously with the supply of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1. It was configured to be set below.

[0037] The flat plates 3a and 3b of the yarn bundle U-shaped means 3 were coated with a fluororesin coating in consideration of the detachability from the hollow fiber membrane, and both thicknesses were 2 mm. A uniaxial actuator manufactured by Nippon Bearing Co., Ltd. was used for the vertical movement of the flat plates 3a and 3b. Set to operate at a low speed (100mm / sec) to prevent damage when the flat plate operates while contacting the yarn bundle, and at a high speed (500mm / sec) to reduce the processing tact in other cases did.

[0038] With respect to the yarn bundle drawing-in means 5, the sheet gripping mechanism 5a is configured such that a slip for gripping the slippery sheet 4 is mounted on an air chuck manufactured by SMC Co., Ltd., and the moving mechanism 5b is A 1-axis actuator manufactured by Ning Co., Ltd. was used. Pulling the slippery sheet 4 into the cylindrical case 2 During operation, it was set to operate at a low speed to prevent damage to the hollow fiber, and at other times it was set to operate at a high speed to shorten the processing tart. . In other words, it was set to operate at a speed of 100 mm / second during sheet pull-in operation, and at a speed of 500 mm / second during other operations. Furthermore, the flat plate 3b was set to start moving 0.1 second after the start of the sheet drawing operation of the yarn bundle drawing means 5.

[0039] After the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is stored in the cylindrical case 2 with the above apparatus configuration, as shown in Fig. 6, first, the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 protruding from the upper end of the cylindrical case is removed. After gripping with the thread bundle fixing air chuck 9 and fixing it so that it does not fall out of the cylindrical case, grip the slippery sheet 4 remaining in the cylindrical case 2 with the sheet pulling air chuck 10 to remove the sheet. The sheet was removed by slowly pulling downward with an air cylinder 11 for removing the sheet connected to the air chuck 10.

[0040] When the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is assembled into the cylindrical case 2 in a U-shape as described above, damage that causes problems such as thread crushing and rubbing inside the bent portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 is hardly observed. Moreover, the result of the leak test conducted after potting was also good.

(Comparative Example 1)

Example 1 is the same as Example 1 except that the yarn bundle drawing means 5 is not used. The hollow fiber membrane bundle 1 was accommodated in the cylindrical case 2 to obtain a hollow fiber membrane module. When a visual appearance inspection was performed on the hollow fiber membrane module obtained in this comparative example, the hollow fiber was broken inside the bent part of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, and the hollow fiber was broken. Many broken defects were seen. In addition, when leak tests were performed on 100 hollow fiber membrane modules created in this comparative example, 6 leak-outs occurred. When the hollow fiber membrane module leaked out was disassembled and inspected, it was found that the thread was broken or cracked at the site that was a defect in the appearance inspection. Industrial applicability

The present invention can also be suitably used in the production of a medical hollow fiber membrane module that is used only for water purification.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent and accommodated in a cylindrical case, the hollow fiber membrane bundle being arranged in advance between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the cylindrical case and the hollow fiber membrane bundle The hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet are pushed into the cylindrical case while bending the formed slippery sheet toward the tubular case with a pushing member and then bent into a U shape. When a part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, the pushing member is moved in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet and the hollow fiber membrane bundle is moved into the tubular case. A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module comprising storing.

[2] A method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a hollow fiber membrane bundle is bent and accommodated in a cylindrical case, the hollow fiber membrane bundle being arranged in advance between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the cylindrical case and the hollow fiber membrane bundle The hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet are part of the cylindrical shape while the easy slippery sheet is bent into a U shape toward the tubular case by a pushing member having two flat plates. Push into the case, and then grip a part of the slippery sheet and pull it into the cylindrical case. At the same time, pull in one of the two flat plates in the slipping direction of the slippery sheet And manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module by storing the bundle of hollow fiber membranes in the cylindrical case.

[3] A part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, and at the same time, the pushing member or the one of the two flat plates is used as the bow of the slippery sheet. When moving in the I-insertion direction, after the pull-in of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case, the one of the push-in member or the two flat plates, the slippery sheet as described above, is started. The method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein movement of the adhesive sheet in the pull-in direction is started.

[4] A part of the slippery sheet is gripped and pulled into the cylindrical case, and at the same time, the pushing member or the one of the two flat plates is pulled in the slippery sheet direction. When moving the slippery sheet, the pulling speed of the slippery sheet is set to be equal to or higher than the moving speed of the one slippery sheet of the push-in member or the two flat plates in the pulling direction. Claims;! ~ 3 hollow fiber membrane module Manufacturing method.

[5] A device for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module that bends a hollow fiber membrane bundle and stores it in a cylindrical case, wherein the hollow fiber membrane bundle is U-shaped toward the cylindrical case together with a slippery sheet. Pushing means for pushing the hollow fiber membrane bundle and a part of the slippery sheet into the cylindrical case while bending, and holding the part of the slippery sheet and pulling it into the tubular case. A thread bundle pulling means for pulling the hollow fiber membrane bundle into the cylindrical case, and the pushing means is synchronized with the pulling of the slippery sheet of the thread bundle pulling means in the pulling direction of the slippery sheet. An apparatus for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, wherein the apparatus is configured to move.

[6] The push-in means has two flat plates, and one of the two flat plates moves in the pull-in direction in synchronization with the slippery sheet pull-in of the yarn bundle pull-in means. The apparatus for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 5.

[7] Of the two flat plates, only one flat plate has a bifurcated portion at the tip, and the flat plate not having the bifurcated portion moves in the retracting direction in synchronization with the slipping of the slippery sheet. The apparatus for producing a hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 6.