Inspection / selection device of granule

Abstract

To prevent or suppress a granule from remaining in a granule passage.SOLUTION: An inspection / selection device includes a dropping passage 2 for dropping a granule P discharged from a granule processing device 1 by gravity, a storage part 3 for temporarily storing the granule P having dropped through the dropping passage 2, an inspection part 4 for measuring physical property P of the granule, and determining whether or not the granule P in the storage part 3 is a standard product or a non-standard product, a first transfer part 7 which has an opening / closing part 7a capable of opening / closing a part of the storage part 3, opens the opening / closing part 7a when the inspection part 4 determines that the granule P accumulated in the storage part 3 is the standard product, overflows the granule 9 accumulated in the storage part 3 from the storage part 3 by gravity, and transfers the granule to a standard product passage 5, and a second transfer part 8 for transferring the granule P accumulated in the storage part 3 to a non-standard product passage 6 by air suction or air pressure-feeding, when the inspection part 4 determines that the granule P accumulated in the storage part 3 is the non-standard product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection and sorting device that inspects powder or granular material discharged from a continuous powder or granular material processing apparatus and sorts the powder or granular material into in-standard products that meet predetermined standards and out-of-standard products that do not meet the predetermined standards. [Background technology]

[0002] In the fields of manufacturing medicines, foods, agricultural chemicals, battery materials, etc., continuous production systems are being developed to increase the production efficiency of powdered and granular products. For example, in a system for continuously producing tablets of medicines, etc., a series of production lines are constructed with various powdered and granular processing devices such as a mixer for mixing raw powders (medicinal raw materials, etc.), a granulator for granulating the raw powder mixed in the mixer, a dryer for drying the granulated material granulated in the granulator, a mixer for adding additive powders such as lubricants to the granulated material dried in the dryer and mixing them, a powder compression molding device (tablet press) for compressing and molding the mixed powder mixed in the mixer into a tablet form, and a coating device for forming a coating film on the tablet compressed in the powder compression molding device, and the powdered and granular materials continuously processed in the powdered and granular processing device of the previous process are transferred sequentially to the powdered and granular processing device of the next process for the required processing.

[0003] In the above-mentioned continuous production system for powdered and granular products, the powdered and granular material (processed material) discharged from the powdered and granular material processing device in the previous process is inspected to determine whether it is an in-standard product that meets a specified standard or an out-of-standard product that does not meet the specified standard. If it is determined to be an in-standard product, it is transferred to the powdered and granular material processing device in the next process, and if it is determined to be an out-of-standard product, it is removed from the production line. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a deviation processing device that includes a storage section that temporarily stores the granulated material, an inspection section that inspects the physical properties of the granulated material in the storage section, and a switching valve that switches the path of the granulated material based on the inspection result of the inspection section. The storage section is provided on the conveying path of the granulated material and is formed between upper and lower opening and closing valves. When the granulated material is stored in the storage section, the upper opening and closing valve is in the open position and the lower opening and closing valve is in the closed position, when the granulated material in the storage section is inspected, the upper and lower opening and closing valves are in the closed position, and when the granulated material in the storage section is discharged downstream, the lower opening and closing valve is in the open position. The switching valve is maintained in the normal position when the inspection unit determines that the granulated material in the storage unit is within the standard, and is switched to the deviation position that connects the conveying path downstream of the storage unit to the discharge path when the inspection unit determines that the granulated material in the storage unit is out of the standard. With the switching valve maintained in the normal position, the in-standard granulated material flowing out of the storage unit is transferred through the downstream conveying path to the processing device for the next process. On the other hand, with the switching valve switched to the deviation position, the out-of-standard granulated material flowing out of the storage unit is guided to the discharge path and discharged outside the system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7116975 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the deviation processing device (inspection and sorting device) of Patent Document 1, an on-off valve that opens and closes the storage section and a switching valve that guides non-standard powder and granular material that flows out of the storage section to a discharge path are provided in the transport path (powder and granular material passage), so powder and granular material are likely to remain in the powder and granular material passage. In particular, if powder and granular material remaining in the powder and granular material passage gets caught in the moving parts of the on-off valve or switching valve, the valve operation becomes inoperable or unstable, causing problems in the execution of the inspection and sorting operation, and also making the cleaning work when cleaning the inspection and sorting device and validation after cleaning time-consuming.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to prevent or suppress powder from remaining in a powder passage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a powder / granular material inspection and sorting device that inspects powder / granular material discharged from a continuous powder / granular material processing device and sorts the powder / granular material into in-standard products that meet a specified standard and non-standard products that do not meet the specified standard, the device having a descending passage through which the powder / granular material descends by gravity, a storage section in which the powder / granular material that descended through the descending passage is temporarily stored, a measurement section that measures physical properties of the powder / granular material stored in the storage section and determines whether the powder / granular material is in-standard or non-standard based on the measurement results of the measurement section, an in-standard product passage through which the in-standard products are transported, and a storage section through which the non-standard products are transported. a first transfer section having an opening / closing section capable of opening and closing a portion of the storage section, and which opens the opening / closing section when the inspection section determines that the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage section is the standard product, causing the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage section to flow out of the storage section by gravity and transfer it to the standard product passage; and a second transfer section which transfers the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage section to the non-standard product passage by air suction or air pressure transfer when the inspection section determines that the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage section is the non-standard product. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent or suppress powder or granular material from remaining in the powder or granular material passage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a powder or granular material inspection and sorting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a storage section. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example of a storage section. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example of a storage section. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example of a storage section. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a powder or granular material inspection and sorting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a powder / granular material inspection and sorting device according to the first embodiment. The inspection and sorting device of this embodiment inspects powder / granular material discharged from a continuous powder / granular material processing device 1 and sorts the powder / granular material into in-standard products that meet a predetermined standard and out-of-standard products that do not meet the predetermined standard. The powder / granular material processing device 1 is, for example, a device selected from a mixer that mixes powder / granular material, a granulator that granulates powder / granular material, a dryer that dries powder / granular material, a powder compression molding device (tablet press) that compresses powder / granular material, and a coating device that applies a coating process to powder / granular material. The powder / granular material inspected and sorted by the inspection and sorting device is a material selected from a mixture of powders, a granulated material, a mixture of powder and granulated material, a mixture of granulated material, a compressed product (tablet, etc.) of powder and / or granulated material, and a coated product. For example, in a continuous production system for powdered and granular products, an inspection and sorting device is placed between a previous process powdered and granular processing device and a next process powdered and granular processing device, and its role is to send only products that meet the standards to the next process powdered and granular processing device and to remove non-standard products from the production line.

[0012] In this embodiment, the powder and granular material processing device 1 is a continuous mixing device that continuously mixes multiple types of raw material powders (such as pharmaceutical ingredients), and the inspection and sorting device inspects the powder mixture continuously discharged from the continuous mixing device and sorts it into in-standard and out-of-standard products.

[0013] The inspection and sorting equipment is composed of the following main elements: a descending passage 2 along which powder (powder mixture) P discharged from a powder and granular processing device 1 (continuous mixer) descends due to gravity; a storage section 3 in which the powder and granular material P that has descended down the descending passage 2 is temporarily stored; an inspection section 4 (4a, 4b, 4c) that measures the physical properties of the powder and granular material P and determines whether the powder and granular material P in the storage section 3 is an in-standard product P1 or a non-standard product P2; an in-standard product passage 5 to which the in-standard product P1 is transferred; a non-standard product passage 6 to which the non-standard product P2 is transferred; a first transfer section 7 that transfers the powder and granular material P (P1) in the storage section 3 to the in-standard product passage 5 based on the determination result of the inspection section 4; and a second transfer section 8 that transfers the powder and granular material P (P2) in the storage section 3 to the non-standard product passage 6.

[0014] In this embodiment, the descending passage 2 is formed along the vertical direction, and the upstream side of the descending passage 2 communicates with the discharge passage 1a of the powder or granular material processing apparatus 1, and the downstream side of the descending passage 2 communicates with the storage section 3. In addition, the downstream side of the storage section 3 communicates with the non-standard product passage 6 via a connecting passage 9. The discharge passage 1a, the descending passage 2, the storage section 3, the connecting passage 9, the standard product passage 5 and the non-standard product passage 6 each have the form of a pipe having a circular cross section or a non-circular cross section (such as a rectangular cross section).

[0015] A discharge valve 2a is interposed between the discharge passage 1a and the descending passage 2. The discharge valve 2a is driven to open and close by an appropriate means, and functions as a feed valve that divides the powdered or granular material P discharged from the powdered or granular material processing device 1 into predetermined amounts and sequentially distributes the divided amounts to the descending passage 2. That is, the discharge valve 2a is normally maintained in a closed position, and the powdered or granular material P discharged from the powdered or granular material processing device 1 is blocked by the discharge valve 2a and accumulates in the discharge passage 1a. Then, when a predetermined amount of the powdered or granular material P accumulates in the discharge passage 1a, the discharge valve 2a switches to an open position, and the predetermined amount of the powdered or granular material P accumulated in the discharge passage 1a flows into the descending passage 2. When the predetermined amount of the powdered or granular material P accumulated in the discharge passage 1a flows into the descending passage 2, the discharge valve 2a returns to a closed position. The discharge valve 2a automatically repeats such an opening and closing operation, and sequentially distributes the predetermined amount of the powdered or granular material P to the descending passage 2. The operation of switching the discharge valve 2a from the closed position to the open position may be performed at predetermined time intervals, or may be performed based on the result of detection by an appropriate sensor of the amount of powdered or granular material P remaining in the discharge passage 1a.

[0016] Moreover, an air intake 2b is connected to the most upstream portion of the descending passage 2. The air intake 2b is equipped with a filter 2b1, and when an air suction force acts on the descending passage 2, outside air passes through the filter 2b1 and flows into the descending passage 2.

[0017] When a predetermined amount of powder P accumulates in the discharge passage 1a and the discharge valve 2a is switched to the open position, the predetermined amount of powder P in the discharge passage 1a descends (in this embodiment, falls) through the descending passage 2 due to gravity and accumulates in the storage section 3.

[0018] In this embodiment, the inspection unit 4 includes a first measurement unit 4a that measures the physical properties of the powder or granular material P in a stationary state accumulated in the storage unit 3, and a second measurement unit 4b that measures the physical properties of the powder or granular material P falling through the descending passage 2. The first measurement unit 4a and the second measurement unit 4b may be of the same type or different types. Furthermore, the first measurement unit 4a and the second measurement unit 4b may measure the same physical property of the powder or granular material P, or may measure different physical properties of the powder or granular material P.

[0019] The first measuring unit 4a is an optical sensor, for example, a spectroscopic sensor such as a near-infrared spectroscopic sensor (NIR), a mid-infrared spectroscopic sensor, or a Raman spectroscopic sensor; a particle size distribution measuring device such as a probe-type particle size distribution meter, a laser diffraction particle size distribution meter, or a spatial velocity filter particle size distribution meter; an image analyzer, a strain sensor, or a torque sensor; and measures physical properties such as the component content, crystal form, bulk density, particle size distribution, particle diameter, particle shape, strain, and flow characteristics of the powder or granular material P.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, in this embodiment, a spectroscopic sensor, particularly a near-infrared spectroscopic sensor (NIR), is used as the first measurement unit 4a to measure the component content of the powder or granular material P stored in the storage unit 3. The first measurement unit 4a includes a light projecting and receiving unit 4a1 that irradiates the powder or granular material P in the storage unit 3 with inspection light L (near-infrared light) and receives the reflected light (or transmitted light), and a main body unit 4a2 that determines the component content of the powder or granular material P based on the spectrum (NIR spectrum) of the light received by the light projecting and receiving unit 4a1 and judges whether the component content satisfies a predetermined standard. The judgment result by the main body unit 4a2 is sent to the overall judgment unit 4c (see Fig. 1).

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the storage section 3 is formed in a U-shape (a shape having a downwardly convex curved portion), a light-transmitting section 3a made of transparent glass, resin, or the like is provided on its side, and an opening / closing section 7a constituting a first conveying section 7 described below is provided at its lowest portion. The in-standard product passage 5 is connected to the lower part of the storage section 3 including the opening / closing section 7a. The light-emitting / receiving section 4a1 of the first measuring section 4a is disposed at an external position facing the light-transmitting section 3a, and irradiates inspection light L to the powder / granular material P in the storage section 3 through the light-transmitting section 3a, and also receives the reflected light reflected by the powder / granular material P in the storage section 3 through the light-transmitting section 3a.

[0022] The second measuring unit 4b is an optical sensor, for example, a spectroscopic sensor such as a near-infrared spectroscopic sensor (NIR), a mid-infrared spectroscopic sensor, or a Raman spectroscopic sensor; a particle size distribution measuring device such as a probe type particle size distribution meter, a laser diffraction type particle size distribution meter, or a spatial velocity filter type particle size distribution meter; an image analyzer, a strain sensor, or a torque sensor; and measures physical properties such as the component content, crystal form, bulk density, particle size distribution, particle diameter, particle shape, strain, and flow characteristics of the powder or granular material P.

[0023] 1, in this embodiment, a probe-type particle size distribution meter is used as the second measurement unit 4b to measure the particle size distribution, particle diameter, etc. of the powder or granular material P falling down the descending passage 2. The second measurement unit 4b is equipped with a probe 4b1, the tip of which is inserted into the descending passage 2, to obtain optical information on the powder or granular material P falling down the descending passage 2, and a main body 4b2 which determines the particle size distribution of the powder or granular material P based on the optical information obtained by the probe 4b1 and determines whether or not the particle size distribution satisfies a predetermined standard. The determination result by the main body 4b2 is sent to the overall determination unit 4c.

[0024] The first transfer section 7 has the above-mentioned opening / closing section 7a. The opening / closing section 7a is composed of an automatic opening / closing valve that is switched by an actuating force such as electromagnetic force, air pressure, or hydraulic pressure, and can be switched between a closed position that closes a part (lowest position) of the storage section 3 and an open position that opens a part (lowest position) of the storage section 3. The opening / closing section 7a is normally maintained in the closed position. When the inspection section 4 determines that the powder / granular material P accumulated in the storage section 3 is a standard product P1, the first transfer section 7 opens the opening / closing section 7a, and transfers the standard product P1 accumulated in the storage section 3 to the standard product passage 5 by flowing out of the storage section 3 by gravity. When the standard product passage 5 is formed in the vertical direction, the standard product P1 flowing out of the storage section 3 falls along the standard product passage 5, and when the standard product passage 5 is formed in the inclined direction, the standard product P1 flowing out of the storage section 3 falls along the standard product passage 5. In this embodiment, the passage 5 for standard products is formed in the vertical direction, and the standard products P1 flowing out of the storage section 3 are dropped into the passage 5 for standard products.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second transfer section 8 is configured as an air suction type that transfers the powder P in the storage section 3 by air suction, and includes a solid-gas separation section 8a, an air suction source 8b, and a switching section 8c. The switching section 8c is configured with an automatic switching valve that switches by an operating force such as electromagnetic force, air pressure, or hydraulic pressure, and a suction blower, a vacuum pump, an ejector pump, or the like is used as the air suction source 8b.

[0026] The solid-gas separation section 8a has the form of a container and includes a suction chamber 8a1, a solid-gas separation chamber 8a2, and a recovery chamber 8a3. The suction chamber 8a1 and the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2 are separated by a partition wall 8a5 to which a filter 8a4 is attached, and communicate with each other via the filter 8a4. The space between the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2 and the recovery chamber 8a3 is normally closed by a flap valve 8a6. The suction chamber 8a1 is connected to the switching section 8c via a suction pipe 8a7, and the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2 is connected to the non-standard product passage 6. The flap valve 8a6 is driven to open and close by an appropriate means.

[0027] The switching unit 8c is connected to the air suction source 8b and can be switched between a first position where the suction tube 8a7 is disconnected from the air suction source 8b and a second position where the suction tube 8a7 is connected to the air suction source 8b. The switching unit 8c is normally maintained in the first position.

[0028] Next, the operation of the inspection and sorting device of this embodiment will be described.

[0029] When a predetermined amount of powder P discharged from the continuous powder / granular material processing device 1 accumulates in the discharge passage 1a, the discharge valve 2a switches to the open position, and the predetermined amount of powder P in the discharge passage 1a falls by gravity through the descending passage 2. The second measuring unit 4b measures the particle size distribution of the powder P falling through the descending passage 2, and judges whether the particle size distribution satisfies a predetermined standard. The result of this judgment is sent from the main body 4b2 to the comprehensive judgment unit 4c.

[0030] A predetermined amount of powder or granular material P that falls by gravity through the descending passage 2 stops at the U-shaped storage section 3 and accumulates in the curved section of the storage section 3. The first measuring section 4a measures the component content of the powder or granular material P in a stationary state that has accumulated in the storage section 3, and judges whether or not the component content meets a predetermined standard. The result of this judgment is sent from the main body section 4a2 to the comprehensive judgment section 4c.

[0031] When the judgment result received from the first measuring section 4a is pass (meets the specified standard) and the judgment result received from the second measuring section 4b is pass (meets the specified standard), the comprehensive judgment section 4c judges the specified amount of powdered or granular material P accumulated in the storage section 3 to be a standard product P1, and outputs a switching signal S1 to the opening / closing section 7a of the first conveying section 7 (or a control device that controls the operation of the opening / closing section 7a, etc.). This switching signal S1 switches the opening / closing section 7a from the above-mentioned closed position to an open position, and a part (the lowest part) of the storage section 3 is opened. The powdered or granular material P accumulated in the storage section 3 (standard product P1) flows out of the storage section 3 (opening / closing section 7a) by gravity and is transferred to the standard product passage 5. The standard product P1 transferred to the standard product passage 5 is transferred to the next process by appropriate means.

[0032] On the other hand, when at least one of the judgment results received from the first measuring section 4a and the second measuring section 4b is unsatisfactory (does not meet a predetermined standard), the overall judgment section 4c judges the powder P accumulated in the storage section 3 to be a non-standard product P2, and outputs a switching signal S2 to the switching section 8c of the second conveying section 8 (or a control device that controls the operation of the switching section 8c, etc.). This switching signal S2 switches the switching section 8c from the first position to the second position, and the suction pipe 8a7 of the second conveying section 8 is connected to the air suction source 8b. As a result, the suction chamber 8a1 of the solid-gas separating section 8a is connected to the air suction source 8b via the suction pipe 8a7, and the air suction force generated by the air suction source 8b acts on the non-standard product passage 6 through the route of the suction chamber 8a1 → filter 8a4 → solid-gas separating chamber 8a2, and further acts on the descending passage 2 through the route of the non-standard product passage 6 → connecting passage 9 → storage section 3. Then, the air suction force acting on the descending passage 2 draws outside air from the air intake port 2b into the descending passage 2, generating a suction air flow that flows from the descending passage 2 toward the downstream side through the above-mentioned series of paths. The powdered or granular material P (non-standard product P2) that has accumulated in the storage section 3 is sucked in by the above-mentioned suction air flow, flows through the connecting passage 9 and the non-standard product passage 6, enters the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2 of the second transfer section 8, is separated from the suction air flow, and accumulates at the bottom of the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2. Then, when the above-mentioned air suction operation is completed, the switching section 8c returns to the first position, and the solid-gas separation section 8a is cut off from the air suction source 8b. After that, the flap valve 8a6 is opened, and the non-standard product P2 that has accumulated in the solid-gas separation chamber 8a2 is transferred to the recovery chamber 8a3. The non-standard product P2 transferred to the recovery chamber 8a3 is removed from the production line by appropriate means.

[0033] In the inspection and sorting device of this embodiment, a predetermined amount of powder or granular material P discharged from a powder or granular material processing device 1 is dropped by gravity in a descending passage 2 and temporarily stored in a storage section 3, and when the inspection section 4 judges that the powder or granular material P stored in the storage section 3 is an in-standard product P1, the first transfer section 7 causes the in-standard product P1 stored in the storage section 3 to flow out by gravity and transfer it to an in-standard product passage 5, and when the inspection section 4 judges that the powder or granular material P stored in the storage section 3 is an out-of-standard product P2, the second transfer section 8 air-sucks the out-of-standard product P2 stored in the storage section 3 and transfers it to an out-of-standard product passage 6. Therefore, compared to the conventional device, it is possible to reduce the number of valves (opening / closing valves, switching valves, etc.) arranged in the powder or granular material passages (the descending passage 2, the storage section 3, the connecting passage 9, the in-standard product passage 5, and the out-of-standard product passage 6). This makes it difficult for powder or granular material to stagnate in the powder or granular material passages. Moreover, when the second transfer section 8 operates to transfer the nonstandard product P2 to the nonstandard product passage 6, the powder / granular material passage (the descending passage 2, the storage section 3, the connecting passage 9, the nonstandard product passage 6) is cleaned by the above-mentioned suction air flow, effectively preventing or suppressing powder / granular material from remaining in the powder / granular material passage. Also, the standard product P1 is caused to flow out of the storage section 3 by gravity and transferred to the standard product passage 5, so that even if the powder / granular material P (standard product P1) is a mixed powder in which multiple types of raw material powders are mixed, it can be transferred to the standard product passage 5 without causing segregation of the components.

[0034] In this embodiment, the inspection unit 4 includes the first measurement unit 4a and the second measurement unit 4b, but the second measurement unit 4b may be omitted. In this case, the overall judgment unit 4c may be eliminated, and the main body unit 4a2 of the first measurement unit 4a may output the switching signal S1 (S2) to the opening / closing unit 7a (switching unit 8c). The first measurement unit 4a may be of a type that brings the tip of a probe into contact with the powder or granular material P stored in the storage unit 3 to measure the physical properties of the powder or granular material P.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the descending passage 2 is formed in a vertical direction, and the powder and granular material fall within the descending passage 2 due to gravity, but the descending passage 2 may be formed in an inclined direction, and the powder and granular material may fall along the descending passage 2 due to gravity.

[0036] In addition, the solid-gas separation section of the second transfer section 8 may have a solid-gas separation chamber of a cyclone type or the like, and may be configured so that the flap valve and the recovery chamber are eliminated and the powder or granular material P (non-standard product P2) separated into solid and gas in the solid-gas separation chamber is transferred from the solid-gas separation chamber to outside the production line.

[0037] Furthermore, the shape of the storage section 3 is not limited to a U-shape, and various modifications are possible.

[0038] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of the storage section 3. The storage section 3 of this modified example is formed in a V-shape (a shape having a downwardly convex bent portion), has a light-transmitting section 3a provided on its side, and has an opening / closing section 7a (double-sided opening type) of the first transfer section 7 provided at its lowest portion (bent portion). A predetermined amount of powder P that has descended through the descending passage 2 stops at the V-shaped storage section 3 and accumulates in the bent portion of the storage section 3.

[0039] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the storage section 3. The storage section 3 of this modified example is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, has a light-transmitting section 3a on its side, and has an opening / closing section 7a of a first transfer section 7 at its lowest portion (bottom). A connection passage 9 is branched and connected to the upper part of the storage section 3. A predetermined amount of powder or granular material P that has descended through the descending passage 2 stops at the storage section 3, which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and accumulates at the bottom of the storage section 3.

[0040] 5 is a schematic diagram showing a third modified example of the storage section 3. The storage section 3 of this modified example is also formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, with a light-transmitting section 3a provided on its side, and with an opening / closing section 7a of the first transfer section 7 provided at its lowest portion (bottom). The connection passage 9 is branched and connected to the lower part of the storage section 3. A predetermined amount of powder or granular material P that has descended through the descending passage 2 stops at the storage section 3, which is cylindrical with a bottom, and accumulates at the bottom of the storage section 3.

[0041] 6 conceptually illustrates a powder / granular material inspection and sorting device according to the second embodiment. Components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0042] In the second embodiment, an air pressure feeding type second transfer section 18 is used instead of the air suction type second transfer section 8 in the first embodiment. The second transfer section 18 includes a solid-gas separator 18a, an air pressure feeding source 18b, and a switching section 18c. The air pressure feeding source 18b is composed of an air blower, an air compressor, or the like, and is connected to the most upstream part of the descending passage 2 via the switching section 18c. The switching section 18c is composed of an automatic switching valve that is switched by an operating force such as an electromagnetic force, air pressure, or hydraulic pressure, and can be switched between a first position that blocks communication between the air pressure feeding source 18b and the descending passage 2 and a second position that connects the air pressure feeding source 18b to the descending passage 2. The switching section 18c is normally maintained in the first position.

[0043] The solid-gas separation section 18a has the form of a container and includes an exhaust chamber 18a1, a solid-gas separation chamber 18a2, and a recovery chamber 18a3. The exhaust chamber 18a1 and the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2 are separated by a partition wall 18a5 to which a filter 18a4 is attached, and communicate with each other via the filter 18a4. The space between the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2 and the recovery chamber 18a3 is normally closed by a flap valve 18a6. The exhaust chamber 8a1 is connected to an exhaust pipe 18a7, and the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2 is connected to the non-standard product passage 6. The flap valve 18a6 is driven to open and close by appropriate means.

[0044] Next, the operation of the inspection and sorting device of the second embodiment will be described.

[0045] When a predetermined amount of powder P discharged from the continuous powder / granular material processing device 1 accumulates in the discharge passage 1a, the discharge valve 2a switches to the open position, and the predetermined amount of powder P in the discharge passage 1a falls by gravity through the descending passage 2. The second measuring unit 4b measures the particle size distribution of the powder P falling through the descending passage 2, and judges whether the particle size distribution satisfies a predetermined standard. The result of this judgment is sent from the main body 4b2 to the comprehensive judgment unit 4c.

[0046] A predetermined amount of powder or granular material P that falls by gravity through the descending passage 2 stops at the U-shaped storage section 3 and accumulates in the curved section of the storage section 3. The first measuring section 4a measures the component content of the powder or granular material P in a stationary state that has accumulated in the storage section 3, and judges whether or not the component content meets a predetermined standard. The result of this judgment is sent from the main body section 4a2 to the comprehensive judgment section 4c.

[0047] When the judgment result received from the first measuring section 4a is pass (meets the specified standard) and the judgment result received from the second measuring section 4b is pass (meets the specified standard), the comprehensive judgment section 4c judges the specified amount of powdered or granular material P accumulated in the storage section 3 to be a standard product P1, and outputs a switching signal S1 to the opening / closing section 7a of the first conveying section 7 (or a control device that controls the operation of the opening / closing section 7a, etc.). This switching signal S1 switches the opening / closing section 7a from the above-mentioned closed position to an open position, and a part (the lowest part) of the storage section 3 is opened. The powdered or granular material P accumulated in the storage section 3 (standard product P1) flows out of the storage section 3 (opening / closing section 7a) by gravity and is transferred to the standard product passage 5. The standard product P1 transferred to the standard product passage 5 is transferred to the next process by appropriate means.

[0048] On the other hand, when at least one of the judgment results received from the first measuring unit 4a and the second measuring unit 4b is unacceptable (does not meet a predetermined standard), the overall judgment unit 4c judges the powder P stored in the storage unit 3 to be a non-standard product P2, and outputs a switching signal S3 to the switching unit 18c of the second conveying unit 18 (or a control device that controls the operation of the switching unit 18c, etc.). The switching signal S3 switches the switching unit 18c from the first position to the second position, and the air pressure supply source 18b communicates with the descending passage 2. As a result, the compressed air generated by the air pressure supply source 18b flows into the descending passage 2, and this compressed air flows in the following route: descending passage 2 → storage unit 3 → connection passage 9 → non-standard product passage 6 → solid-gas separation unit 18a. The powder P (nonstandard product P2) accumulated in the storage section 3 is pressurized and transported by this pressurized air flow, flows through the connecting passage 9 and the nonstandard product passage 6, enters the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2, is separated from the pressurized air flow, and accumulates at the bottom of the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2. Then, when the above air pressure transport operation is completed, the switching section 18c returns to the first position, and the air pressure transport source 18b is cut off from the descending passage 2. Thereafter, the flap valve 18a6 is opened, and the nonstandard product P2 accumulated in the solid-gas separation chamber 18a2 is transferred to the recovery chamber 18a3. The nonstandard product P2 transferred to the recovery chamber 18a3 is removed from the production line by appropriate means.

[0049] In the inspection and sorting device of this embodiment, a predetermined amount of powder or granular material P discharged from a powder or granular material processing device 1 is dropped by gravity in a descending passage 2 and temporarily stored in a storage section 3, and when the inspection section 4 judges that the powder or granular material P stored in the storage section 3 is an in-standard product P1, the first transfer section 7 causes the in-standard product P1 stored in the storage section 3 to flow out by gravity and transfer it to an in-standard product passage 5, and when the inspection section 4 judges that the powder or granular material P stored in the storage section 3 is an out-of-standard product P2, the second transfer section 18 air-pressure-feeds the out-of-standard product P2 stored in the storage section 3 and transfers it to an out-of-standard product passage 6. Therefore, compared to the conventional device, it is possible to reduce the number of valves (opening / closing valves, switching valves, etc.) arranged in the powder or granular material passages (the descending passage 2, the storage section 3, the connecting passage 9, the in-standard product passage 5, and the out-of-standard product passage 6). This makes it difficult for powder or granular material to stagnate in the powder or granular material passages. Moreover, when the second transfer section 18 is operated to transfer the nonstandard product P2 to the nonstandard product passage 6, the powder / granular material passage (the descending passage 2, the storage section 3, the connecting passage 9, the nonstandard product passage 6) is cleaned by the above-mentioned compressed air flow, so that the powder / granular material is effectively prevented or suppressed from remaining in the powder / granular material passage. Also, the standard product P1 is caused to flow out of the storage section 3 by gravity and transferred to the standard product passage 5, so that even if the powder / granular material P (standard product P1) is a mixed powder in which multiple types of raw material powders are mixed, it can be transferred to the standard product passage 5 without causing segregation of the components.

[0050] The solid-gas separation section of the second transfer section 18 may have a solid-gas separation chamber such as a cyclone type, and may be configured so as to eliminate the flap valve and the recovery chamber and to transfer the powder or granular material P (non-standard product P2) separated into solid and gas in the solid-gas separation chamber from the solid-gas separation chamber to outside the production line.

[0051] Matters other than those described above regarding the second embodiment are all similar to those of the first embodiment, including modifications, and therefore overlapping descriptions will be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Powder and granular material processing equipment 2. Descending Passage 3. Storage section 3a Translucent part 4. Inspection Department 4a 1st measurement section 4b Second measurement section 5. Standard products aisle 6 Non-standard product aisle 7 1st transfer section 7a Opening / closing part 8 Second transfer section 18 2nd transfer section

Claims

1. A powder / granular material inspection and sorting device that inspects powder / granular material discharged from a continuous powder / granular material processing device and sorts the powder / granular material into in-standard products that meet a predetermined standard and out-of-standard products that do not meet the predetermined standard, a descending passage through which the powder or granular material descends by gravity; a storage section in which the powder or granular material that has descended through the descending passage is temporarily stored; an inspection unit having a measurement unit for measuring physical properties of the powder or granular material stored in the storage unit and determining whether the powder or granular material is a standard product or a non-standard product based on a measurement result of the measurement unit; a standard product passageway through which the standard product is transported; a non-standard product passage through which the non-standard products are transported; a first transport unit having an opening / closing unit capable of opening and closing a part of the storage unit, and when the inspection unit determines that the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage unit is the standard product, opening the opening / closing unit, causing the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage unit to flow out of the storage unit by gravity and transporting it to the standard product passage; a second transfer unit that transfers the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage unit to the non-standard product passage by air suction or air pressure feeding when the inspection unit determines that the powder or granular material accumulated in the storage unit is the non-standard product; A powder / granular material inspection and sorting device comprising:

2. 2. The powder / granular material inspection and sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion has one shape selected from the group consisting of a U-shape, a V-shape, and a cylindrical shape with a bottom.

3. 3. The powder / granular material inspection and sorting device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the inspection unit, in addition to the measuring unit, further includes a second measuring unit that measures physical properties of the powder / granular material descending down the descending passage, and the inspection unit determines that the powder / granular material accumulated in the storage unit is an in-standard product if the physical properties of the powder / granular material measured by the measuring unit meet a predetermined standard and the physical properties of the powder / granular material measured by the second measuring unit meet a predetermined standard, and otherwise determines that the powder / granular material accumulated in the storage unit is a non-standard product.

4. The powder or granular material inspection and sorting device according to claim 3 , wherein the measuring unit and the second measuring unit respectively measure different physical properties of the powder or granular material.

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