JP2010194470A - Emulsification apparatus and method of manufacturing emulsion - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an emulsification apparatus capable of manufacturing stable emulsion, and a method of manufacturing the emulsion. <P>SOLUTION: The emulsification apparatus 1 includes a container holder 30 configured so as to be rotated centering on a rotary axis L2 while revolving centering on a revolution axis L1, and a driving mechanism 50 for rotating the container holder while making it revolve. The container holder holds an emulsification container inside which a material M is enclosed such that the height direction is inclined to the rotation axis, and by rotating the container holder while making it revolve, the material is emulsified inside the emulsification container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an emulsifying device and a method for producing an emulsion.

  Currently, there are increasing opportunities to use an emulsified substance (emulsified liquid) in various fields such as materials, medicine and industry, and various emulsifying apparatuses and emulsifying methods have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-47264

  One aspect of the present invention is to provide an emulsification apparatus capable of producing a stable emulsion in a short time and a method for producing the emulsion.

(1) The emulsification apparatus according to the present invention is
A container holder configured to be able to rotate around the rotation axis while revolving around the rotation axis;
A drive mechanism for rotating the container holder while revolving,
Including
The container holder holds the emulsification container in which the material is sealed so that the height direction is inclined with respect to the rotation axis,
By rotating the container holder while revolving, the material is emulsified in the emulsification container.

  According to this emulsification apparatus, a large amount of energy sufficient for emulsification can be applied to the material in the emulsification container, and the material can be emulsified in the emulsification container.

(2) In this emulsification device,
The container holder may hold the emulsification container such that the height direction is perpendicular to the rotation axis.

(3) In this emulsification apparatus,
The container holder may be configured to hold a plurality of the emulsification containers.

(4) In this emulsification device,
The container holder may be configured to be able to hold the plurality of emulsification containers on one virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis.

(5) In this emulsification apparatus,
The container holder may hold the plurality of emulsification containers such that a distance from the rotation axis is constant.

(6) In this emulsification device,
The container holder includes a holder body and an adapter configured to be detachable from the holder body,
The emulsification container may be held by the adapter.

(7) The adapter according to the present invention is
An adapter that is held by a container holder configured to be able to rotate around a rotation axis while revolving around a revolution axis, and behaves integrally with the container holder,
It has a holding part which holds the emulsification container in which the material used as the object of an emulsification process is enclosed so that the height direction may incline with respect to the autorotation axis.

  According to this adapter, a large amount of energy sufficient for emulsification can be applied to the material in the emulsification container, and the material can be emulsified in the emulsification container.

(8) A method for producing an emulsion according to the present invention comprises:
An emulsification container in which a material is sealed in a container holder configured to be able to rotate about the rotation axis while revolving around the rotation axis so that the height direction is inclined with respect to the rotation axis. A step of holding
A step of producing an emulsion by emulsifying the material in the emulsification container by rotating the container holder while revolving.
including.

  According to this method for producing an emulsified liquid, a large amount of energy sufficient for emulsification can be applied to the material in the emulsified container, and the material can be emulsified in the emulsified container to produce an emulsified liquid.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the emulsion which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of the manufacturing method of the emulsion which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on a modification. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on a modification. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the emulsification apparatus which concerns on a modification.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. That is, all the configurations described in the following embodiments are not necessarily essential to the present invention. Moreover, this invention includes what combined the following content freely.

(1) Configuration of Emulsifying Device 1 First, the configuration of an emulsifying device 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The emulsification device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rotating shaft 10 as shown in FIG. The rotating shaft 10 is configured to rotate around a virtual straight line. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the rotation shaft 10 is configured to rotate about a virtual straight line (revolution axis L <b> 1) extending vertically. However, the rotating shaft 10 may be configured to rotate with a straight line extending horizontally as an axis (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the emulsifying device 1 includes a rotating body 20. The rotating body 20 is fixed to the rotating shaft 10, and is configured to rotate around the revolution axis L <b> 1 (as an axis) as the rotating shaft 10 rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the emulsifying device 1 has a container holder 30. Hereinafter, the container holder 30 will be described in detail.

  The container holder 30 is attached to the rotating body 20 at a position spaced apart from the revolution axis L1. Thereby, the container holder 30 revolves around the revolution axis L <b> 1 as the rotating body 20 rotates.

  The container holder 30 is also attached to the rotating body 20 so as to be able to rotate. In the present embodiment, a rotation shaft 32 is fixed to the container holder 30 (holder body 38), and the rotation shaft 32 is attached to the rotating body 20 via a bearing 34. Thereby, the container holder 30 can be rotated with respect to the rotating body 20. In the present embodiment, the container holder 30 is configured to be capable of rotating about an imaginary straight line (spinning axis L2) passing through a predetermined position of the rotating body 20. In this embodiment, the revolution axis L1 and the rotation axis L2 are straight lines that obliquely intersect at a predetermined angle. More specifically, the emulsifying device 1 is configured such that the revolution axis L1 and the rotation axis L2 intersect at an angle of 45 degrees. However, as a modification, the emulsification apparatus can be configured so that the revolution axis L1 and the rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, one container holder 30 is attached to one rotating body 20. And the balance weight 36 is attached to the position on the opposite side to the container holder 30 in the rotary body 20. FIG. The balance weight 36 is configured such that the distance from the revolution axis L1 is variable. Thereby, the emulsification apparatus 1 can be operated stably. However, as a modification, two container holders 30 can be attached to the rotating body 20. In this case, if the two container holders 30 are attached so as to have a point-symmetric arrangement with the revolution axis L1 as the center, the emulsification apparatus can be operated stably. Alternatively, the emulsifying device may be configured by attaching three or more container holders 30 to one rotating body 20.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the container holder 30 includes a holder main body 38 and an adapter 40. The adapter 40 is configured to be detachable from the holder main body 38, and is configured to be held by the holder main body 38 and behave integrally with the holder main body 38. For example, the holder main body 38 and the adapter 40 can be configured to include an idling prevention mechanism for preventing idling of both (not shown). Further, the above-described rotation shaft 32 is fixed to the holder main body 38.

  The adapter 40 (container holder 30) serves to hold the emulsification container 100. Specifically, the adapter 40 (container holder 30) holds the emulsification container 100 so that the height direction thereof is orthogonal to the rotation axis L2 (see FIG. 1). Although the specific structure of the adapter 40 is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the adapter 40 holds the emulsification container 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) to 3 (B). The configuration has a portion 42. The holding portion 42 is realized by a recess formed in the inner bottom of the adapter 40 (a groove-like recess extending in parallel with the bottom surface of the adapter 40). 2A and 2B are a sectional view and a perspective view of the adapter 40, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of the adapter 40 in a state where the emulsification container 100 is held. FIG. Details of the emulsification container 100 applicable to the present embodiment will be described later.

  The emulsification apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a drive mechanism 50 as shown in FIG. The drive mechanism 50 plays the role of rotating while revolving the container holder 30 (emulsification container 100). Hereinafter, an example of the drive mechanism 50 will be described.

  The drive mechanism 50 includes a motor 51 that rotates the rotary shaft 10 as a revolution drive mechanism that revolves the container holder 30. In the emulsifying apparatus 1, the container holder 30 revolves when the rotating shaft 10 rotates. Therefore, the container holder 30 can be revolved by the motor 51 (the motor 51, the rotating shaft 10, and the rotating body 20). In the present embodiment, the motor 51 is fixed to the support substrate 60.

  The drive mechanism 50 includes a rotation drive mechanism 52 that rotates the container holder 30. Hereinafter, the rotation driving mechanism 52 will be described.

The rotation drive mechanism 52 has a rotation pulley 54 fixed to the rotation shaft 32. In the present embodiment, since the rotation shaft 32 is fixed to the container holder 30, the rotation pulley 54 and the container holder 30 behave integrally. The rotation driving mechanism 52 includes a rotation force applying pulley 56 provided on a shaft concentric with the rotation shaft 10. The rotation force applying pulley 56 is fixed to the support substrate 60 and is configured not to rotate. The rotation driving mechanism 52 includes a belt 58. The belt 58 is wound around the rotation pulley 54 and the rotation force applying pulley 56. The belt 58 is bent by an idler pulley 59 and is wound around a rotation pulley 54 and a rotation force applying pulley 56.

  According to the rotation driving mechanism 52, the rotation angular speeds of the rotation pulley 54 and the rotation force applying pulley 56 are related by the belt 58, and therefore the rotation pulley 54 and the rotation force applying pulley 56 exhibit the same behavior as the planetary gear mechanism. become. Further, the rotation force applying pulley 56 is configured to be non-rotatable. Therefore, when the rotating body 20 is rotated, the rotation pulley 54 rotates while revolving. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the rotating body 20 is rotated clockwise, the rotation pulley 54 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation axis L2 while revolving clockwise around the rotation axis L1. Rotate. Since the container holder 30 behaves integrally with the rotation pulley 54, the rotation driving mechanism 52 allows the container holder 30 to rotate while revolving. In the emulsifying apparatus 1, the rotation driving mechanism 52 is configured using a pulley and a belt. However, the rotation driving mechanism can be configured using a power transmission element such as a gear.

  As a modified example, the rotation force applying pulley 56 may be configured to be able to rotate at a desired rotation angular speed around the rotation shaft 10 (not shown). Specifically, the rotation force applying pulley 56 is attached to the rotary shaft 10 via a bearing, and the rotation force applying pulley 56 is utilized using a driving force of a motor prepared separately from the motor 51 and a braking force of a brake. By controlling the rotational speed of the rotation force, the rotation force applying pulley 56 can be rotated at a desired rotational angular speed. With this configuration, the rotation angular velocity (rotation / revolution angular velocity ratio) of the container holder 30 can be set to a desired value.

  The emulsification apparatus 1 further includes a housing (not shown) and a vibration isolating means (such as a vibration isolating wire or a vibration isolating spring) that supports the support substrate 60 in the housing and prevents the support substrate 60 from vibrating. can do.

(2) About the emulsification container 100 Next, with reference to FIG. 4 (A) and FIG. 4 (B), an example of the emulsification container 100 applicable to this Embodiment is demonstrated. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the emulsification container 100, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the emulsification container 100.

  The emulsification container 100 includes a main body 110 as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The main body 110 has a circular bottom portion 112, a cylindrical main body portion 114, and an upper portion 116, and the tip of the upper portion 116 is open. Moreover, the diameter of the upper part 116 is smaller than the diameter of the main body part 114 (bottom part 112). The material constituting the main body 110 is not particularly limited, and various materials that match the characteristics of the material M, such as glass and plastic, can be selected.

  The emulsification container 100 also includes a lid 120 as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The lid 120 is configured to be able to close the opening at the upper end of the main body 110 (the tip of the upper portion 116), and the emulsification container 100 (main body 110) encloses the material M inside (sealed) by the lid 120. ). In the present embodiment, the lid 120 includes a rubber plug 122, a metal film 124 having an opening that covers the rubber plug 122, and a seal (metal seal) 126 that closes the opening.

  And in this Embodiment, the emulsification container 100 is hold | maintained at the container holder 30 (adapter 40) so that the height direction may orthogonally cross with respect to the autorotation axis L2 (refer FIG. 1). Here, the “height direction” is a direction perpendicular to the bottom 112. Alternatively, the “height direction” is a direction connecting the bottom 112 and the top 116.

(3) Operation Next, the operation of the emulsification apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the emulsifying apparatus 1 rotates the rotating body 20 while the container holder 30 holds the emulsifying container 100 to rotate the container holder 30 while revolving. In the present embodiment, the height direction of the emulsification container 100 is orthogonal to the rotation axis L2. Therefore, by rotating the container holder 30 while revolving, the material M can be vigorously moved in the emulsification container 100 while receiving centrifugal force.

  Specifically, when the container holder 30 revolves, the material M receives a force that moves in a direction away from the revolution axis L1, and tries to gather in a region (farthest region) farthest from the revolution axis L1 in the emulsification container 100. Therefore, for example, when the emulsification container 100 is in a posture in which the bottom 112 is farthest from the revolution axis L1, the material M is collected at the bottom 112 as shown in FIG. Conversely, when the emulsification container 100 is in a posture in which the upper part 116 is farthest from the revolution axis L1, the material M is collected in the upper part 116 as shown in FIG. In the emulsifying apparatus 1, since the container holder 30 rotates while revolving, the material M gathers in the vicinity of the bottom portion 112 of the emulsifying container 100 every time the container holder 30 rotates (rotates relative to the rotating body 20) half rotation. The behavior of gathering near the upper part 116 of the container 100 will be repeated. That is, in the emulsification apparatus 1, when the container holder 30 is rotated while revolving, the material M moves in the height direction of the emulsification container 100 in a state where the centrifugal force due to the revolution is applied.

  Then, the material M moved in the height direction in the emulsification container 100 collides with the inner wall surface (the inner surfaces of the bottom portion 112 and the upper portion 116) of the emulsification container 100. In particular, according to the emulsifying apparatus 1, the material M collides with the inner wall surface of the emulsification container 100 in a state where the centrifugal force due to revolution acts, so that large energy (collision energy) can be applied to the material M. .

  From the above, according to the emulsification apparatus 1, a large collision energy can be applied to the material M while moving the material M violently. Therefore, the energy sufficient for emulsification is applied to the material M in the emulsification container 100. The material M can be emulsified in the emulsification container 100.

(4) Emulsification method Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the emulsification method (production method of an emulsion) of the material M which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the emulsification method of the material M.

  In the emulsification method according to the present embodiment, the container holder 30 (adapter 40) holds the emulsification container 100 in which the material M is sealed so that the height direction is inclined with respect to the rotation axis L2. S10) and a step of rotating the container holder 30 while revolving (step S12). Thereby, the material M can be emulsified in the emulsification container 100, and an emulsion can be manufactured.

(5) Effects Next, functions and effects achieved by the present embodiment will be described.

  According to the present embodiment, energy sufficient for emulsification can be applied to the material M in the emulsification container 100, so that the material M can be emulsified in the emulsification container 100. That is, according to the present embodiment, since the material in the emulsification container 100 can be emulsified without opening the emulsification container 100, the material processing (particularly in the medical field or the like where handling of the material requires attention) An emulsification apparatus suitable for emulsification treatment can be provided. Moreover, since it becomes possible to produce the minimum necessary amount of the emulsion in the emulsification container 100, the emulsion can be prepared like a vaccine used in “tailor-made vaccine therapy” which is currently attracting attention. It is possible to provide an emulsification apparatus suitable for use in a field where the amount used is small.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the energy acting on the material M in the container is based on the centrifugal force. Therefore, the energy acting on the material M can be easily adjusted by adjusting the rotation speed of the container holder 30. Can be adjusted. From this, it becomes possible to carry out the emulsification process under conditions that match the material M and the shape of the container, and the emulsification process can be performed efficiently, and in a small capacity container (for example, a container of about 5 ml). The emulsification treatment of the material M becomes possible.

(6) Experimental result Next, the experimental result performed regarding this Embodiment is shown.

  In this experiment, a production experiment of a vaccine (tailor-made vaccine) used in a therapy called “tailor-made vaccine therapy (more specifically, tailor-made cancer peptide vaccine therapy)” was performed. That is, the container holder 30 holds a container (vial bottle) having a capacity of 5 ml in which 2.28 ml of an oil phase material of a tailor-made vaccine and 0.210 ml of an aqueous phase material (physiological saline as an alternative) are enclosed. It was rotated (revolution and rotation) for 1 minute at 2000 rpm. And the stability of the emulsion E was confirmed by dripping and observing the process liquid (emulsion E) manufactured by said process to water.

  FIG. 7 (A) is a photograph showing a state immediately after dropping the emulsion E into water, and FIG. 7 (B) is a photograph showing a state after 4 minutes have passed since the dropping. As can be seen from FIGS. 7A and 7B, the boundary between the emulsified liquid E and water clearly appears, and it can be confirmed from the above experiment that the material is emulsified. In particular, from FIGS. 7A and 7B, it can be confirmed that the emulsification of the emulsified liquid E is not broken even after the elapse of 4 minutes from the dropping. That is, it can be confirmed from the above experiment that a very stable emulsion can be produced by the emulsification apparatus 1.

(7) Modification Hereinafter, a modification of the present embodiment will be described.

(7-1) First Modification In this modification, the emulsifying device has an adapter 70 shown in FIG. The adapter 70 is configured to be able to hold a plurality of emulsification containers 100. Specifically, the adapter 70 has two holding portions 72. And in the adapter 70, the two holding | maintenance parts 72 are arrange | positioned on the virtual plane orthogonal to the autorotation axis L2. Moreover, in the adapter 70, the two holding | maintenance parts 72 are arrange | positioned at equal distance from the autorotation axis L2. However, as another modification, the adapter can be configured to have a plurality of holding portions of three or more (not shown).

  By using this adapter 70, since the several emulsification container 100 can be processed simultaneously, the processing efficiency of the material M can be improved. In particular, by disposing a plurality of emulsification containers 100 at positions equidistant from the rotation axis L2, all the emulsification containers 100 exhibit the same behavior. Therefore, even when a plurality of emulsification containers 100 are used, the emulsification process can be performed uniformly.

  Moreover, in this adapter 70, the emulsification container 100 is arrange | positioned in the position shifted | deviated from the autorotation axis L2. From this, compared with the case where the emulsification container 100 is arrange | positioned on the autorotation axis L2, the energy which acts on the material M becomes large, and it can emulsify efficiently.

(7-2) Second Modification In this modification, the emulsification apparatus has an adapter 80 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The adapter 80 has a holding portion 82 for holding the emulsification container 100. The holding unit 82 includes a first holding area 84 and a second holding area 86, and is configured to be able to hold the emulsification container 100 in the first holding area 84 or the second holding area 86. (See FIG. 9B). In other words, the adapter 80 (holding portion 82) includes the upper holding portion 84-1 and the lower holding portion 84-2 arranged in the diameter direction of the adapter 80, and the upper holding portion 86-1 and the lower holding portion 86-. 2 is included. The adapter 80 holds the emulsification container 100 with the upper holding part 84-1 and the lower holding part 84-2, or holds the emulsification container 100 with the upper holding part 86-1 and the lower holding part 86-2. Configured to hold.

  According to the adapter 80, the first holding area 84 and the second holding area 86 have different outer shapes (sizes), so that one adapter can handle a plurality of types (two types) of emulsification containers having different outer shapes. It becomes possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, since the side surface of the central portion of the emulsification container 100 can be exposed while the emulsification container 100 is held, the emulsification container 100 can be easily taken out.

  As another modification, the holding portion of the adapter can be configured to have a plurality of holding regions of three or more (not shown).

(7-3) Third Modification In this modification, the emulsification apparatus has an adapter 90 shown in FIG. The adapter 90 has one holding part 92. And the holding | maintenance part 92 is arrange | positioned in the position shifted | deviated from the autorotation axis L2 (center of the adapter 90). That is, the adapter 90 is configured to hold the emulsification container 100 at a position shifted from the rotation axis L2.

  According to the adapter 90, not only can the emulsification process be performed efficiently, but the center of gravity of the adapter 90 and the emulsification container 100 can be disposed in the vicinity of the rotation axis L2 while the emulsification container 100 is held. Therefore, the behavior of the emulsifying device can be stabilized in the process of rotating the container holder 30 while revolving.

(7-4) Other Modifications As another modification, the emulsification apparatus uses an adapter configured to hold the emulsification container 100 so that the height direction thereof obliquely intersects with the rotation axis L2. It is also possible. Alternatively, the emulsifying device can be configured such that the revolution axis L1 and the rotation axis L2 are parallel to each other. Even when these modified examples are employed, sufficient energy can be applied to the material M in the emulsification container 100, so that the material M can be emulsified in the emulsification container 100. Alternatively, it is possible to use a container holder in which the holder main body 38 and the adapter 40 described above are integrally formed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Emulsification apparatus 10 ... Rotating shaft 20 ... Rotating body 30 ... Container holder 32 ... Spinning shaft 34 ... Bearing 36 ... Balance weight 38 ... Holder main body 40 ... Adapter 42 ... Holding part 50 ... Drive mechanism 51 ... Motor 52 ... Rotation drive mechanism 54 ... Rotation pulley 56 ... Rotation force application pulley 58 ... Belt 59 ... Idler pulley 60 ... Support substrate 70 ... Adapter 72 ... Holding part 80 ... Adapter, 82 ... holding section, 84 ... first holding area, 84-1 ... upper holding section, 84-2 ... lower holding section, 86 ... second holding area, 86-1 ... upper holding section, 86- DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Lower side holding part, 90 ... Adapter, 92 ... Holding part, 100 ... Emulsification container, 110 ... Main body, 112 ... Bottom part, 116 ... Upper part, 120 ... Cover, 122 ... Rubber stopper, 124 ... Metal film, 126 ... Seal, E ... Emulsified liquid, L1 ... Revolution axis, L2 ... Rotation axis, M ... Material

Claims (8)

A container holder configured to be able to rotate around the rotation axis while revolving around the rotation axis;
A drive mechanism for rotating the container holder while revolving,
Including
The container holder holds the emulsification container in which the material is sealed so that the height direction is inclined with respect to the rotation axis,
An emulsification apparatus for emulsifying the material in the emulsification container by rotating the container holder while revolving. The emulsifying device according to claim 1,
The container holder is an emulsification apparatus that holds the emulsification container so that the height direction is orthogonal to the rotation axis. The emulsifying device according to claim 2,
The emulsification apparatus is configured such that the container holder is capable of holding a plurality of the emulsification containers. The emulsifying device according to claim 3,
The said container holder is an emulsification apparatus comprised so that the said several emulsification container can be hold | maintained on one virtual plane orthogonal to the said rotation axis. The emulsification device according to claim 4,
The said container holder is an emulsification apparatus which hold | maintains these emulsification containers so that the distance from the said rotation axis may become fixed. In the emulsification apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5,
The container holder includes a holder body and an adapter configured to be detachable from the holder body,
The emulsification container is an emulsification device held by the adapter. An adapter that is held by a container holder configured to be able to rotate around a rotation axis while revolving around a revolution axis, and behaves integrally with the container holder,
An adapter having a holding portion that holds an emulsification container in which a material to be emulsified is sealed so that a height direction of the emulsification container is inclined with respect to the rotation axis. An emulsification container in which a material is sealed in a container holder configured to be able to rotate about the rotation axis while revolving around the rotation axis so that the height direction is inclined with respect to the rotation axis. A step of holding
A step of producing an emulsion by emulsifying the material in the emulsification container by rotating the container holder while revolving.
The manufacturing method of the emulsion containing this.