WO2018056378A1

WO2018056378A1 - Tube unit and transport device

Info

Publication number: WO2018056378A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/034165
Authority: WO
Inventors: 中村　太郎; 泰之山田; 舜吉浜; 恭太芦垣
Original assignee: 学校法人中央大学
Priority date: 2016-09-21
Filing date: 2017-09-21
Publication date: 2018-03-29

Abstract

A tube unit (1a) comprises: an inner tube (2) which can be elastically deformed and is formed in a tube shape; and a pressurized space forming unit (6) which forms a pressurized space (5) with an outer circumferential surface (4) of the inner tube (2), wherein the pressurized space (5) contacts said outer circumferential surface (4). The inner tube (2) can be operated between a minimum pressure state and a maximum pressure state. In the minimum pressure state, the inner tube (2) has a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction. A transport device (1A) is provided with the tube unit (1a) and a pressure control unit (10).

Description

Tube unit and transfer device

The present disclosure relates to a cylinder unit and a conveyance device.

Conventionally, as a cylinder unit for a transfer device for transferring an object to be transferred such as a liquid, a gas-liquid mixture or a solid-liquid mixture, an inner cylinder that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape, and an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder A pressurization space forming part that forms a pressurization space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a cylinder unit, the inner cylinder has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurized medium, and the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurized medium, and the minimum pressure The inner cylinder is inflated and deformed radially inward by the increase of the internal pressure from the state, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder is contracted, and is configured to operate between the maximum pressure state. ing. The conveyance device can convey the object to be conveyed from the inside space to the outside by contracting the inside space by setting the inner cylinder to the maximum pressure state by the pressure control unit.

JP 2013-174139 A JP 2010-196689 A

However, in the conventional cylinder unit as described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2, for example, the inner cylinder is elastically deformed radially inward by inducing buckling at a predetermined position on the circumference of the cylindrical inner cylinder. For this purpose, local protrusions or grooves are provided in the inner cylinder. However, it is desirable if more stable elastic deformation of the inner cylinder can be realized.

In view of the above, the present invention has a first object to provide a cylinder unit and a transport device that can realize stable elastic deformation of an inner cylinder.

The conventional cylinder unit as described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2 induces buckling at a predetermined position on the circumference of the inner cylinder, for example, and aims to stably expand and deform the inner cylinder in the radial direction. Therefore, the optimum shape and the like required for the inner cylinder in the minimum pressure state differ depending on the purpose and application. However, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of manufacturing efficiency to manufacture inner cylinders having different shapes and structures for each cylinder unit having different purposes and uses.

In view of such a point, the present invention provides a cylinder unit and a transport device that can make a desired shape of the inner cylinder during operation without depending on the shape or structure of the inner cylinder itself. Second purpose.

In a transfer device obtained by connecting a plurality of conventional cylinder units as described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2, the inner cylinder of each connected cylinder unit is expanded radially inward so as to simulate a peristaltic motion. By sequentially repeating the process from the upstream side to the downstream side, the conveyed product is conveyed so as to be pushed out to the downstream side, and thus there is a problem that there is a limit in improving the conveyance speed.

In view of these points, a third object of the present invention is to provide a transport device that can improve the transport efficiency of transported objects.

The cylinder unit as one aspect of the present invention is
An inner cylinder that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape;
A pressurizing space forming part that forms a pressurizing space in contact with the outer peripheral surface between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, and
The inner cylinder has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurized space is minimized by discharging the pressurized medium, and the internal pressure is maximized by the supply of the pressurized medium, and from the minimum pressure state. The inner cylinder is inflated and deformed radially inward by the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder is contracted, and is operable between a maximum pressure state and
The inner cylinder has a noncircular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction in the minimum pressure state.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a cylinder unit capable of realizing stable elastic deformation of the inner cylinder.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the non-circular shape is a substantially triangular shape or a star shape.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder unit has a contact portion that comes into contact with the inner cylinder at least in the minimum pressure state, and the shape of the inner cylinder is changed to the non-circular shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. A shape restricting section that changes the shape is further provided.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a cylinder unit that can have a desired shape of the inner cylinder during operation without depending on the shape or structure of the inner cylinder itself.

As one embodiment of the present invention,
The shape restricting portion is configured by a ring portion having a plate shape having an opening into which the inner cylinder is inserted,
The contact portion is included in the outer peripheral edge of the opening.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the ring portion is disposed between both axial end portions of the inner cylinder in the pressurizing space.

As one embodiment of the present invention,
The ring portion is disposed on at least one of both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder in the pressure space,
The opening of the ring part is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder over the entire circumference.

As one embodiment of the present invention,
The pressurizing space forming part forms a plurality of pressurizing spaces separated from each other,
Each portion surrounded by the plurality of pressure spaces in the inner cylinder is operable between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state,
The shape restricting portion has the contact portion that contacts the respective portions at least in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of the respective portions to the non-circular shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. It is.

As one embodiment of the present invention,
The pressurizing space forming part has an outer cylinder that forms the pressurizing space between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder,
The inner cylinder has a movable cylinder portion that is an axial length portion in contact with the pressure space,
The movable cylinder portion is formed such that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof forms the noncircular shape.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the movable cylinder portion is formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape forms a constant non-circular shape over the entire length in the axial direction.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the movable cylinder portion is formed so that the non-circular cross-sectional shape has a constant size over the entire length in the axial direction.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the movable cylindrical portion is formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape rotates in the circumferential direction in accordance with a change in the axial position.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the movable cylindrical portion is formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape rotates in the circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to the change in the axial position. .

As one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sets of the pressurizing space and the movable cylinder portion are provided.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the non-circular shape is a substantially triangular shape.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the substantially triangular shape is a substantially equilateral triangular shape.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the non-circular shape is a star shape.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the inner cylinder is an extruded product.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the outer cylinder can be bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to its central axis.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion are similar in cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction over the entire length in the axial direction. ing.

Moreover, the transport apparatus as one aspect of the present invention is
A cylinder unit according to the present invention;
A pressure control unit that controls supply and discharge of the pressurized medium to and from the pressurized space in the cylinder unit.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the transport device comprises:
A cylindrical expansion body connected to the cylinder unit and extending or contracting in the axial direction;
Drive means for expanding and contracting the stretchable body,
The said pressurization space formation part of the said cylinder unit has an outer cylinder which forms the said pressurization space between the outer peripheral surfaces of the said inner cylinder.

According to such a configuration, the conveyed product can be pushed out in the contracting direction or the extending direction by contracting or extending the expansion body in the state in which the cylinder unit is expanded, thereby improving the transport efficiency. be able to.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the outer cylinder is restricted from extending in the axial direction, and expands radially outward by the supply of the pressurizing medium into the pressurizing space. It is configured to be shrinkable.

According to such a configuration, since the cylinder unit contracts in the axial direction as the cylinder unit expands, in addition to the movement of the conveyance object due to the expansion of the cylinder unit, the conveyance object can be further moved by the contraction in the axial direction. Further, the conveyance efficiency of the conveyed product can be further improved.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the telescopic body includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder, and the telescopic body includes the driving means, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. It expands and contracts by compressing and expanding in the axial direction in synchronization with the cylinder.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the telescopic body includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder, and the telescopic body includes the driving means, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. It expands and contracts by moving the cylinder relative to the axial direction.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic body includes an air chamber partitioned by an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and expands and contracts by supplying and discharging fluid to the air chamber.

According to such a configuration, the fluid used for the cylinder unit and the fluid used for expansion / contraction of the expansion / contraction body can be made common.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable bodies are arranged in series in the cylinder unit.

As one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of the stretchable bodies are arranged on the outer periphery of the tube unit, and each end of each stretchable body is connected to each end of the tube unit.

According to such a configuration, the inner cylinder can be expanded inward in the radial direction by contracting each expansion and contraction in a state where the cylinder unit is expanded, so that a larger amount of the conveyed product is conveyed from the inner cylinder. be able to.

As one embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder unit is provided on the inner peripheral side of the stretchable body, and the end of the cylinder unit and the end of the stretchable body are connected.

According to such a configuration, the inner cylinder can be expanded radially inward by contracting the cylinder unit in a state where the cylinder unit is expanded, so that a larger amount of the conveyed product can be conveyed from the inner cylinder. Can do.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cylinder unit and a transport device that can realize stable elastic deformation of the inner cylinder.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cylinder unit and a transport device that can make the shape of the inner cylinder during operation desired, regardless of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder itself.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a transfer device that can improve the transfer efficiency of a transfer object.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the inner side member of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 1A. It is a perspective view which shows the outer side member of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 1A. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 1A according to FIG. 2A. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 1A according to FIG. 2A. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 1A according to FIG. 2A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the ring part to the inner side member of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A. It is a top view of the ring part shown to FIG. 3A. It is a top view which shows the modification of the ring part shown to FIG. 4A. It is a top view which shows the modification of the ring part shown to FIG. 4A. It is a top view which shows the modification of the ring part shown to FIG. 4A. It is a partial cross section side view which shows the cylinder unit which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention partially. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. 5A. It is a perspective view which shows the elastic cylinder shown to FIG. 5B. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6B is a DD cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A. It is a perspective view of the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 6A. FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view showing a pump device configured using the single cylinder unit shown in FIG. 1A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pump apparatus comprised using two or more cylinder units shown to FIG. 1A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveying apparatus which concern on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the inner cylinder shown to FIG. 9A. It is a perspective view which shows the pressurization space formation part shown to FIG. 9A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 10A. It is a perspective view which shows the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 10A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pump apparatus comprised by the single cylinder unit shown to FIG. 10A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the pump apparatus comprised using multiple cylinder units shown to FIG. 10A. It is a top view which shows the mixing apparatus comprised so that a circulation path might be formed using two or more cylinder units shown to FIG. 10A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 9th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 15B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 15A. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. 15A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveying apparatus which concern on 10th Embodiment of this invention. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. 16A. It is a perspective view which shows the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 16A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 11th Embodiment of this invention. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. 17A. It is FF sectional drawing of FIG. 17A. It is GG sectional drawing of FIG. 17A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveying apparatus which concern on 12th Embodiment of this invention. It is HH sectional drawing of FIG. 18A. It is a perspective view which shows the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 18A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 13th Embodiment of this invention. It is II sectional drawing of FIG. 19A. It is JJ sectional drawing of FIG. 19A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveyance apparatus which concern on 14th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 20B is a sectional view taken along the line KK of FIG. 20A. It is a perspective view which shows the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 20A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveying apparatus which concern on 15th Embodiment of this invention. It is LL sectional drawing of FIG. 21A. It is MM sectional drawing of FIG. 21A. It is NN sectional drawing of FIG. 21A. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and conveying apparatus which concern on 16th Embodiment of this invention. It is PP sectional drawing of FIG. 22A. It is a perspective view which shows the cylinder unit shown to FIG. 22A. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a conveying apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of a cylinder unit. It is a schematic block diagram of a cylinder unit. It is a schematic block diagram of a cylinder unit. It is a schematic block diagram of a cylinder unit. It is a schematic block diagram of an expansion-contraction body. It is a schematic block diagram of an expansion-contraction body. It is a schematic block diagram of an expansion-contraction body. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows other operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other form of an expansion-contraction body. It is a figure which shows the other form of an expansion-contraction body. It is a figure which shows the other form of an expansion-contraction body. It is a figure which shows the other form of an expansion-contraction body. It is a figure which shows the other form of a cylinder unit. It is a figure which shows the other form of a cylinder unit. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of a conveying apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of a conveying apparatus.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a cylinder unit and a transport apparatus according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the present specification, the axial direction of the inner cylinder means a direction along the central axis of the inner cylinder. Further, the axial direction of the outer cylinder means a direction along the central axis of the outer cylinder. In each embodiment, the central axis of the inner cylinder and the central axis of the outer cylinder coincide with each other, but these central axes may not coincide with each other. In addition, “joining” is not limited to bonding by an adhesive or the like, or fixing by welding or the like, but also includes fixing by screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, etc., and fixing by fitting.

First, with reference to FIGS. 1A to 2D, the cylinder unit 1a and the transfer apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. As shown in FIG. 1A, the cylinder unit 1a according to the present embodiment includes an inner cylinder 2 that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape. The inner cylinder 2 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a cylindrical shape. Further, the cylinder unit 1 a includes a pressurizing space forming portion 6 that forms a pressurizing space 5 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 between the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2. The pressurizing space 5 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2 over the entire circumference. However, the pressurizing space 5 may be in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 over only a part of the entire circumference.

As shown in FIGS. 1B to 1C, the cylinder unit 1a is made of an elastic material such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin in which a pair of flange parts 7 are integrally formed at both axial ends of the inner cylinder 2. An inner member 8 and an outer member 9 having a cylindrical outer tube 3 and made of a rigid material such as hard synthetic resin or metal are provided. As shown in FIG. 1A, the pair of flange portions 7 and the outer cylinder 3 are fluid-tightly joined to each other, for example, fixed. Therefore, the pressurizing space forming portion 6 is composed of a pair of flange portions 7 of the inner member 8 and the outer cylinder 3 of the outer member 9.

In addition, it is not essential to configure the cylinder unit 1a with the inner member 8 and the outer member 9 as described above. For example, the pair of flange portions 7 and the inner cylinder 2 may be configured as separate members. Further, the pair of flange portions 7 may be formed integrally with the outer member 9, and may be formed of the same rigid material as the outer member 9. The outer member 9 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. Furthermore, you may comprise the cylinder unit 1a by joining the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 2 so that it may mutually contact | adhere in the both ends of these axial directions, without providing a pair of flange part 7. FIG. In this case, the pressurizing space forming unit 6 is configured by the outer cylinder 3. Further, in this case, it is preferable to provide a circumferential groove continuous over the entire circumference on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 3, and by providing such a circumferential groove, the operating speed of the inner cylinder 2 by the pressurized medium is increased. be able to. In this case, the outer cylinder 3 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the outer cylinder 3 has a radial rigidity that does not substantially expand and deform radially outward when the pressurized medium is supplied to the pressurized space 5. In addition, the outer cylinder 3 may be comprised so that bending deformation is possible in the direction orthogonal to the center axis line O2. For example, the outer cylinder 3 can be configured such that a fiber cord knitted into a sleeve shape is embedded in an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. According to such a structure, the conveyance direction of a to-be-conveyed object can be bent in a desired direction.

The inner cylinder 2 has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 is minimized by discharging the pressurized medium, and the internal pressure from the minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurized medium. The inner cylinder 2 is inflated and deformed radially inward by the increase in pressure (see the inner cylinder 2 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A), and the inner space 11 formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 2 is contracted. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state. Here, the state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 is minimized when the inner cylinder 2 is operated is the minimum pressure state, and the magnitude of the internal pressure in the minimum pressure state can be set as appropriate. . Further, the state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 becomes maximum when the inner cylinder 2 operates is the maximum pressure state, and the magnitude of the internal pressure in the maximum pressure state can also be set as appropriate. As the pressurizing medium, an arbitrary fluid such as a gas such as air or carbon dioxide, or a liquid such as water or oil may be used.

The cylinder unit 1a and the pressure control unit 10 constitute a transfer device 1A. The pressure controller 10 supplies the pressurized medium to the pressurized space 5 (see the downward arrow in FIG. 1A) and discharges the pressurized medium from the pressurized space 5 (see the upward arrow in FIG. 1A). Can be controlled. Moreover, the pressure control part 10 can be comprised by pressure generation sources, such as a compressor, flow-path formation parts, such as piping, and a flow-path switching valve, for example.

Furthermore, the cylinder unit 1 a includes a shape restricting portion 12. The shape restricting portion 12 has a contact portion 13 that comes into contact with the inner cylinder 2 at least in the minimum pressure state, and is configured to change the shape of the inner cylinder 2 to a predetermined shape by the contact portion 13 in the minimum pressure state. . Here, “changing” the shape of the inner cylinder 2 by the contact portion 13 means “changing the shape of the inner cylinder 2 when the contact portion 13 is not in contact with the inner cylinder 2”. To do. The “predetermined shape” is preferably a non-cylindrical shape.

In the present embodiment, the shape restricting portion 12 is constituted by four convex portions 14 provided in the pressurized space forming portion 6. The four convex portions 14 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 3 and project from the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 3 toward the radially inner side of the outer cylinder 3. In this example, the four convex portions 14 are formed integrally with the outer cylinder 3. And the contact part 13 comprised by those front-end | tip parts contacts the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2 in a minimum pressure state. As shown in FIG. 2A, the inner cylinder 2 having a cylindrical shape in a natural state before being deformed by the contact portion 13 has a cylindrical shape including a star-shaped cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIG. It is elastically deformed as it is. That is, in the minimum pressure state, the inner cylinder 2 has a circular cross-sectional shape at both end portions in the axial direction and is gradually smoothed so that the cross-sectional shape gradually becomes a star shape toward a predetermined position between the both end portions in the axial direction. Is deformed. Therefore, by changing from the minimum pressure state to the maximum pressure state, the inner cylinder 2 has four fold lines positioned between the contact portions 13 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2A. It can be expanded and deformed as a starting point.

The shape restricting portion 12 is not limited to the one constituted by the four convex portions 14 as shown in FIGS. 1C and 2A. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, it may be constituted by three convex portions 15, may be constituted by two convex portions 16 as shown in FIG. 2C, or as shown in FIG. You may comprise by the one convex part 17, and you may comprise by four or more convex parts. 2B to 2D indicate the shapes of the inner cylinder 2 in the maximum pressure state, respectively. When the shape restricting portion 12 is constituted by a plurality of convex portions, it is preferable that the plurality of convex portions are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 3. Moreover, when the shape control part 12 is comprised with a several or single convex part, the shape of a convex part can be changed suitably. Moreover, the material and structure of a convex part can also be changed suitably. The convex portion is made of the same material integrally with the outer member 9, and thus made of a rigid material, but may be made of an elastic material. Further, for example, a coil spring may be disposed at a radial intermediate portion of the outer cylinder 3 in the convex portion, and the contact portion 13 may be urged radially inward. Further, for example, a coil spring may be arranged instead of the convex portion. As described above, the shape restricting portion 12 is not limited to a rigid body, and may be composed of an elastic body.

Further, the shape restricting portion 12 is not limited to the one constituted by such a convex portion. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4A, in the cylinder unit 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the shape restricting portion 12 is constituted by a ring portion 18. The ring portion 18 has a plate shape having an opening 19 into which the inner cylinder 2 is inserted. A contact portion 20 is included in the outer peripheral edge of the opening 19. The contact part 20 contacts the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2 in the minimum pressure state. Moreover, as shown to FIG. 3A, the contact part 20 contains the part spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2 in a maximum pressure state. 3A indicates the shape of the inner cylinder 2 in the maximum pressure state. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the ring portion 18 is disposed between both end portions of the inner cylinder 2 in the axial direction. The shape of the opening 19 of the ring portion 18 is not limited to the star shape as shown in FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 4A, and may be, for example, the shape as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4C, and can be changed as appropriate. It is. The ring portion 18 is made of a rigid material such as hard synthetic resin or metal, but may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. The ring portion 18 is configured as a separate member from the inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3, but may be provided integrally with the outer cylinder 3, for example. In this case, the ring portion 18 is preferably provided with a through hole through which the pressurized medium can pass as appropriate. Further, instead of such a ring portion 18, for example, a plurality of ball-shaped members arranged at intervals (for example, equal intervals) in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 2, and the plurality of ball-shaped members are penetrated. The shape restricting portion 12 may be configured by an annular member that forms an annular shape and presses the plurality of ball-shaped members against the inner cylinder 2 at least in a minimum pressure state. The annular member may be stretchable in the circumferential direction like a rubber band, for example, or may not have such stretchability.

5A to 5C show a cylinder unit 1c according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the shape restricting portion 12 is constituted by an elastic cylinder 21 made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. The elastic cylinder body 21 provided in the cylinder unit 1c according to the present embodiment has a contact portion 22 that comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 2 at least in the minimum pressure state, and the contact portion 22 in the minimum pressure state causes the The shape is changed to a predetermined shape (in this example, so as to form a cylindrical shape including a star-shaped cross-sectional shape). The elastic cylinder 21 can be elastically deformed together with the inner cylinder 2 due to an increase in the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5, and the inner space 11 can be contracted. The shape, size, elasticity, and the like of the elastic cylinder 21 can be appropriately set according to the shape required for the inner cylinder 2. The elastic cylinder 21 can be joined to the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 2 through the contact portion 22 over the entire circumference or over only a part of the entire circumference. Moreover, joining may be abbreviate | omitted by making the elastic cylinder 21 into a dimension sufficiently larger than the inner cylinder 2, and press-fitting in the inner cylinder 2. The elastic cylinder 21 may be assembled to the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder 2. Also in this case, the elastic cylinder 21 may be joined to the inner cylinder 2 as necessary. In addition, the dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 5B shows the shape of the inner cylinder 2 in a natural state.

When the shape restricting portion 12 is provided between both axial ends of the inner cylinder 2 as in the various specific examples described above, the inner cylinder 2 formed in a highly versatile cylindrical shape is in a minimum pressure state. The cross-sectional shape of both end portions in the axial direction (cross-sectional shape by a plane perpendicular to the central axis) is circular, and the cross-sectional shape gradually becomes non-circular toward a predetermined position between both end portions in the axial direction. It can be elastically deformed to form a deformed cylindrical shape that is smoothly deformed. By deforming the inner cylinder 2 into such a deformed cylindrical shape, the inner cylinder 2 can be easily expanded and deformed so as to contract the inner space 11 by increasing the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5. The operation can be stabilized so that the manner of expansion and deformation is always substantially constant, so that the transport characteristics can be stabilized. In addition, since both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 have a circular cross-sectional shape, it can be used by directly connecting to a pipe having a generally cylindrical shape, thereby ensuring convenience. it can. Although it is conceivable to form the inner cylinder 2 in the shape of a deformed cylinder from the beginning, it is possible to deform the shape of the inner cylinder 2 into a deformed cylinder using the shape restricting portion 12 as in the present embodiment. Since the inner cylinder 2 can be used, manufacturing efficiency can be improved. That is, the shape of the inner cylinder 2 at the time of operation can be made desired regardless of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder 2 itself. Moreover, the configuration of the shape regulating portion 12 with respect to the inner cylinder 2 can be facilitated by configuring the shape regulating portion 12 with the ring portion 18 as described above.

The inner cylinder 2 is not limited to a cylindrical shape in a natural state before being deformed by the contact portion 13 of the shape regulating portion 12. Further, the inner cylinder 2 may have a cylindrical shape or other cylindrical shape in a natural state, and may have a shape provided with a convex portion (not shown) that protrudes radially inward locally. For example, by arranging such a convex portion at each circumferential position that protrudes most radially inward when the inner cylinder 2 is inflated and deformed so that the inner space 11 contracts, When the pressure state is reached, the central portion of the inner space 11 can be easily closed by these convex portions. Moreover, the inner cylinder 2 may have a groove | channel, a protrusion, etc. extended in an axial direction etc., for example.

6A to 6C show a cylinder unit 1d according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the shape restricting portions 12 are provided at both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 in the pressurizing space 5, and have the same configuration as the ring portion 18 described above. It has become. That is, a pair of ring portions 23 as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C are provided instead of the pair of flange portions 7 provided at both end portions of the inner cylinder 2 in the axial direction. Each of the pair of ring portions 23 has an opening 24 into which the inner cylinder 2 is inserted. A contact portion 25 is included in each outer peripheral edge of the opening 24 of the pair of ring portions 23. The contact portions 25 of the pair of ring portions 23 are joined, for example, firmly, fluid-tightly over the outer peripheral surface 4 and the entire circumference of the inner cylinder 2. The pair of ring portions 23 are formed integrally with the outer cylinder 3 in this example. The shape of the opening 24 of the pair of ring portions 23 is not limited to the star shape as shown in FIG. 6B, but may be the shape as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4D, and can be changed as appropriate. The pair of ring portions 23 are made of a rigid material such as hard synthetic resin or metal, but may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. The shape restricting portion 12 may be provided only on one of both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 in the pressurizing space 5. Also in this case, the shape restricting portion 12 can be constituted by the ring portion 23. Further, the shape restricting portion 12 may have a shape different between one end of the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 in the pressurizing space 5 and the other (for example, one is a substantially triangular shape and the other is a star). Shape etc.). Even when the shape restricting portions 12 are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 in the pressurized space 5 as in the present embodiment, the inner cylinder during operation is independent of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder 2 itself. The shape of 2 can be made as desired. In the present embodiment, a support portion that supports the axial intermediate portion of the inner cylinder 2 may be provided in the outer cylinder 3. For example, by providing such a support portion on the bottom surface side of the inner cylinder 2, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sagging of the inner cylinder 2 due to the weight of the conveyed object. Moreover, the structure which changes the shape in the minimum pressure state of the axial direction intermediate part of the inner cylinder 2 to a predetermined | prescribed shape by providing such a support part continuously or intermittently over the perimeter (namely, such as A configuration in which a simple support portion is provided as an additional shape restricting portion). The shape of the support portion is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a protrusion extending in the axial direction or the circumferential direction, or a protrusion extending inward in the radial direction. Further, it may be a ring portion as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C and FIGS. 4A to 4D. Furthermore, for example, a rod-like member (such as a shaft) extending in the axial direction may be used. Further, not only on the bottom surface side of the inner cylinder 2, for example, a rod-like member (such as a shaft) extending in the axial direction is provided as a shape restricting portion at any one or more locations in the circumferential direction, and the shape of the inner cylinder 2 during operation is desired. It is good also as a structure made into. Such a rod-shaped member may extend in a spiral shape, for example.

The

cylinder units

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and the like as described above (hereinafter also simply referred to as “cylinder unit 1a etc.”) can be used, for example, to configure a pump device or a mixing device. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, tube ends T serving as passages for the objects to be conveyed are connected to both ends in the axial direction of the inner space 11 such as the cylinder unit 1 a, respectively. By disposing a check valve V that allows passage of an object to be conveyed to one side in the axial direction and prevents passage to the other side, a pump device can be configured. In this case, the inner cylinder 2 such as the cylinder unit 1a is deformed so that the inner space 11 contracts by pressurization by the pressure control unit 10, so that the object to be conveyed can be conveyed to one side in the axial direction. . Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, by preparing a plurality of cylinder units 1a, etc., connecting them in the axial direction, and sequentially applying pressure by providing a time difference between adjacent cylinder units 1a, etc. The inner space 11 can be contracted sequentially to transport the object to be transported. According to the conveyance by such a peristaltic motion, it becomes possible to smoothly convey a solid-liquid mixture such as slurry or powder. Further, at least one of both end faces in the axial direction of the cylinder unit 1a and the like may be inclined with respect to the central axis O1 and O2, and by using the inclined cylinder unit 1a and the like connected in this manner, A conveying path having a shape can be formed. Furthermore, the shape of the shape restricting portion 12 may be different between the connected cylinder units 1a and the like (for example, one is substantially triangular and the other is star-shaped).

In addition, the pump device configured as described above can exhibit a function as a mixing device because the transported object is crushed as the transported object is transported. That is, when using, for example, a solid-liquid mixture as an object to be transported, mixing of solid and liquid can be promoted, and also when using a plurality of types of liquid, solid-liquid mixture, powder, Can promote their mixing. In the case where the mixing apparatus is configured by the cylinder unit 1a and the like as described above, it is preferable that the flow path of the transported object is formed in an annular shape (that is, so as to form a circulation path). Alternatively, both ends of the flow path of the object to be transported that penetrates the plurality of interconnected cylinder units 1a and the like can be closed, and in a state where these both ends are closed, the object to be transported is connected to one end of the flow path and the like. You may convey so that it may reciprocate between edge parts. Furthermore, the substance in the inner space 11 may be mixed by operating the inner cylinder 2 in a state in which both ends in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 2 are closed using a single cylinder unit 1a and the like.

Examples of the object to be conveyed to the cylinder unit 1a and the like as described above include fluid substances such as liquid, gas-liquid mixture, solid-liquid mixture, and powder. However, the cylinder unit 1a and the like can also be configured so that a rod-shaped object having a length exceeding the length of the inner space 11 can be conveyed. For example, in the cylinder unit 1a and the like, the inner cylinder 2 is radially inward so that both the inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3 are contractible in the axial direction, that is, by pressurizing the pressurizing space 5. The inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3 may both be contracted and deformed in the axial direction as the outer cylinder 3 expands and deforms toward the outside in the radial direction. As an example of such a case, a cylinder unit 1e according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. According to the cylinder unit 1e according to the present embodiment, the axial length of the cylinder unit 1e can be contracted as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. If one end of the cylinder unit 1e in the axial direction is fixed, even the rod-shaped object as described above can be conveyed from one end in the axial direction of the cylinder unit 1e to the other end. . Further, in the cylinder unit 1a and the like as described above, when both the inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3 are configured to be contractible in the axial direction, a highly viscous liquid is transported particularly advantageously. Can do. In order to obtain the contractibility as described above, for example, one of the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 2 is provided with a plurality of fiber cords extending in the axial direction of the elastic cylindrical body inside the elastic cylindrical body. Is formed of an axial fiber-reinforced elastic cylindrical body, while the other of the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 2 is formed of an elastic cylindrical body having no such fiber-reinforced structure. . In addition, you may comprise both the outer cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 2 with the axial direction fiber reinforcement type elastic cylindrical body. Further, at least one of the inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3 is covered with a fiber cord in which the outer side of the elastic cylindrical body is knitted into a sleeve shape instead of such an axial fiber-reinforced elastic cylindrical body. Alternatively, it may be formed of a sleeve-like fiber reinforced elastic cylindrical body. On the other hand, in the cylinder unit 1a and the like as described above, when the outer cylinder 3 is formed of a rigid body having no contractibility as described above, the powder can be conveyed particularly advantageously. In this case, the inner cylinder 2 may be formed of an elastic cylindrical body having no fiber reinforced structure. However, the axial fiber reinforced elastic cylindrical body or the sleeve-shaped fiber reinforced elastic cylinder as described above may be used. You may comprise by a shape body.

Further, the

cylinder units

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e as described above may have a plurality of pressurizing spaces 5. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the pressurizing space forming unit 26 provided in the cylinder unit 1f according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention forms a plurality (two in the illustrated case) of pressurizing spaces 5. The respective portions of the inner cylinder 2 surrounded by the plurality of pressurizing spaces 5 are operable between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state. The pressure control unit 27 can operate the inner cylinder 2 between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state by controlling the internal pressures of the plurality of pressurizing spaces 5 respectively. The shape restricting portion 28 has a contact portion 29 that contacts at least the respective portions in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of each portion to a predetermined shape by the contact portion 29 in the minimum pressure state. is there. Specifically, the pressurizing space forming part 26 is provided between the cylindrical outer cylinder 3, the pair of flange parts 7 provided at both axial ends of the outer cylinder 3, and the pair of flange parts 7. The partition part 30 was provided. The pair of flange portions 7 and partition walls 30 may be formed integrally with the outer cylinder 3. The pair of flange portions 7 and the partition wall portion 30 are fluid-tightly joined, for example, fixed to the inner cylinder 2. According to such a cylinder unit 1f, the object to be conveyed can be conveyed in the same manner as in the case of the pump apparatus including the plurality of cylinder units 1a shown in FIG. 7B. 9A to 9C, the convex portion 14 is shown as the shape restricting portion 28. However, instead of the convex portion 14, the

convex portions

15, 16, 17 described above, the ring portion 18, and the elastic cylindrical body are used. 21 etc. may be used. Further, the shape restricting portion 28 may be disposed between the both end portions in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 9A or may be disposed at both end portions in the axial direction with respect to the respective portions. Further, as in the case of the cylinder unit 1e shown in FIG. 8, both the inner cylinder 2 and the outer cylinder 3 may be configured to have contractibility in the axial direction also in the cylinder unit 1f.

The first to sixth embodiments of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 9C. However, the above description is only an example of the present invention, and the gist of the invention is described above. It goes without saying that various changes may be made without departing from the above. For example, the shape restricting portion may be provided between both end portions in the axial direction in the pressurizing space and at least one end portion in the axial direction in the pressurizing space. 2A to 2D, 4A to 4D, and the like, various shapes of the shape restricting portions that deform the inner cylinder in the minimum pressure state are shown. However, as described above, these are not necessarily rigid bodies. Good. By using an elastic body, for example, the inner cylinder in the radial direction during pressurization to the pressurizing space is maintained by maintaining a state in which a force is applied from outside in the radial direction although the inner cylinder is apparently hardly deformed. In addition to making it easier to cause inward expansion and deformation, the way of expansion and deformation (the shape at the time of deformation) can be changed, as well as keeping the inner space wide in the minimum pressure state, and the efficiency of conveyance and mixing Can be increased. Further, the shape and size of the pressurizing space in the minimum pressure state can be variously changed. Note that, if the volume of the pressurizing space is reduced, the amount of the pressurizing medium used for operating the inner cylinder can be reduced, and the operating speed of the inner cylinder can be improved. In order to reduce the volume of the pressurizing space, for example, in the minimum pressure state, the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder may be configured to follow the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. For example, in the minimum pressure state, when the inner cylinder is deformed into a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. 4B by the ring portion, the outer shape of the ring portion and the surrounding outer cylinder also have a substantially triangular shape. You may comprise. By adopting such a configuration, for example, when a plurality of transfer apparatuses are arranged in parallel, they can be arranged densely, and space saving can be achieved. Further, in a pump device or a mixing device having a plurality of pressurizing spaces separated from each other, for example, a plurality of shape regulating portions shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be arranged with different phases. For example, the shape restricting portions illustrated in FIG. 4A may be configured to be arranged in adjacent pressurizing spaces with a phase difference of 45 ° from each other. According to such a configuration, the inner cylinder 2 can be effectively deformed, and the conveyance efficiency can be improved. When the shape restricting portion shown in FIG. 4B is used instead of the shape restricting portion shown in FIG. 4A and the phase is shifted by 180 ° or 30 °, the powder conveyance speed can be improved particularly. . Further, in the example shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the phase of the shape restricting portion on one end side in the axial direction and the shape restricting portion on the other end side may be shifted by 45 ° from each other. In the example shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the shape restricting portion has a star shape. However, the shape restricting portion is changed to a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 10A to 22C, the cylinder unit and the conveying device according to the seventh to sixteenth embodiments of the present invention will be described as an example.

First, with reference to FIG. 10A to FIG. 13, the cylinder unit 101a and the transport device 102a according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the cylinder unit 101a according to this embodiment includes an inner cylinder 103a that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape. In addition, the cylinder unit 101a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 103a and pressurizes a space 104a that expands and contracts by elastically deforming the inner cylinder 103a in accordance with supply / discharge of the pressurized medium. The outer cylinder 105a is formed. A state when the pressurizing space 104a expands and the inner cylinder 103a expands and deforms radially inward is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 10A to 10B. The inner cylinder 103a has a movable cylinder part 106a which is an axial length part in contact with the pressurizing space 104a. In the present embodiment, the movable cylindrical portion 106a is formed such that the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface forms a constant non-circular shape over the entire length in the axial direction. Instead of such a configuration, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a may be a non-circular configuration. For example, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the movable tube portion 106a is substantially triangular as shown in FIG. 10B at one end portion in the axial direction of the movable tube portion 106a. It is good also as a structure which is a star shape as shown to FIG. 22B in an edge part. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a may be a non-circular shape that is constant over the entire length in the axial direction.

In the present embodiment, the non-circular shape is a substantially triangular shape, and more specifically, a substantially equilateral triangular shape. Here, the vertices of the substantially triangular shape and the substantially equilateral triangular shape may be curved as shown in FIG. 10A. In addition, the non-circular shape can be appropriately changed to an optimal substantially triangular shape according to the type of the conveyed object.

In the present embodiment, the movable cylinder portion 106a is formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape has a constant size over the entire length in the axial direction. Note that the size of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylindrical portion 106a may be changed according to a change in the position in the axial direction, or the inner periphery of the movable cylindrical portion 106a. The size of the cross-sectional shape forming the non-circular shape of the surface may be changed according to a change in the position in the axial direction, or the cross-section forming the non-circular shape of the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a. Both the size of the shape and the size of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a may be changed according to the change in the position in the axial direction.

In the present embodiment, the movable cylinder portion 106a is formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape does not rotate in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the axial direction. The movable cylindrical portion 106a may be formed such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape rotates in the circumferential direction in accordance with the change in the axial position. An example of such a configuration is described in the third embodiment. It will be described later as a form.

In the present embodiment, the inner cylinder 103a is an extruded product made of an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. However, the material of the inner cylinder 3a is not limited to an elastic material, and the inner cylinder 103a is not limited to an extruded product.

In this embodiment, the pressurizing space 104a expands and contracts by elastically deforming only the inner cylinder 103a with the supply / discharge of the pressurizing medium. That is, the outer cylinder 105a has a radial rigidity that does not substantially expand and deform radially outward when the pressurized medium is supplied to the pressurized space 104a. The outer cylinder 105a may be configured to be able to be bent and deformed in a direction orthogonal to the central axis O2. For example, the outer cylinder 105a can be configured such that a fiber cord knitted into a sleeve shape is embedded in an elastic material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin. According to such a structure, the conveyance direction of a to-be-conveyed object can be bent in a desired direction.

In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a and the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder part 106a have a similar shape in which the cross-sectional shapes orthogonal to the axial direction are aligned in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the axial direction. There is no. According to such a configuration, when a compressible fluid such as gas is used as the pressurizing medium, the response speed of the elastic deformation of the inner cylinder 103a due to the supply / discharge of the pressurizing medium is increased to increase the transport speed of the object to be transported. In addition, the required flow rate of the pressurized medium can be reduced. Further, such an effect (that is, a response speed of elastic deformation of the inner cylinder 103a due to supply / discharge of the pressurized medium) is obtained by aligning the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a and the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a as much as possible. Can be increased to increase the conveyance speed of the object to be conveyed, and the effect of reducing the required flow rate of the pressurized medium can be further increased.

In the present embodiment, the inner cylinder 103a has an immovable cylinder portion 107a at both axial ends, which is an axial length portion that does not contact the pressurizing space 104a. The stationary cylinder portion 107a is fluid-tightly joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a over the entire circumference. Further, a circumferential groove 108a extending in the circumferential direction over the entire circumference is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 105a. The circumferential groove 108a forms a space with the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion 106a even when the pressurizing space 104a is contracted. In other words, the portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a facing the movable cylinder portion 106a comes into contact with the movable cylinder portion 106a when the pressurizing space 104a contracts and the entire surface excluding the portion of the circumferential groove 108a. Yes. Moreover, the circumferential groove 108a is arrange | positioned in the axial direction center part of the movable cylinder part 106a in this embodiment. However, the position of the circumferential groove 108a in the axial direction can be changed as appropriate. By providing such a circumferential groove 108a, it is possible to improve the conveyance speed of the object to be conveyed, particularly in a high-speed operation cycle (pressure medium supply / discharge cycle), compared to the case where the circumferential groove 108a is not provided. it can. It should be noted that, without providing the circumferential groove 108a, the entire surface of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a facing the movable cylinder part 106a is configured to contact the movable cylinder part 106a when the pressurizing space 104a contracts. Is also possible.

In this embodiment, the pressurizing space 104a is continuously formed over the entire circumference. Therefore, it is only necessary to supply and discharge the pressurized medium at one place in the circumferential direction, so that the configuration can be simplified. In addition, it is good also as a structure which forms the pressurization space 104a intermittently over the perimeter. Or it is good also as a structure which forms the pressurization space 104a in only one place of the circumferential direction (for example, only the substantially triangular bottom face part). However, in order to ensure a high conveyance speed of the object to be conveyed, it is preferable to form the pressurized space 104a continuously or intermittently over the entire circumference. In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the movable tube portion 106a, the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 105a, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 105a have a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction, and are circumferentially extending over the entire length in the axial direction. It has a similar shape with aligned directions. According to such a configuration, when a plurality of transfer devices 102a using the cylinder unit 101a are arranged in parallel, the outer cylinders 105a are more densely connected than when the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a is circular. Therefore, space saving can be achieved.

Further, the transport apparatus 102a according to this embodiment includes the above-described cylinder unit 101a and a pressure control unit 109a that controls supply / discharge of the pressurized medium in the cylinder unit 101a. The pressure control unit 109a supplies the pressurized medium to the pressurized space 104a (see the upward arrow in FIG. 10A) and discharges the pressurized medium from the pressurized space 104a (see the downward arrow in FIG. 10A). Can be controlled. The pressure control unit 109a can be configured by, for example, a pressure generation source such as a compressor, a flow path forming unit such as piping, and a flow path switching valve (such as a solenoid valve). Although any fluid can be used as the pressurizing medium, for example, a gas such as air or carbon dioxide is preferable, and a liquid such as oil or water may be used.

The cylinder unit 101a having such a configuration can be used, for example, to configure a pump device or a mixing device. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, pipes T serving as passages for the objects to be conveyed are connected to both ends in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 103a, respectively, and both pipes T are respectively connected to one axial side. By disposing a check valve V that allows passage of the object to be conveyed to the other side and prevents passage to the other side, a pump device can be configured. In this case, the object to be conveyed can be conveyed to one side in the axial direction by elastically deforming the inner cylinder 103a of the cylinder unit 101a by pressurization by the pressure control unit 109a. Here, examples of the object to be transported to the cylinder unit 101a include fluid substances such as liquid, gas-liquid mixture, solid-liquid mixture, and powder.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, by preparing a plurality of cylinder units 101a and connecting them in the axial direction, for example, by sequentially applying pressure by providing a time difference between adjacent cylinder units 101a, The inner cylinder 103a can be elastically deformed in order to convey the object to be conveyed. According to the conveyance by such a peristaltic motion, it becomes possible to smoothly convey a solid-liquid mixture such as slurry or powder. In this embodiment, since the inner cylinder 103a has a substantially triangular shape, it is possible to secure a wide area of the bottom surface that expands and deforms, and in particular, it is possible to improve the powder conveyance speed. In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a has a substantially triangular cross section perpendicular to the axial direction. For example, when arranging a plurality of pump devices in parallel, the outer cylinder 105a Compared to the case where the outer peripheral surface has a circular cross-sectional shape, the outer cylinders 105a can be arranged more densely, and space saving can be achieved. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a may be another substantially polygonal shape instead of the substantially triangular shape. It should be noted that at least one of both end faces in the axial direction of the cylinder unit 101a may be inclined with respect to the central axis O1, O2, and various shapes can be obtained by connecting and using the inclined cylinder unit 101a. A conveyance path can be formed. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the movable cylinder part 106a may differ between the cylinder units 101a to be connected (for example, one is substantially triangular and the other is star-shaped). Furthermore, the direction of the circumferential direction of the cross-sectional shape of the movable cylinder portion 106a may be different between the cylinder units 101a to be connected (for example, one is a substantially triangular shape with one upward and the other is a substantially triangular shape with the other facing downward).

In addition, the pump device configured as described above can exhibit a function as a mixing device because the transported object is crushed as the transported object is transported. That is, when using, for example, a solid-liquid mixture as an object to be transported, mixing of solid and liquid can be promoted, and also when using a plurality of types of liquid, solid-liquid mixture, powder, Can promote their mixing. When the mixing device is configured by the cylinder unit 101a, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, it is preferable that the channel of the transported object has an annular shape (that is, forms a circulation path). Note that the thin line arrows shown in FIG. 13 represent the conveyed object supplied to the circulation path at an appropriate timing and the conveyed object discharged from the circulation path at an appropriate timing. Further, instead of such a configuration, for example, both ends of the flow path of the object to be conveyed that penetrates the plurality of interconnected cylinder units 101a are configured to be occluded, and the objects to be conveyed are in a state where these both ends are blocked. May be conveyed so as to reciprocate between one end and the other end of the flow path. Furthermore, using the single cylinder unit 101a, the inner cylinder 103a is operated in a state in which both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 103a are closed to mix substances in the space inside the inner cylinder 103a in the radial direction. May be.

Further, the above-described various pump devices (mixing devices) using the cylinder unit 101a can be used not only for conveyance in the horizontal direction but also for conveyance in the inclined direction and further upward in the vertical direction. When used for such an upward or downward conveyance in the vertical direction, the movable cylinder portion 106a of the inner cylinder 103a is directed from the three directions toward the central axis O1 during expansion deformation due to pressurization of the pressurization space 104a. It is preferable that the radially inner space of the inner cylinder 103a is closed as much as possible by the portions that are close to each other. As such a configuration, for example, a configuration in which the amount of the pressurizing medium supplied to the pressurizing space 104a is set to be large to increase the amount of expansion and deformation of the movable cylindrical portion 106a. Further, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction of the inner cylinder 103a may be set to a shape that promotes such blockage.

As described above, in the cylinder unit 101a according to the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on at least one (more specifically, both) of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the movable cylindrical portion 106a has an axial direction. Therefore, a stable elastic deformation (expansion deformation) of the inner cylinder portion 103a can be realized.

Next, the cylinder unit 101b and the transport apparatus 102b according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. The cylinder unit 101a according to the first embodiment described above has a configuration in which both the inner cylinder 103a and the outer cylinder 105a are not contractible in the axial direction, but the cylinder unit 101b according to the present embodiment. Is configured to have such contractility. As shown in FIG. 14, the cylinder unit 101b includes an inner cylinder 103b so that both the inner cylinder 103b and the outer cylinder 105b are contractible in the axial direction, that is, by pressurizing the pressurizing space 104b. As the outer cylinder 105b expands and deforms radially inward and the outer cylinder 105b expands and deforms radially outward, both the inner cylinder 103b and the outer cylinder 105b are contracted and deformed in the axial direction. . Other configurations are the same as those in the case of the cylinder unit 101a and the transfer device 102a. Also with the cylinder unit 101b according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing device, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101a described above.

Further, according to the cylinder unit 101b according to the present embodiment, the axial length of the cylinder unit 101b can be contracted as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 14 when the pressure is applied to the pressure space 104b. Therefore, for example, by fixing one end portion of the cylindrical unit 101b in the axial direction, a rod-like object having a length exceeding the axial length of the movable cylindrical portion 106b can be converted into one end portion of the cylindrical unit 101b in the axial direction. It can be conveyed from the side to the other end side. Moreover, according to the cylinder unit 101b, a liquid with a high viscosity can be conveyed especially advantageously. In order to obtain the contractibility as described above, for example, a plurality of fiber cords in which one of the outer cylinder 105b and the inner cylinder 103b extends in the axial direction of the elastic cylindrical body inside the elastic cylindrical body. Is formed of an axial fiber reinforced elastic cylindrical body, while the other of the outer cylinder 105b and the inner cylinder 103b is formed of an elastic cylindrical body having no such fiber reinforced structure. . Note that both the outer cylinder 105b and the inner cylinder 103b may be formed of an axial fiber-reinforced elastic cylindrical body. Also, the outer cylinder 105b is replaced with such an axial fiber reinforced elastic cylindrical body, and the outer cylindrical body is covered with a fiber cord knitted in a sleeve shape. You may comprise with an elastic cylinder. On the other hand, when the configuration does not have the contractibility as described above, like the above-described cylinder unit 101a, the powder can be transported particularly advantageously.

Next, the cylinder unit 101c and the transport apparatus 102c according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101a according to the first embodiment described above, the movable cylinder portion 106a is configured so that the non-circular cross-sectional shape on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof does not rotate in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the axial direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C, the movable cylinder portion 106c has a cross-sectional shape that forms the non-circular shape (substantially equilateral triangular shape) on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof. Is formed so as to rotate in the circumferential direction in accordance with a change in the position in the axial direction. More specifically, in this embodiment, the non-circular cross-sectional shape rotates in the circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to the change in the axial position. In the present embodiment, the rotation angle θ between both end portions in the axial direction of the movable cylinder portion 106c is 60 °. The rotation angle θ can be changed to an arbitrary angle such as 30 °. Further, the movable cylindrical portion 106c may be formed so that the non-circular cross-sectional shape on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof rotates in the circumferential direction at a non-constant ratio with respect to the change in the axial position. Good. Further, in the present embodiment, the outer cylinder 105c is formed such that the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface thereof rotates in accordance with the rotation of the cross-sectional shape of the inner cylinder 103c according to the change in the axial position. ing. Other configurations are the same as those in the case of the cylinder unit 101a and the transfer device 102a. Also with the cylinder unit 101c according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101a described above. Moreover, according to the structure including the rotation of the circumferential direction like this embodiment, the conveyance speed and / or mixing efficiency at the time of conveying a to-be-conveyed object can be improved.

Next, the cylinder unit 101d and the transfer device 102d according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. The cylinder unit 101a according to the first embodiment described above has a configuration including one set of the pressure space 104a and the movable cylinder portion 106a. However, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, the cylinder unit 101a according to the present embodiment is configured. The unit 101d is configured to include a plurality of sets, more specifically two sets, of the pressurizing space 104d and the movable cylindrical portion 106d. In addition, it is good also as a structure provided not only with 2 sets but 3 sets or more. Other configurations are the same as those in the case of the cylinder unit 101a and the transfer device 102a. Also with the cylinder unit 101d according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101a described above.

Next, the cylinder unit 101e and the transport apparatus 102e according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101d according to the fourth embodiment described above, each of the plurality of movable cylinder portions 106d has a non-circular cross-sectional shape on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the axial direction. 17A to 17D, in the present embodiment, the plurality of movable cylinder portions 106e have the non-circular shape (substantially) on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface, respectively. The cross-sectional shape forming an equilateral triangle shape is formed so as to rotate in the circumferential direction in accordance with a change in the position in the axial direction. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the non-circular cross-sectional shapes of the plurality of movable cylinder portions 106e are each rotated in the circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to the change in the axial position. . In the present embodiment, in each of the plurality of movable tube portions 106e, the rotation angle θ between both end portions in the axial direction is 60 °. Other configurations are the same as those of the cylinder unit 101d and the transfer device 102d described above. The rotation angle θ can be changed to an arbitrary angle such as 30 °. Also with the cylinder unit 101e according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured, as in the case of the cylinder unit 101d described above. In the present embodiment, the inner cylinder 103e is a molded product such as an extrusion-molded product that is formed into a shape with a circumferential twist as described above. However, the inner cylinder 103e is not limited to a molded product formed into a shape with a twist in the circumferential direction. That is, it is good also as a structure which twisted and arrange | positioned the inner cylinder 103e which consists of a molded product shape | molded in the shape which does not accompany the circumferential twist.

Next, the cylinder unit 101f and the transport device 102f according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101a according to the first embodiment described above, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105a are substantially equilateral triangles. However, as shown in FIGS. In the cylinder unit 101f according to the above, the cross-sectional shape of the portion in contact with the pressurizing space 104f on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105f is circular. The cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 105f is also circular. In the present embodiment, the outer cylinder 105f includes a cylindrical outer peripheral member 110f and a pair of support members 111f having a ring shape. The outer peripheral member 110f and the pair of support members 111f are joined to each other in a fluid-tight manner. Note that the outer cylinder 105f may be constituted by a single molded part obtained by integrally molding the outer peripheral member 110f and the pair of support members 111f. The pair of support members 111f have a substantially equilateral triangular cross-sectional shape on the inner peripheral surface, and are fluid-tightly joined to the outer peripheral surfaces of both end portions (non-moving cylindrical portion 107f) of the inner cylinder 103f over the entire circumference. . Other configurations are the same as those in the case of the cylinder unit 101a and the transfer device 102a. Also with the cylinder unit 101f according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101a described above. In the present embodiment, a support portion that supports the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the movable cylinder portion 106f may be provided in the outer cylinder 105f. For example, by providing such a support portion on the bottom surface side of the movable cylinder portion 6f, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sagging of the movable cylinder portion 106f due to the weight of the conveyed object. Further, by providing such a support portion continuously or intermittently over the entire circumference, for example, the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction at the time of contraction deformation of the axial intermediate portion of the movable cylinder portion 106f is maintained in a desired shape. It is good also as composition to do.

Next, the cylinder unit 101g and the transport device 102g according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101f according to the sixth embodiment described above, the movable cylinder portion 106f is configured such that the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof does not rotate in the circumferential direction over the entire length in the axial direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 19A to 19C, the movable cylindrical portion 106g has a cross-sectional shape that forms the non-circular shape (substantially equilateral triangular shape) on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof. Is configured to rotate in the circumferential direction in accordance with a change in the axial position. More specifically, in this embodiment, the non-circular cross-sectional shape rotates in the circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to the change in the axial position. In the present embodiment, the rotation angle θ between both end portions in the axial direction of the movable cylinder portion 106g is 60 °. The rotation angle between the pair of support members 111g is also 60 °. Further, the rotation angle θ can be changed to an arbitrary angle such as 30 °. Further, the movable cylinder portion 6g may be formed so that the non-circular cross-sectional shape on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof rotates in the circumferential direction at a non-constant ratio with respect to the change in the axial position. Good. Other configurations are the same as those of the cylinder unit 101f and the transport device 102f described above. Also with the cylinder unit 101g according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101f described above. Moreover, according to the structure including rotation in the circumferential direction as in the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the mixing efficiency and the like when conveying the object to be conveyed.

Next, the cylinder unit 101h and the transport apparatus 102h according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. The cylinder unit 101f according to the sixth embodiment described above has a configuration including one set of the pressurizing space 104f and the movable cylinder part 106f. However, as shown in FIGS. The unit 101h includes a plurality of sets, more specifically two sets, of the pressurizing space 104h and the movable cylinder portion 106h. In addition, it is good also as a structure provided not only with 2 sets but 3 sets or more. Other configurations are the same as those of the cylinder unit 101f and the transport device 102f described above. Also with the cylinder unit 101h according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing device, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101f described above.

Next, the cylinder unit 101i and the transport apparatus 102i according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101h according to the eighth embodiment described above, each of the plurality of movable cylinder portions 106h has the non-circular cross-sectional shape on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface thereof extending in the circumferential direction over the entire axial length. Although formed so as not to rotate, as shown in FIGS. 21A to 21D, in the present embodiment, the plurality of movable cylindrical portions 106i are each provided with the non-circular shape (substantially positive on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof, respectively. A triangular cross-sectional shape is formed so as to rotate in the circumferential direction in accordance with a change in axial position. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the non-circular cross-sectional shapes of the plurality of movable cylinder portions 106i are each rotated in the circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to the change in the axial position. . In the present embodiment, in each of the plurality of movable tube portions 106i, the rotation angle θ between both end portions in the axial direction is 60 °. Other configurations are the same as those of the cylinder unit 101h and the transfer device 102h described above. The rotation angle between a pair of adjacent support members 111i is also 60 °. Further, the rotation angle θ can be changed to an arbitrary angle such as 30 °. Also with the cylinder unit 101i according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing device, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101h described above.

Next, the cylinder unit 101j and the transport apparatus 102j according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail as examples. In the cylinder unit 101a according to the first embodiment described above, the movable cylinder portion 106a has a substantially equilateral triangular shape in which the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface is constant over the entire length in the axial direction. 22A to 22C, in the present embodiment, the movable cylindrical portion 106j has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof, which is the total length in the axial direction. It is formed so as to form a constant star shape. Other configurations are the same as those in the case of the cylinder unit 101a and the transfer device 102a. Also with the cylinder unit 101j according to the present embodiment, a pump device, a mixing apparatus, and the like can be configured as in the case of the cylinder unit 101a described above. In the cylinder unit 101j of the present embodiment, the movable cylinder portion 106j is arranged on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface as in the case of the cylinder unit 101c according to the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C. It is good also as a structure formed so that the cross-sectional shape which makes a shape might rotate in the circumferential direction according to the change of the position of an axial direction. In this case, the rotation angle θ between the axial end portions of the movable cylinder portion 106j is preferably 45 °. Needless to say, the cylinder unit 101j of the present embodiment can be variously modified as in the example shown in FIGS. 16A to 17D.

The seventh to sixteenth embodiments of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described above with reference to FIGS. 10A to 22C. However, the above description only shows an example of the embodiments of the present invention. It goes without saying that various changes may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the cylindrical units according to the seventh to sixteenth embodiments may be configured to use the shape restricting portion or the ring portion shown in the first to fifteenth embodiments.

Next, various further embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the transport device 202. The transfer device 202 is provided in the middle of existing piping (not shown) or at the end of the carry-in side. As shown in FIG. 23, the transport device 202 is configured by connecting a cylinder unit 205 and a stretchable body 250.

FIGS. 24A to 24D are an axial sectional view and a radial sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the cylinder unit 205. FIG. 24A and 24B, the cylinder unit 205 includes an inner cylinder 211, an outer cylinder 212 provided coaxially along the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 211, and a pair of

end plates

215 and 215. Yes. That is, the cylinder unit 205 is provided with an inner cylinder 211 along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 212, and both ends of the outer cylinder 212 and the inner cylinder 211 are closed by a pair of end plates 215; The inner cylinder 211 is configured by, for example, molding a stretchable matrix material such as rubber or elastomer having a thickness of about 0.2 to 5 mm into a cylindrical shape. A plurality (four in this embodiment) of restraints 213 extending from one end to the other end along the axial direction are embedded in the inner cylinder 211. In the present embodiment, four restraining bodies 213 are embedded every 90 ° at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

For example, carbon fiber, glass fiber, metal fiber, etc., fiber roving (fibers aligned), yarn (twisted), cord (combined yarn), metal wire, etc. For example, a material whose tensile elastic modulus is higher than that of the matrix material forming the inner cylinder 211 is applied. For example, the inner cylinder 211 is formed by applying latex rubber to the outer periphery of a cylindrical mold material, then distributing the restraining body 213, further applying latex rubber thereon, cross-linking, and then releasing the cylinder. It is formed into a shape.

Note that, as described above, the restraining body 213 can be formed of a matrix material which is a base material of the inner cylinder 211 in addition to separately providing a fibrous material.

The outer cylinder 212 is composed of a cylinder made of a material that is not deformed by air pressure or the like such as metal or hard synthetic resin. The outer cylinder 212 includes a groove 208 that circulates in the circumferential direction at the center in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface, and a hole 230 that penetrates from the groove 208 to the outer peripheral surface. The above-described inner cylinder 211 is provided along the inner periphery of the outer cylinder 212, and both axial ends are fixed to the outer cylinder 212. Specifically, the inner cylinder 211 is fixed by being bent at an end portion in the diameter increasing direction and sandwiched between the annular end plate 215; 215 and the end surface of the outer cylinder 212. Note that the method of fixing the inner cylinder 211 is not limited to the above-described method. For example, both end portions of the cylindrical inner cylinder 211 are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 212 from the inner peripheral side by a pressing ring. It may be fixed.

Each end plate 215 is formed of a flat ring-shaped body, and is fixed to the end surface of the outer cylinder 212 by a fixing means such as a bolt (not shown). Note that the method of fixing the end plate 215; 215 to the outer cylinder 212 is not limited to this. It may be fixed.

Each end plate 215 is provided with a plurality of holes 218 penetrating in the axial direction at equal intervals on the same circumference for connecting the cylinder unit 205 to the other cylinder unit 205 and the elastic body 250.

As shown in FIGS. 24C and 24D, the cylinder unit 205 supplies air (pressurized medium) to the groove 208 through the hole 230 described above, so that air flows between the inner cylinder 211 and the outer cylinder 212. The inner cylinder 211 expands radially inward. That is, the groove 208 forms an annular air chamber (pressurized space) formed between the inner cylinder 211 and the outer cylinder 212. The expansion of the inner cylinder 211 causes the portion between the restraining bodies 213 in the inner cylinder 211 to expand radially inward by restraint of each restraining body 213, and returns to the original cylindrical shape by discharging the supplied air. .

In FIG. 24D, for convenience of explanation to show a state in which the inner cylinder 211 is expanded radially inward, the gap z is shown in the drawing. However, when the inner cylinder 211 is expanded most, The portions between the restraining bodies 213 are in close contact with each other, and the gap z becomes zero.

25A to 25C are an axial cross-sectional view and a radial cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the stretchable body 250, respectively.

The elastic body 250 includes, for example, an outer cylinder 237 as an outer elastic body having a bellows structure that can expand and contract in the axial direction, an inner cylinder 238 as an inner elastic body that is configured to expand and contract in the axial direction, End members 236; 236.

The end member 236; 236 is made of, for example, an annular body made of resin, hard rubber, metal, or the like, and includes a cylindrical tube portion 236A and a flat plate-shaped annular flange portion 236B. The cylindrical portion 236A and the two flange portions 36B are fixed by, for example, screwing so as to be coaxial. One end member 236 includes a through-hole 245 that extends from the outer periphery of the tube portion 236A to the inside of the tube portion 236A and opens to the end surface 236t that is a facing surface between the

tube portions

236A and 236A. The through hole 245 is a hole for supplying air to an air chamber S50, which will be described later, formed in the stretchable body 250, or discharging air from the air chamber S50. Each flange portion 236B is provided with a plurality of through holes 233 penetrating along the axial direction at equal intervals on the same circumference. The through holes 233 provided in each flange portion 236 B correspond to the holes 218 provided in the end plate 215 of the cylinder unit 205, and can be connected to the cylinder unit 205 or to another stretchable body 250.

The inner cylinder 238 includes a coil spring 239 and a cover 244 that covers the inner periphery of the coil spring 239. A compression spring is applied to the coil spring 239 of this embodiment. That is, it is a spring that generates an urging force outward in the axial direction so as to separate the end members 236; 236 from each other.

The covering body 244 is configured by, for example, forming a cylindrical material such as latex rubber that can expand and contract and does not allow fluid or permeation of fluid such as air or liquid.

The inner tube 238 is fixed to the inner periphery of the tube portion 236A of each end member 236 in a state where the outer periphery of the covering 244 is covered with the coil spring 239. According to the inner cylinder 238 of this configuration, the cylindrical shape of the covering 244 serving as a conveyance path is maintained by the coil spring 239.

As a method of fixing the inner cylinder 238, for example, a groove such as a thread is formed on the inner periphery of the cylinder portion 236A, and the coil spring 239 can be screwed into the groove to fix the coil spring 239 to the cylinder portion 236A. Further, with the coil spring 239 fixed to the cylindrical portion 236A, the covering body 244 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the coil spring 239, the end portion of the covering body 244 is bent in the diameter increasing direction, and the cylindrical portion 236A and the flange portion 236B. It is fixed by inserting between the two. In addition, the fixing method to the edge member 236 of the coil spring 239 and the cover 244 is not limited to this. For example, the cylindrical portion 236A may be fixed by a fixing means such as an adhesive, the urging force of the coil spring 239 acts on the pair of end members 236, and further between the pair of end members 236; 236 The covering body 244 may be fixed so as to form an airtight state.

In the above description, the inner cylinder 238 is configured by providing the cover 244 on the inner peripheral side of the coil spring 239. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the covering body 244 may be provided on the outer peripheral side of the coil spring 239, or the inner cylinder 238 may be configured such that the covering body is provided on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the coil spring 239. Further, the inner cylinder 238 may be configured by providing coil springs on both the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the covering 244. In addition, when providing a coil spring in the inside and outside of the coating | covering body 244, it cannot be overemphasized that the biasing direction of each spring uses the same thing.

The outer cylinder 237 is a cylinder having a bellows structure that allows expansion and contraction in the axial direction and does not allow expansion and contraction (expansion) in the radial direction (radially outward). The outer cylinder 237 is fixed so that each end in the axial direction maintains airtightness on the outer periphery of the cylinder 236A. For example, as shown in FIG. 25A, the outer cylinder 237 is firmly fixed by a retaining ring 231 so as to form an airtight seal on the outer periphery of the cylinder part 236A.

By configuring the stretchable body 250 as described above, the stretchable body 250 is surrounded by the inner cylinder 238, the outer cylinder 237, and the pair of end members 236; 236, and a partitioned air chamber S50 is formed. Is done. Since the coil spring 239 that constitutes the inner cylinder 238 is biased outward in the axial direction, the elastic body 250 contracts by discharging the air in the air chamber S50, and supplies air to the air chamber S50. Elongate. Specifically, by discharging air from the air chamber S50, the internal pressure of the air chamber S50 is made negative, and by overcoming the outward biasing force of the negative pressure coil spring 239, as shown in FIG. Shrink in the direction. The stretchable body 250 extends in the axial direction by the biasing force of the coil spring 239 by supplying air to the air chamber S50.

As shown in FIG. 23, the cylinder unit 205 and the expansion / contraction body 250 are connected so that their axes are coaxial. Specifically, the bolt B1 is passed through the hole 218 of the end plate 215 of the cylinder unit 205 and the through hole 233 of the flange portion 236B of the expansion / contraction body 250, and the nut B2 is tightened. Thereby, the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 and the inner cylinder 238 of the expansion / contraction body 250 communicate with each other, and a conveyance path for conveying a conveyed product is formed.

The cylinder unit 205 and the expansion / contraction body 250 are controlled by a driving device (pressure control unit) 209. The drive device 209 according to this embodiment includes an air supply unit 241, a control valve 242, an air discharge unit 249, a control valve 246, and a control unit 243.

The air supply means 241 includes, for example, an air compressor that can supply compressed air or an air tank that stores compressed air. The stored compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205 and the air chamber S50 of the expandable body 250.

The control valve 242 is connected to the air supply means 241 by the tube 254 and the groove 208 by the tube 245. The control valve 242 includes a supply valve that controls the supply of compressed air from the air supply means 241 to the groove 208 and an exhaust valve that exhausts the air in the groove 208. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively, and control the supply of compressed air from the air supply means 241 to the groove 208 and the exhaust of air from the groove 208. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are provided as a pair in one cylinder unit 205. For example, when the conveyance device 202 is configured by connecting a plurality of cylinder units 205, the control valve 242 is provided with at least a pair of supply valves and exhaust valves corresponding to the quantity of the cylinder units 205.

The air discharge means 249 is constituted by, for example, a negative pressure pump capable of sucking air, and discharges air from the air chamber S50 of the expansion and contraction body 250.

The control valve 246 is connected to the air discharge means 249 by the tube 247 and the air chamber S50 by the tube 248. The control valve 246 includes a discharge valve that discharges air from the air chamber S50 by the air discharge unit 249, and an air release valve that supplies air to the air chamber S50. The discharge valve and the atmosphere release valve are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively, and control the discharge of air from the air chamber S50 by the air discharge means 249 and the supply of air by communication with the air in the air chamber S50. A discharge valve and an air release valve are provided in a pair on one elastic body 250. For example, when the conveying device 202 is configured by connecting a plurality of expansion bodies 250, the control valve 246 is provided with at least a pair of discharge valves and atmospheric release valves corresponding to the number of expansion bodies 250. Each tube 245; 247; 248; 254 preferably has pressure resistance and flexibility.

The control unit 243 includes a microcomputer including a CPU as a calculation unit and a storage unit such as a ROM for storing a program for controlling the operation of the transport device 202. The control unit 243 controls signals output to the supply valve and the exhaust valve of the control valve 242, the discharge valve and the atmosphere release valve of the control valve 246 according to the command input from the input means.

The control unit 243 stores, for example, a program that defines the order in which the cylinder unit 205 constituting the transport device 202 is expanded and contracted and the expansion and contraction body 250 is expanded and contracted in the storage unit. For example, a transport mode in which the transport unit is moved in one direction by operating the cylinder unit 205 and the expansion body 250, or a stirring mode in which the transport unit is reciprocated from one end side to the other end by operating the tube unit 205 and the expansion body 250. Etc. are stored.

FIG. 26A to FIG. 26G show the operation when the cylindrical unit 205 and the expansion / contraction body 250 are alternately provided to constitute the transport device 202, and the transport device 202 is operated as a pump to transport the transported material in one direction. FIG. In the following description, the cylinder units 205A; 205B; 205C, the expansion bodies 250A; 250B; Further, the description will be made assuming that the conveyed product is carried in from the cylinder unit 205A side.

FIG. 26A shows an initial state in which the transfer device 202 is installed. That is, the cylinder units 205A; 205B; 205C are in a state in which the inner cylinder 211 is contracted, and the stretchable bodies 250A; 250B;

As shown in FIG. 26B, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205A, and the inner cylinder 211 is expanded. Thereby, the conveyed product in cylinder unit 205A is pushed out to the expansion-contraction body 250A side. And the wall surface of the inner cylinder 211 which expanded by expansion | swelling of the inner cylinder 211 of cylinder unit 205A contact | connects a conveyance path, and is divided into the upstream and downstream.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26C, while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A, the air in the air chamber S50 of the expandable body 250A is discharged and contracted in the axial direction. Due to the contraction in the axial direction of the expansion / contraction body 250A, the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A in an expanded state serves as a wall to push the conveyed product toward the cylinder unit 205B.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26D, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205B while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A and the contracted state of the stretchable body 250A to expand the inner cylinder 211. Let Thereby, the conveyed product in the cylinder unit 205B is pushed out to the elastic body 250B side. Then, the wall surfaces of the inner cylinder 211 expanded by the expansion of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B are in contact with each other, so that the conveyance path is closed and partitioned into an upstream side and a downstream side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26E, while the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B is maintained, the air in the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250B is discharged, and the expansion body 250B is contracted in the axial direction. By contraction of the expansion / contraction body 250B, the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B in the expanded state serves as a wall to push the conveyed product to the cylinder unit 205C side. Simultaneously with the contraction of the expansion body 250B, air is exhausted from the groove 208 of the expanded cylinder unit 205A to contract the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A, and the air chamber S50 of the contraction expanded body 250A The stretchable body 250A is extended in the axial direction by introducing (supplying) air into the air chamber S50 through communication. Thereby, a new conveyed product is carried in from the cylinder unit 205A side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26F, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205C while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B and the contracted state of the elastic body 250B. The cylinder 211 is expanded. Thereby, the conveyed product in the cylinder unit 205 C is pushed out to the elastic body 250 C side. Then, due to the expansion of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205C, the wall surfaces of the expanded inner cylinder 211 come into contact with each other, so that the conveyance path is closed and partitioned into an upstream side and a downstream side.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26G, while the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205C is maintained, the air in the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250C is discharged, and the expansion body 250C is contracted in the axial direction.

By contraction of the expansion / contraction body 250C, the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205C in an expanded state serves as a wall to push the conveyed product downstream from the expansion / contraction body 250C. Simultaneously with the contraction of the expandable body 250C, air is exhausted from the groove 208 of the expanded cylinder unit 205B to contract the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B, and the air chamber S50 of the contracted expandable body 250B The stretchable body 250B is extended in the axial direction by introducing (supplying) air into the air chamber S50 through communication.

Next, while maintaining the state shown in FIG. 26B, that is, the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A and the contracted state of the expandable body 250A, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205B, Simultaneously with the expansion, the cylinder unit 205C is contracted and the elastic body 250C is extended in the axial direction. Then, by repeating the steps of FIGS. 26B to 26G, the cylinder units 205A to 205C and the expansion / contraction bodies 250A to 250C constituting the conveyance path can be operated as a pump for moving the conveyance object to the downstream side.

Note that the order of the expansion / contraction operation of the cylinder units 205A to 205C and the expansion / contraction operation of the expansion / contraction members 250A to 250C as pumps shown in FIGS. 26A to 26G is an example and can be changed as appropriate.

For example, as shown in FIG. 26B, when the cylinder unit 205A located on the most upstream side is expanded, all the elastic bodies 250A to 250C located on the downstream side are contracted, and as shown in FIG. 26D. When the cylinder unit 205B is expanded, all the

stretchable bodies

250B and 250C located on the downstream side of the cylinder unit 205B may be contracted. When the transport device 202 is configured by alternately arranging the stretchable bodies 250A to 250C and the cylinder units 205A to 205C that are in an extended state in the natural state as in the present embodiment, the expanded cylinder units 205A to 205C are configured. By contracting the expansion / contraction body located further downstream, more conveyed items can be moved to the downstream side.

Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated as what comprises the conveyance apparatus 202 by alternately providing the three cylinder units 205 and the expansion-contraction body 250, the quantity of the cylinder units 205 and expansion-contraction bodies 250 which comprise the conveyance apparatus 202 is as follows. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pump can be operated as a pump for moving a conveyed product by including at least one cylinder unit 205 and one elastic body 250.

FIGS. 27A to 27E are diagrams showing other operations in the transfer device 202. FIG. 26A to 26G show the transport operation when transporting the transported material in one direction, but for example, as shown in FIGS. 27A to 27E, a stirring operation can be performed during the transport. 27A to 27E show the cylinder units 205A; 205B and the stretchable bodies 250A; 250B extracted from the conveying device 202 shown in FIGS. 26A to 26G.

First, as shown in FIG. 27A, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205B, and the inner cylinder 211 is expanded. Thereby, the conveyed product located in the cylinder unit 205B is pushed out to the elastic body 250A side and the elastic body 250B side. The wall surfaces come into contact with each other due to the expansion of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 B, thereby closing the conveyance path.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27B, while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B, compressed air is supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205A to expand the inner cylinder 211. Thereby, the conveyed product stops between the cylinder unit 205A and the cylinder unit 205B.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27C, while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B and the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A, air is discharged from the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250A to remove the expansion body 250A. Shrink in the axial direction.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27B, while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B and the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A, air is supplied to the air chamber S50 of the extension body 250A, and the extension body 250A is moved. As shown in FIG. 27C, air is discharged from the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250A while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205B and the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A. The conveyed product is agitated between the cylinder unit 205A and the cylinder unit 205B by repeating the process of contracting the elastic body 250A in the axial direction.

Then, after repeating the stirring operation a predetermined number of times, as shown in FIG. 27D, the expansion of the expansion / contraction body 250A in the axial direction and the contraction of the cylinder unit 205B are performed while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A. Do it at the same time.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27E, while maintaining the expanded state of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A, the air is discharged from the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250A, and the expansion body 250A is contracted in the axial direction. The stirred conveyed product is pushed out to the cylinder unit 205B. Then, as shown in FIGS. 26C to 26G, the transported object can be transported downstream by operating each cylinder unit and the telescopic body.

28A to 28F are diagrams showing another operation of the transport device 202. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the transport device 202 is operated as a pump that pumps up a fluid such as water. The conveying apparatus 202 according to the present embodiment is configured by two cylinder units 205A; 205B and one stretchable body 250 between the cylinder units 205A; 205B.

As shown in FIG. 28A, in the conveying device 202, the cylinder unit 205B is fixed by fixing means (not shown) so that the cylinder unit 205A is submerged and the liquid level E is located at about half the height of the expansion / contraction body 250. ing.

First, as shown in FIG. 28B, the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205A that sinks below the liquid level E is expanded. As a result, the liquid level F of the fluid taken into the transfer device 202 rises by ΔE1 from the liquid level E.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28C, the expansion / contraction body 250 is contracted in the axial direction while maintaining the expanded state of the cylinder unit 205A. As a result, the liquid level F in the transport device 202 rises from the liquid level E by ΔE2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28D, the cylinder unit 205B is expanded while maintaining the expanded state of the cylinder unit 205A and the contracted state of the stretchable body 250. As a result, the liquid level in the transfer device 202 rises by ΔE3 from the liquid level E.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28E, the cylinder unit 205A is contracted and the telescopic body 250 is expanded simultaneously while maintaining the expanded state of the cylinder unit 205B. As a result, fluid flows into the transfer device 202 from the opening of the cylinder unit 205A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28F, the cylindrical unit 205A is expanded while maintaining the expanded state of the cylindrical unit 205B and the expanded state of the stretchable body 250.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28AC, the expansion / contraction body 250 is contracted in the axial direction simultaneously with the contraction of the cylinder unit 205B while maintaining the expanded state of the cylinder unit 205A. Thereby, the fluid in the conveying apparatus 202 is pumped up rather than the cylinder unit 205B.

Then, the liquid can be continuously pumped up by repeating the steps of FIGS. 28C to 28F. Thus, by operating the transport device 202 as a pumping pump, pretreatment such as priming water as in a conventional pump becomes unnecessary.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the transport device 202.
In the above embodiment, the coil spring 239 constituting the inner cylinder 238 of the expansion / contraction body 250 has been described as being constituted by a compression spring, but may be constituted by a tension spring. That is, the end member 236 is a spring that generates an urging force inward in the axial direction so as to bring the end members 236 close to each other.

In this case, the driving device 209 is configured as shown in FIG. The drive device 209 according to this embodiment controls the air supply means 241 that stores compressed air supplied to the groove 208 of the cylinder unit 205 and the air chamber S50 of the expansion body 250, and the supply and exhaust of air to the groove 208. A control valve 242, a control valve 246 that controls the supply and exhaust of air to the air chamber S 50, and a control unit 243 that controls the operation of the control valve 242 and the control valve 246 may be provided.

The air supply means 241 includes, for example, an air compressor that can supply compressed air or an air tank that stores compressed air.

The control valve 242 is connected to the air supply means 241 by the tube 254 and the groove 8 by the tube 245. The control valve 242 includes a supply valve that controls the supply of compressed air from the air supply means 241 to the groove 208 and an exhaust valve that exhausts the air in the groove 208. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively, and control the supply of compressed air from the air supply means 241 to the groove 208 and the exhaust of air from the groove 208. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are provided as a pair in one cylinder unit 205. For example, when the conveyance device 202 is configured by connecting a plurality of cylinder units 205, the control valve 242 is provided with at least a pair of supply valves and exhaust valves corresponding to the quantity of the cylinder units 205.

The control valve 246 is connected to the air supply means 241 by the tube 247 and the air chamber S50 by the tube 248. The control valve 246 includes a supply valve that controls the supply of compressed air from the air supply unit 241 to the air chamber S50, and an exhaust valve that exhausts the air in the air chamber S50. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are electrically connected to the control unit, respectively, and control the supply of compressed air from the air supply means 241 to the air chamber S50 and the exhaust of air from the air chamber S50. The supply valve and the exhaust valve are provided in a pair on one elastic body 250. For example, when the transport device 202 is configured by connecting a plurality of expansion bodies 250, the control valve 246 is provided with at least a pair of supply valves and exhaust valves corresponding to the number of the expansion bodies 250. The control unit 243 controls the operation of the supply valve and exhaust valve of the control valve 242, and the supply valve and exhaust valve of the control valve 246.

30A to 30B are diagrams showing other forms of the stretchable body 250. FIG. In the above-described embodiment, the inner cylinder 238 of the expansion / contraction body 250 has been described as being configured by the coil spring 239 and the covering body 244 that covers the inner periphery of the coil spring 239. You may comprise by the cylinder which has a bellows structure which can be expanded-contracted along. In this case, by supplying and discharging air to and from the air chamber S50 defined by the inner cylinder 238 and the outer cylinder 237, the inner cylinder 238 and the outer cylinder 237 are expanded and contracted in the axial direction. Can be expanded and contracted.

FIGS. 31A to 31B are diagrams showing other forms of the stretchable body 250. FIG. As another form of the stretchable body 250, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder can be formed of a cylinder made of a material that is not deformed by the pressure of air, such as metal or hard synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 31A to 31B, the inner cylinder 238 includes a pair of

cylinders

238A and 238B configured to be slidable with respect to each other, and the outer cylinder 237 is configured to be slidable with respect to each other like the inner cylinder. You may comprise only one set of cylinders 237A; 237B. One cylinder 238A constituting the inner cylinder 238 and the other cylinder 238B are maintained in a sealed state via a seal portion, and one cylinder 237A and the other cylinder 237B constituting the outer cylinder 237 are: The sealed state is maintained through the seal portions. Then, the volume of the air chamber S50 is changed by supplying and discharging air to and from the air chamber S50 defined by the inner cylinder 238 and the outer cylinder 237. As a result, the inner cylinder 238 and the outer cylinder 237 are relatively pivoted. The elastic body 250 can be expanded and contracted by moving in the direction.

30A to 30B and 31A to 31B are provided with a biasing means such as a coil spring or a spiral spring so that the

end members

236 and 236 are brought close to or away from each other. The operation time during expansion and contraction can be shortened to improve the conveyance efficiency.

32A to 32B are diagrams showing other forms of the cylinder unit 205. FIG. In the above embodiment, the outer cylinder 212 of the cylinder unit 205 has been described as being configured by a cylinder made of a material that is not deformed by the pressure of air such as metal or hard synthetic resin. You may comprise by the cylinder which orient | assigned highly elastic fibers, such as carbon roving, to the expandable matrix material, such as a rubber | gum, an elastomer, and the axial direction. By configuring the outer cylinder 212 of the cylinder unit 205 in this way, when the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is expanded radially inward, the outer cylinder 212 is restricted from extending in the axial direction by high elastic fibers. It expand | swells to radial direction outer side, As a result, the length of the axial direction of the cylinder unit 205 can be shrunk | reduced.

Note that the configuration for contracting the cylinder unit 205 in the axial direction when the inner cylinder 211 is expanded is not limited to restricting the extension in the axial direction by the fiber layer, as described above. A so-called McKibben type configuration in which the extension in the axial direction is restricted by covering the annular rubber with a fiber cord may be employed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the cylindrical unit 205 and the expansion / contraction body 250 are arranged in series. However, the sizes of the cylinder unit 205 and the stretchable body 250 can be changed as appropriate. Hereinafter, the case where the conveyance device 202 is configured by changing the sizes of the cylinder unit 205 and the expansion and contraction body 250 will be described.

33A to 33C are diagrams showing another configuration example of the transport device 202. FIG.

For example, when the cylinder unit 205 is configured as shown in FIGS. 32A to 32B, the conveying device 202 can be configured as shown in FIGS. 33A to 33C. In the transport device 202 according to the present embodiment, the cylinder unit 205 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cylinder 214 that is extendable in the axial direction, and the end portion of the cylinder 214 is closed by the

end plates

215 and 215 constituting the cylinder unit 205. It is constituted by. That is, the inner cylinder 211 and the outer cylinder 212 constitute a cylinder unit 205, and the outer cylinder 212 and the cylinder 214 constitute an extendable body 250 '.

As shown in FIG. 33B, the transfer device 202 according to this embodiment supplies compressed air to an air chamber (pressurized space) S 5 formed by the inner cylinder 211 and the outer cylinder 212 to expand the inner cylinder 211. , Contracted in the x1 axis direction from the extended state shown in FIG. 33A. By discharging the air in the air chamber S50 formed by the outer cylinder 212 and the cylinder 214 while maintaining this expanded state, the cylinder unit 205 is further contracted in the x2 axis direction.

By configuring the transport device 202 in this way, the expansion rate when the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is expanded can be improved. The expansion rate here refers to the axial length of the cylinder unit 205 when the inner cylinder 211 expands to the volume when the inner cylinder 211 expands as shown in FIG. 33B. This is the ratio when the diameter of the previous inner cylinder 211 is divided by the multiplied volume. As the expansion coefficient decreases, the volume of the space indicated by arrow J in the figure increases. In other words, since the expansion rate of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is increased, the volume of the space indicated by the arrow J is reduced, and the conveyed item in the cylindrical unit 205 can be moved more in the conveying direction. The conveyance efficiency can be improved.

In this case, as the outer cylinder 212 of the cylinder unit 205, the bellows-shaped outer cylinder 237 shown in FIGS. 25A to 25C and FIGS. 31A to 31B and the

cylinders

237A and 237B shown in FIGS. 32A to 32B may be used. it can.

Further, as described above, as another form of the conveying device 202 for increasing the expansion rate of the inner cylinder 211, as shown in FIG. 34, the telescopic body 250 has a smaller diameter than the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205. It is also possible to form and connect a plurality of stretchable bodies 250 to one end plate 205 of the cylinder unit 205 in parallel. That is, a plurality of elastic bodies 250 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the cylinder unit 205 in parallel with the axis of the cylinder unit 205, and the end member 236 of each elastic body 250 is fixed to the end plate 215 constituting the cylinder unit 205 and conveyed. The apparatus 202 may be configured.

By configuring the transfer device 202 in this way, the expansion cylinder 250 is contracted after the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is expanded, and thereby the expansion rate of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is increased. The conveyance efficiency of things can be improved. In this case, the expansion / contraction body 250 is not necessarily a double tube structure of the inner tube 238 and the outer tube 237, but is simply a tube that can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction, for example, a bellows structure, and an outer tube of the tube unit 205. The air chamber S50 may be formed between the air chamber 212 and the air chamber 212.

Note that the relationship between the stretchable body 250 and the tubular unit 205 shown in FIG. 34 may be reversed. The tubular unit 205 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the inner tube 238 of the stretchable body 250, and is attached to one end member 236 of the stretchable body 250. A plurality of cylinder units 205 may be connected in parallel.

In addition, the structure of the conveying apparatus 202 shown in each said embodiment is an example, Comprising: What is necessary is just to set suitably about the connection order and the number of connections of the cylinder unit 205 and the expansion-contraction body 250. FIG. In other words, the transport device 202 is configured as a basic configuration in which at least one cylinder unit 205 and one stretchable body 250 are connected to each other, and is provided between existing pipes according to the transported object. By constructing everything by the conveying device 202 in place of the pipe, it can be efficiently conveyed.

In the above description, the expansion cylinder 250 is contracted in the axial direction after the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is expanded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the expansion of the inner cylinder 211 of the cylinder unit 205 is performed. And the timing which the expansion-contraction body 250 contracts should just be set suitably. For example, when the transported object is a foamed fluid containing gas or a powder containing air, the timing such as “expand the bellows at the same time as expanding the expansion body” according to the viscosity or compressibility. By changing the above, it is possible to improve transportability and mixing properties.

In the above description, the expansion chamber 250 is provided with the air chamber S50, and the expansion and contraction body 250 is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air from the drive device 209 that is common to the driving of the cylinder unit 205. In the expansion / contraction operation constituting 250, an air cylinder may be connected as a driving means between the

end members

236 and 236, and the air in the air cylinder may be supplied and discharged by the driving device 209.

Further, a linear drive mechanism such as a mechanical ball screw mechanism is provided as a drive means between the

end members

236 and 236, and a control device for controlling the linear drive mechanism is provided separately from the drive device 209, and the linear drive mechanism By controlling the advancing / retreating operation by the control device, the end member 236; When the elastic body 250 is mechanically expanded and contracted in this way, the elastic body 250 can be configured as a cylinder having, for example, a bellows structure that can expand and contract in the axial direction.

As described above, the transport device 202 according to the present embodiment is suitable for transporting powders, high-viscosity fluids, gas-liquid mixtures, and continuums (such as rods).

The various embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to FIGS. 23 to 34. However, the above description is only an example of the embodiments of the present invention and does not depart from the gist of the invention. Needless to say, various modifications may be made. For example, the cylindrical units according to these embodiments may be configured to use the shape restricting portion or the ring portion shown in the first to fifteenth embodiments.

(Example)
As an example of the present invention, the pump device shown in FIG. 12 using the cylinder unit 1a shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C was manufactured, and a powder conveyance experiment was conducted. The dimensions and operating conditions of the pump device were as follows.
-Circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 2a: 100.6 mm
・ Thickness of inner cylinder 2a: 1.1 mm
-Length in the axial direction of the movable cylinder part 6a (length per cylinder unit): 25 mm
-Operation cycle (pressure medium supply / discharge cycle): 20 ms
・ Pressure medium: Air

It was confirmed that an excellent conveying speed of powder of 80 g / s can be realized by operating the pump device under the above conditions. This conveyance speed is presumed to have been brought about by the realization of stable elastic deformation (expansion deformation) of the inner cylinder according to the present invention.

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e,

1f Cylinder unit

1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F Conveying device 2 Inner cylinder 3 Outer cylinder (pressure space forming part)
4 Outer peripheral surface of inner cylinder 5

Pressurizing space

6, 26 Pressurizing space forming part 7 Flange part (pressurizing space forming part)
8 Inner member 9

Outer member

10, 27 Pressure control unit 11

Inner space

12, 28

Shape regulating unit

13, 20, 22, 25, 29

Contact portion

14, 15, 16, 17

Protruding portion

18, 23

Ring portion

19, 24 Opening Part 21 Elastic cylinder 30 Partition part (pressurization space formation part)
O1 Center axis of the inner cylinder O2 Center axis of the outer cylinder T Tube V Check valve 101a to 101j Tube unit 102a to 102j Conveying device 103a to 103c, 103e, 103f, 103j

Inner cylinder

104a, 104b, 104d, 104f, 104h Pressure space 105a to 105c, 105f Outer cylinder 106a to 106j

Movable cylinder part

107a, 107f Non-movable cylinder part 108a Circumferential groove 109a Pressure control part 110f Outer

peripheral member

111f, 111g, 111i Support member θ Rotation angle 202 Conveying device 205 Cylinder unit 209 Drive device 211 Inner cylinder 212 Outer cylinder 237 Outer cylinder 238 Inner cylinder 250 Elastic body

Claims

An inner cylinder that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape;
A pressurizing space forming part that forms a pressurizing space in contact with the outer peripheral surface between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, and
The inner cylinder has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurized space is minimized by discharging the pressurized medium, and the internal pressure is maximized by the supply of the pressurized medium, and from the minimum pressure state. The inner cylinder is inflated and deformed radially inward by the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder is contracted, and is operable between a maximum pressure state and
The inner cylinder is a cylinder unit in which the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction is noncircular in the minimum pressure state.
The cylinder unit according to claim 1, wherein the non-circular shape is a substantially triangular shape or a star shape.
The apparatus further comprises a shape restricting portion that has a contact portion that contacts at least the inner cylinder in the minimum pressure state and changes the shape of the inner cylinder to the non-circular shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. The cylinder unit according to 1 or 2.
The shape restricting portion is configured by a ring portion having a plate shape having an opening into which the inner cylinder is inserted,
The cylinder unit according to claim 3, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the opening includes the contact portion.
The cylinder unit according to claim 4, wherein the ring part is disposed between both axial ends of the inner cylinder in the pressurizing space.
The ring portion is disposed on at least one of both end portions in the axial direction of the inner cylinder in the pressure space,
The said opening part of the said ring part is a cylinder unit of Claim 4 joined over the said outer peripheral surface and the said outer periphery of the said inner cylinder.
The pressurizing space forming part forms a plurality of pressurizing spaces separated from each other,
Each portion surrounded by the plurality of pressure spaces in the inner cylinder is operable between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state,
The shape restricting portion has the contact portion that contacts the respective portions at least in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of the respective portions to the non-circular shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein
The pressurizing space forming part has an outer cylinder that forms the pressurizing space between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder,
The inner cylinder has a movable cylinder portion that is an axial length portion in contact with the pressure space,
The cylinder unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable cylinder part is formed so that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction on at least one of an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface thereof forms the noncircular shape.
The cylindrical unit according to claim 8, wherein the movable cylindrical portion is formed such that a cross-sectional shape forming the non-circular shape forms a constant non-circular shape over the entire length in the axial direction.
The cylinder unit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the movable cylinder part is formed so that a cross-sectional shape forming the non-circular shape has a constant size over the entire length in the axial direction.
The movable cylinder portion is formed so that a cross-sectional shape forming the non-circular shape rotates in a circumferential direction in accordance with a change in the position in the axial direction. Cylinder unit.
The cylinder unit according to claim 11, wherein the movable cylinder part is formed so that a cross-sectional shape forming the non-circular shape rotates in a circumferential direction at a constant rate with respect to a change in the position in the axial direction. .
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 8 to 12, comprising a plurality of sets of the pressurizing space and the movable cylinder portion.
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the non-circular shape is a substantially triangular shape.
The cylinder unit according to claim 14, wherein the substantially triangular shape is a substantially equilateral triangular shape.
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the non-circular shape is a star shape.
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 8 to 16, wherein the inner cylinder is an extruded product.
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 8 to 17, wherein the outer cylinder can be bent and deformed in a direction perpendicular to a central axis thereof.
The inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the movable cylinder portion are similar to each other in cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction over the entire length in the axial direction. The cylinder unit as described in any one.
The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 1 to 19,
A pressure control unit that controls supply / discharge of the pressurized medium to / from the pressurized space in the cylinder unit.
A cylindrical expansion body connected to the cylinder unit and extending or contracting in the axial direction;
Drive means for expanding and contracting the stretchable body,
21. The transport apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the pressure space forming portion of the cylinder unit includes an outer cylinder that forms the pressure space between an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder.
The outer cylinder is configured to be restricted from extending in the axial direction, expand radially outward by supplying the pressurizing medium into the pressurizing space, and contract the axial unit in the axial direction. Item 22. The transport device according to Item 21.
The stretchable body includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder,
The transport device according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the telescopic body expands and contracts when the driving means compresses and expands the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in the axial direction in synchronization.
The stretchable body includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder,
The transport device according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the elastic body expands and contracts when the driving means relatively moves the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder in the axial direction.
The transfer device according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the expandable body includes an air chamber partitioned by the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and expands and contracts by supplying and discharging fluid to and from the air chamber.
The transfer device according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the stretchable bodies are arranged in series in the cylinder unit.
The transport device according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein a plurality of the stretchable bodies are arranged on an outer periphery of the cylinder unit, and each end of each stretchable body is connected to each end of the cylinder unit.
The transport apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the cylindrical unit is provided on an inner peripheral side of the elastic body, and an end portion of the cylindrical unit and an end portion of the elastic body are connected to each other.