Slide valve

Abstract

To provide a slide valve capable of preventing powder and granular material from leaking to the outside. [Solution] In a slide valve (1), a bottom-side flow member (12) is fixed to the bottom surface (base plate (21)) of a housing (11), and a top-side flow member (13) is fixed to the top surface (upper surface (23) of a cover (22). A plate-shaped valve element (14) is contained within the housing (11) and extends between the bottom-side flow member (12) and the top-side flow member (13). A communication port (51) is formed in the valve element (14). The valve element (14) moves forward from an open position, which connects the bottom-side flow member (12) and the top-side flow member (13) via the communication port (51), to a closed position, which blocks the bottom-side flow member (12) and the top-side flow member (13), and moves from the closed position to the open position by double action. A recovery section (71) for recovering powder and granular material is provided within the housing (11) downstream of the bottom-side flow member (12) and the top-side flow member (13) in the forward movement direction of the valve element (14).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide valve. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In a manufacturing facility for resin molded products, for example, powdered material such as resin pellets is transported from a container such as a hopper storing the powdered material to another container through a transport path.

[0003] A slide valve is sometimes used as a mechanism for switching between transport and stopping of powder and granular materials. The slide valve is installed midway along the transport path and switches between transport and stopping of powder and granular materials by allowing or blocking the flow of the powder and granular materials along the transport path.

[0004] An example of a conventional slide valve is shown in Patent Document 1. In this slide valve, a slide cover and a slide base are provided to sandwich a plate-shaped valve element from above and below. An upstream opening is formed through the slide cover. A downstream opening of the same shape as the upstream opening of the slide cover is formed through the slide base at a position that overlaps the upstream opening of the slide cover in the vertical direction. A communication port of the same shape as the upstream opening of the slide cover and the downstream opening of the slide base is formed through the valve element.

[0005] The slide valve is also provided with an air cylinder. The air cylinder is arranged so that its rod moves forward and backward along the valve body (a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction). The rod of the air cylinder is connected to the valve body. As a result, as the rod moves forward and backward, the valve body slides between a position where the communication port overlaps the upstream opening and the downstream opening in the up-down direction, and a position where a blocking portion of the valve body where no communication port is formed is located between the upstream opening and the downstream opening. When the communication port overlaps the upstream opening and the downstream opening in the up-down direction, the upstream opening and the downstream opening communicate with each other via the communication port, allowing the flow of powder and granular material through the transport path. On the other hand, when the blocking portion of the valve body is located between the upstream opening and the downstream opening and blocks the upstream opening and the downstream opening, the flow of powder and granular material through the transport path is prevented. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5386102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, with such slide valves, there is a risk that the powder (particularly the powder) may leak out depending on the physical properties of the powder and the pressure state inside the transport path. If the powder leaks out of the slide valve, it may cause a deterioration in the environment around the transport path or pose a risk of workers being exposed to the powder.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a slide valve that can prevent powder and granular materials from leaking out. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a slide valve according to one aspect of the present invention is a slide valve that is provided on a transport path and switches between transport by flowing powder and granular material through the transport path and stopping the transport by blocking the flow, and includes a housing having a bottom portion and a top portion facing the bottom portion at a distance in the flow direction, a bottom-side flow member that is fixed to the bottom portion and has a cylindrical shape with an end on the top portion side that is open within the housing and the center line of said end extends in the flow direction, a top-side flow member that is fixed to the top portion and has a cylindrical shape with an end on the bottom portion side that is open within the housing and the center line of said end extends in the flow direction, a plate-shaped valve body that is accommodated in the housing and extends between the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, and a slide mechanism that reciprocates the valve body in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction. At least a portion of the end of the top-side flow member overlaps with the end of the bottom-side flow member when viewed from the flow direction, and a communication port is formed in the valve body so as to penetrate in the flow direction. The valve body moves forward from an open position where the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member are connected via the communication port to a closed position where the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member are blocked at a blocking portion where no communication port is formed, and moves from the closed position to the open position by double action. A recovery section for recovering powdered or granular material is provided within the housing downstream of the end of the bottom-side flow member and the end of the top-side flow member in the forward movement direction of the valve body.

[0010] According to this configuration, the slide valve is provided on the transport path to switch between transport by flowing the powder through the transport path and stopping the transport by blocking the flow. The housing of the slide valve has a bottom surface and a top surface separated from each other in the flow direction. A bottom-side flow member is fixed to the bottom surface. The top-side end of the bottom-side flow member is tubular and open within the housing, with the centerline of the end extending in the flow direction. A top-side flow member is fixed to the top surface. The bottom-side end of the top-side flow member is tubular and open within the housing, with the centerline of the end extending in the flow direction.

[0011] A plate-shaped valve element is accommodated within the housing, extending between the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction. A communication port is formed through the valve element in the flow direction. The slide valve is also provided with a slide mechanism that reciprocates the valve element in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction. The valve element moves forward from an open position, which connects the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member via the communication port, to a closed position, which blocks the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member, and moves from the closed position to the open position by double action, which is the opposite of the forward action.

[0012] When the valve body is in the open position, the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member communicate with each other through the communication port, allowing the powder or granular material to flow through the transport path. On the other hand, when the valve body is in the closed position, the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member are blocked, preventing the powder or granular material from flowing through the transport path. Therefore, movement of the valve body between the open and closed positions switches between transport by allowing the powder or granular material to flow through the transport path and stopping the transport by preventing the flow.

[0013] When the valve element moves from the open position to the closed position, the periphery of the communication port in the valve element crosses the powder and granular material present between the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member. As a result, the powder and granular material is pushed downstream in the forward movement direction by the periphery of the communication port, which could cause the powder and granular material to spill downstream from between the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member. Therefore, recovery sections for recovering the powder and granular material are provided within the housing downstream in the forward movement direction from the ends of the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member. This allows the powder and granular material that spills downstream from between the bottom-side flow member and the top-side flow member to be recovered in the recovery section, preventing the powder and granular material from leaking outside the housing. As a result, deterioration of the environment around the transport path can be prevented, and the risk of workers being exposed to the powder and granular material can be eliminated.

[0014] The recovery section may be disposed downstream of the end of the bottom-side flow member in the forward movement direction, and may include a receiving tray for receiving powder or granular material that has flown in from the top-side portion.

[0015] In this configuration, the tray can receive the powder or granular material that spills downstream from between the bottom surface side flow member and the top surface side flow member.

[0016] The top surface is preferably formed with a viewing window that allows the tray to be viewed from outside the housing.

[0017] With this configuration, an operator can view the tray through the sight window from outside the housing and monitor the amount of powder or granular material received in the tray.

[0018] The housing may have an access port formed therein for moving the tray in and out of the housing.

[0019] In this configuration, the housing has an opening, so that the tray can be removed from the housing and returned to the housing.

[0020] The slide valve may also include a closing member coupled to the tray for closing the inlet and outlet when the tray is housed within the housing.

[0021] With this configuration, when the tray is returned into the housing, the blocking member closes the entrance and exit, thereby preventing the powder and granular material from leaking out of the housing through the entrance and exit while the tray is contained within the housing.

[0022] It is preferable that the slide valve further includes a bottom-side sealing member that surrounds the outer periphery of the end of the bottom-side flow member and abuts against the valve body from the bottom side, and a top-side sealing member that surrounds the outer periphery of the end of the top-side flow member and abuts against the valve body from the top side.

[0023] With this configuration, when the valve element moves from the open position to the closed position, the powder or granular material can be prevented from spilling out from between the bottom surface side flow member and the top surface side flow member to the downstream side.

[0024] The housing comprises a base plate having a bottom surface and a cover having a top surface that is superimposed on the base plate, and it is preferable that the base plate, cover, bottom surface side flow member, top surface side flow member, valve body, slide mechanism and recovery section are individually and disassembleably connected.

[0025] This configuration allows an operator to easily disassemble each part individually and perform maintenance on each part (such as cleaning to remove powder or granular material). [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to this invention, the powdered material can be prevented from leaking outside the housing, thereby preventing deterioration of the environment around the transport route and eliminating the risk of workers being exposed to the powdered material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slide valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the valve body in an open position; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of the slide valve in the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the slide valve, showing the valve body in a closed position. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically showing the internal configuration of the slide valve in the state shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 10 is a schematic plan view for explaining attachment and detachment of the collection section to and from the housing. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] [Slide valve configuration] 1 and 3 are cross-sectional views of a slide valve 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 4 are cross-sectional views illustrating the internal structure of the slide valve 1 in the states shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively.

[0030] Slide valve 1 is provided on transport path 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) to switch between transport by flowing powder or granular material through transport path 2 and stopping the transport by blocking the flow. Transport path 2 is an assembly of pipes for transporting powder or granular material from a container (not shown) storing the powder or granular material to another container (not shown). The container storing the powder or granular material may be a tank or silo for storing (storing) powder or granular material, a drying hopper for storing powder or granular material to be dried in a dryer, or a hopper for feeding powder or granular material into a dryer, a weighing machine for weighing powder or granular material, a mixer for mixing multiple types of materials including powder or granular material, or a blender (weighing mixer) for measuring and mixing multiple types of materials including powder or granular material.

[0031] The slide valve 1 includes a housing 11 , a bottom side flow member 12 , a top side flow member 13 , a valve body 14 , and an air cylinder 15 .

[0032] In the following, the configuration of the slide valve 1 will be described using as an example a state in which the slide valve 1 is installed in a vertically extending intermediate portion of the transport path 2. However, the slide valve 1 is not limited to being installed in a vertically extending intermediate portion of the transport path 2, but may be installed at the end of the transport path 2, or may be installed in a vertically and horizontally inclined intermediate portion of the transport path 2. In addition, for the purposes of the following description, the left and right of the slide valve 1 will be defined when viewed from the same direction as when viewing the cross sections shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0033] The housing 11 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from above and is thick in the up-down direction. The housing 11 includes a generally rectangular base plate 21 and a cover 22 that is placed on the base plate 21 from above.

[0034] The base plate 21 forms the bottom surface of the housing 11.

[0035] The cover 22 integrally comprises an upper surface portion 23 having a generally rectangular plate shape, side surfaces 24 extending downward from both left-right edges of the upper surface portion 23 and one side edge extending in a width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the "width direction") perpendicular to the left-right direction, and a lower surface portion 25 having a generally rectangular plate shape that is continuous with the lower edge of the side surface portion 24 and extends parallel to and spaced downward from the upper surface portion 23. As a result, the space sandwiched from above between the upper surface portion 23 and the lower surface portion 25 is surrounded by the side surfaces 24 on both sides and the right side in the width direction when viewed from above, and is open to the left. The upper surface portion 23 forms the top surface of the housing 11.

[0036] The lower surface portion 25 is placed on the base plate 21, and the base plate 21 and the lower surface portion 25 are fastened together with a plurality of bolts 26, thereby fixing the base plate 21 and the cover 22 to each other.

[0037] The bottom-side flow member 12 is fixed to the base plate 21. The bottom-side flow member 12 includes a cylindrical large-diameter portion 31 having a relatively large diameter, a cylindrical small-diameter portion 32 having a relatively small diameter, a circular-plate-like connecting portion 33 connecting the upper end of the large-diameter portion 31 to the lower end of the small-diameter portion 32, and a substantially rectangular-plate-like fixing portion 34 that is fitted onto and fixed to the small-diameter portion 32, spaced apart from the connecting portion 33 in the direction of the center line of the small-diameter portion 32. The center lines of the large-diameter portion 31 and the small-diameter portion 32 are aligned. A circular insertion hole 35 having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 32 is formed to penetrate the base plate 21 in the vertical direction. In addition, an insertion hole 36 is formed to penetrate the lower surface portion 25 of the cover 22 in the vertical direction.

[0038] When the bottom-side flow member 12 is fixed to the base plate 21, the small-diameter portion 32 is inserted into the insertion holes 35, 36 in this order from the base plate 21 side (i.e., from below). Then, within the housing 11 (cover 22), a rectangular plate-shaped receiving member 37 is fitted onto the small-diameter portion 32. The receiving member 37 fits into the insertion hole 36 in the lower surface portion 25 of the cover 22 and contacts the base plate 21. As a result, the base plate 21 is sandwiched between the fixing portion 34 and the receiving member 37. In this state, the fixing portion 34 and the receiving member 37 are fastened together with a plurality of bolts (not shown), thereby fixing the bottom-side flow member 12 to the base plate 21. The large-diameter portion 31 is connected to the base end of a portion of the transport path 2 that extends between the slide valve 1 and the transport destination.

[0039] The top-side flow member 13 is fixed to the upper surface 23 of the cover 22. The top-side flow member 13 includes a cylindrical large-diameter portion 41 with a relatively large diameter, a cylindrical small-diameter portion 42 with a relatively small diameter, and a rectangular plate-like intermediate portion 43 connected to the upper end of the large-diameter portion 41 and extending outward beyond the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 41. The inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 41 is set to be the same as the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12. The center lines of the large-diameter portion 41 and the small-diameter portion 42 are aligned. A circular connection hole 44, centered on the center line of the small-diameter portion 42 and having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 42, is formed through the intermediate portion 43 in the vertical direction. The intermediate portion 43 is fixed to the large-diameter portion 41. A circular insertion hole 45, having a diameter approximately the same as the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 42, is formed through the top surface 23 of the cover 22 in the vertical direction. The center position of the insertion hole 45 coincides with the center position of the insertion hole 35 .

[0040] When the top surface side flow member 13 is fixed to the upper surface portion 23 of the cover 22, the positions of the large diameter portion 41 and the intermediate portion 43 are adjusted within the housing 11 (cover 22) so that the center line of the connection hole 44 coincides with the center line of the insertion hole 45. Meanwhile, the small diameter portion 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 45 from the outside (i.e., from above) of the upper surface portion 23 of the cover 22, and the small diameter portion 42 is fixed to the intermediate portion 43 with its lower end abutting against the intermediate portion 43. Then, within the cover 22, a rectangular plate-shaped receiving member 46 is fitted onto the large diameter portion 31. As a result, the intermediate portion 43 is sandwiched between the upper surface portion 23 of the cover 22 and the receiving member 46. In this state, the upper surface portion 23 and the receiving member 46 are fastened together with a plurality of bolts 47, 48, thereby fixing the top surface side flow member 13 to the upper surface portion 23. The small diameter portion 42 is connected to the tip of the portion of the transport path 2 that extends between the transport source and the slide valve 1.

[0041] The valve element 14 is housed within the housing 11 and extends in the left-right and width directions between the upper end of the small-diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12 and the lower end of the large-diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13. The valve element 14 has a generally rectangular plate shape extending long in the left-right direction. A circular communication port 51 is formed through the valve element 14 at a position offset to the left. The diameter of the communication port 51 is set to be approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12 (the same as the inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13). The valve element 14 has a blocking portion 52 to the right of the communication port 51. The length of the blocking portion 52 in the left-right direction is set to be longer than the diameter of the communication port 51.

[0042] A bottom-side guide member 53 and a top-side guide member 54 are provided within the housing 11. The bottom-side guide member 53 has a configuration in which a circular shape is cut out in the center of a plate-like member, and is installed at a distance from the small-diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12. The bottom-side guide member 53 is fixed to the upper surface of the receiving member 37 via a height-adjusting adapter 55. The top-side guide member 54 has a configuration in which a circular shape is cut out in the center of a plate-like member, and is installed at a distance from the large-diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13. The top-side guide member 54 is fixed to the lower surface of the receiving member 46. The valve element 14 is sandwiched between the top-side guide member 54 and the bottom-side guide member 53 from above and below.

[0043] Between the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom side flow member 12 and the inner circumferential surface of the bottom side guide member 53 surrounding the small diameter portion 32, an annular bottom side seal member 56 is provided, surrounding the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 32. The bottom side seal member 56 abuts against the valve element 14 with an appropriate sealing pressure. Furthermore, between the large diameter portion 41 of the top side flow member 13 and the inner circumferential surface of the top side guide member 54 surrounding the large diameter portion 41, an annular top side seal member 57 is provided, surrounding the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 41. The top side seal member 57 abuts against the valve element 14 with an appropriate sealing pressure. To ensure the slidability of the valve element 14 against the bottom side seal member 56 and the top side seal member 57, the surface of the valve element 14 is, for example, fluorine-coated.

[0044] The air cylinder 15 includes a cylinder body 61 and a rod 62 that moves back and forth relative to the cylinder body 61. The air cylinder 15 is supported by the housing 11 via a cylinder bracket 63, with the rod 62 being able to move back and forth in the left-right direction.

[0045] Specifically, the cylinder bracket 63 integrally includes a generally rectangular vertical plate portion 64 extending in the up-down and width directions, and a generally rectangular horizontal plate portion 65 extending leftward from the lower end of the vertical plate portion 64, and has a generally L-shaped cross section when cut along a plane along the left-right direction. The left end of the cylinder body 61 is inserted through the vertical plate portion 64 and extends rightward from the vertical plate portion 64. The vertical plate portion 64 contacts the right end of the base plate 21, and the horizontal plate portion 65 contacts the lower surface of the base plate 21 from below.

[0046] The cover 22 is placed on the base plate 21 so that the widthwise portion of the side surface 24 of the cover 22 contacts the vertical plate portion 64 from the right, and the side surface 24 and the vertical plate portion 64 are fastened together by a plurality of bolts 66. Furthermore, the horizontal plate portion 65 is fastened to the base plate 21 by a plurality of bolts 67. As a result, the cylinder bracket 63 is fixed to the housing 11, and the air cylinder 15 is supported by the housing 11 via the cylinder bracket 63.

[0047] The rod 62 moves leftward in a linear motion, advancing leftward from the left end of the cylinder body 61. Then, from this advanced state, the rod 62 moves rightward in a linear motion, retreating into the cylinder body 61. The tip of the rod 62 is connected to the right end of the valve body 14 via a connecting member 68. As a result, the valve body 14 moves leftward as the rod 62 advances, and moves rightward in a double motion as the rod 62 retreats.

[0048] For example, when the rod 62 is retracted most deeply into the cylinder body 61, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the communication port 51 of the valve element 14 overlaps with the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12 and the large diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13 when viewed from the top-down direction, and the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12 and the large diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13 communicate with each other via the communication port 51. This allows the powder or granular material to flow through the transport path 2. The position of the valve element 14 at this time is the open position.

[0049] Then, from this state, the rod 62 advances, the valve element 14 moves forward, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the blocking portion 52 of the valve element 14 is positioned between the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom side flow member 12 and the large diameter portion 41 of the top side flow member 13, whereby the blocking portion 52 blocks communication between the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom side flow member 12 and the large diameter portion 41 of the top side flow member 13. This prevents the flow of powder or granular material through the transport path 2. The position of the valve element 14 at this time is the closed position.

[0050] Within the housing 11, a recovery section 71 for recovering powder and granular material is provided downstream, i.e., to the left, of the small diameter section 32 of the bottom side flow member 12 and the large diameter section 41 of the top side flow member 13 in the forward movement direction of the valve body 14.

[0051] The collection section 71 includes a receiving tray 72. The receiving tray 72 has a rectangular shape in a plan view and is formed in the shape of a dish with an open top.

[0052] A closing member 73 is fixed to the left end of the tray 72. The closing member 73 integrally includes a main body 74 that extends in the up-down and left-right directions, and extensions 75 and 76 that extend to the right from the lower and upper edges of the main body 74, respectively.

[0053] A handle 77 is coupled to the blocking member 73. The handle 77 has a generally U-shaped cross section (an angular C-shape) when cut along a plane along the left-right direction. The upper end of the handle 77 is fixed to the center in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the extension portion 76 of the blocking member 73, and the lower end of the handle 77 is fixed to the center in the left-right direction on the lower surface of the extension portion 75 of the blocking member 73, leaving a gap between the portion of the handle 77 extending in the up-down direction and the main body portion 74 of the blocking member 73. This allows an operator to insert their hand between the blocking member 73 and the handle 77 and grip the handle 77 with their hand.

[0054] Furthermore, for example, two fixed portions 81 are provided at the left end of the cover 22 of the housing 11. The two fixed portions 81 are spaced apart in the width direction and each have a plate shape extending up and down along the width direction. The width dimension of the space between the two fixed portions 81 is set to be larger than the width dimension of the receiving tray 72. Furthermore, because the cover 22 is open to the left, the space between the two fixed portions 81 functions as an entrance / exit 82 for inserting and removing the receiving tray 72 into and from the housing 11. Furthermore, when the receiving tray 72 is accommodated in the housing 11 and the closing member 73 abuts against each fixed portion 81, the closing member 73 closes the left end of the cover 22, including the entrance / exit 82.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view for explaining attachment and detachment of the collection unit 71 to and from the housing 11. As shown in FIG.

[0056] With the blocking member 73 in contact with each of the fixed portions 81 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), the blocking member 73 is fixed to each of the fixed portions 81 with bolts 83, thereby preventing the recovery portion 71 from being removed from the housing 11. Then, by removing the bolts 83 and manually pulling the handle 77, the receiving tray 72 is pulled out of the housing 11 through the opening 82, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5, and the recovery portion 71 is detached from the housing 11. Meanwhile, the receiving tray 72 is pushed into the housing 11 through the opening 82, and the blocking member 73 comes into contact with each of the fixed portions 81, thereby attaching the recovery portion 71 to the housing 11.

[0057] A sight window 84 is formed in the upper surface 23 of the cover 22 of the housing 11, above the receiving tray 72. The sight window 84 is configured by cutting out a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction of the upper surface 23, and the cutout portion is covered from above with a transparent plate 85 made of a transparent material. With this configuration, an operator can view the receiving tray 72 from outside the housing 11 through the sight window 84.

[0058] [Action and effect] As described above, the slide valve 1 is provided on the transport path 2 to switch between transport by flowing the powder or granular material through the transport path 2 and stopping the transport by blocking the flow. The housing 11 of the slide valve 1 has a bottom surface portion (base plate 21) and a top surface portion (upper surface portion 23 of the cover 22) that are spaced apart in the flow direction. A bottom-side flow member 12 is fixed to the base plate 21, which is the bottom surface portion. The small-diameter portion 32, which is the upper end of the bottom-side flow member 12, is cylindrical and opens within the housing 11, with the centerline of the end extending in the vertical direction, which is the flow direction of the powder or granular material. A top-side flow member 13 is fixed to the upper surface portion 23 of the cover 22, which is the top surface portion. The large-diameter portion 41, which is the lower end of the top-side flow member 13, is cylindrical and opens within the housing 11, with the centerline of the end extending in the vertical direction.

[0059] A plate-shaped valve element 14 is accommodated within the housing 11, extending between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 in the left-right and width directions perpendicular to the up-down direction. A communication port 51 is formed through the valve element 14 in the up-down direction. The slide valve 1 is also provided with an air cylinder 15 that reciprocates the valve element 14 in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The valve element 14 moves forward from an open position, which connects the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 via the communication port 51, to a closed position, which blocks the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13, and moves from the closed position to the open position by double action, which is the opposite of the forward movement.

[0060] When the valve element 14 is in the open position, the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 communicate with each other via the communication port 51, allowing the flow of powder or granular material through the transport path 2. On the other hand, when the valve element 14 is in the closed position, the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 are blocked, preventing the flow of powder or granular material through the transport path 2. Therefore, movement of the valve element 14 between the open position and the closed position switches between transport by flowing the powder or granular material through the transport path 2 and stopping the transport by preventing the flow.

[0061] A bottom-side guide member 53 and a top-side guide member 54 are provided, and the valve element 14 is sandwiched between the top-side guide member 54 and the bottom-side guide member 53 from above and below. As a result, when the valve element 14 moves between the open position and the closed position, it is guided by the bottom-side guide member 53 and the top-side guide member 54. As a result, the posture of the valve element 14 moving between the open position and the closed position can be kept stable.

[0062] When the valve element 14 moves from the open position to the closed position, the periphery of the communication port 51 in the valve element 14 crosses the powder or granular material present between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13. As a result, the powder or granular material is pushed downstream in the forward movement direction by the periphery of the communication port 51, and there is a risk that the powder or granular material (especially powder such as powder fragments) will spill downstream from between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13. To address this, recovery sections 71 for recovering the powder or granular material are provided within the housing 11 downstream in the forward movement direction from the ends of the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13. This allows the recovery section 71 to recover powder or granular material that spills downstream from between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13, preventing the powder or granular material from leaking out of the housing 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the environment around the transport route 2 from deteriorating, and eliminate the risk of workers being exposed to powder or granular materials.

[0063] The recovery section 71 is disposed downstream in the forward movement direction from the end of the bottom-side flow member 12, and is provided with an open-topped tray-shaped receiver 72. As a result, powder and granular material spilling downstream from between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 falls into the receiver 72 from above and is received by the receiver 72.

[0064] A sight window 84 is formed on the upper surface 23 of the cover 22, allowing the receiving tray 72 to be viewed from outside the housing 11. This allows an operator to view the receiving tray 72 through the sight window 84 from outside the housing 11 and monitor the amount of powder or granular material received in the receiving tray 72.

[0065] The housing 11 is formed with an access port 82 for moving the receiving tray 72 in and out of the housing 11. Because the housing 11 is formed with the access port 82, if an operator sees through the sight window 84 that a large amount of powdered material has accumulated in the receiving tray 72, the operator can remove the receiving tray 72 from the housing 11 and remove the powdered material accumulated in the receiving tray 72. The operator can then return the receiving tray 72 to the inside of the housing 11.

[0066] The slide valve 1 also includes a closing member 73 that is coupled to the receiving tray 72 and closes the inlet / outlet 82 when the receiving tray 72 is housed in the housing 11. With this configuration, when the receiving tray 72 is returned to the housing 11, the closing member 73 closes the inlet / outlet 82, so that the powder or granular material can be prevented from leaking out of the housing 11 through the inlet / outlet 82 when the receiving tray 72 is housed in the housing 11.

[0067] The slide valve 1 is provided with a bottom-side seal member 56 that surrounds the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 32 of the bottom-side flow member 12 and abuts against the valve element 14 from below, and a top-side seal member 57 that surrounds the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 41 of the top-side flow member 13 and abuts against the valve element 14 from above. This configuration prevents powder from spilling between the bottom-side flow member 12 and the top-side flow member 13 to the downstream side when the valve element 14 moves from the open position to the closed position.

[0068] In addition, in the slide valve 1, the base plate 21, cover 22, bottom-side flow member 12, top-side flow member 13, valve body 14, air cylinder 15, and recovery section 71 are connected so that they can be individually disassembled. This allows workers to easily disassemble each of these parts individually and perform maintenance on each part (such as cleaning to remove powder and granular material).

[0069] [Variations] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in other forms.

[0070] For example, although the slide valve 1 is described as being installed on the transport path 2 for powdery material such as resin pellets, it can also be suitably used as a mechanism for switching on and off the transport of powder smaller than resin pellets. Examples of powders smaller than resin pellets include finely pulverized resin, toner particles, electrode particles for battery materials, magnetic powder, alloy powder, ceramic powder, etc.

[0071] Furthermore, the air cylinder 15 has been taken up as an example of the slide mechanism, but the slide mechanism is not limited to the air cylinder 15, and for example, a ball screw mechanism consisting of a ball shaft and a ball nut may be adopted.

[0072] In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the utility model registration claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1: Slide valve 2: Transport route 11: Housing 12: Bottom side flow member 13: Top side flow member 14: Valve body 15: Air cylinder (slide mechanism) 21: Base plate (bottom part) 22: Cover 23:Top part (top part) 51: Connecting port 52: Blocking part 56: Bottom seal member 57: Top seal material 71: Recovery Department 72: Saucer 82: Entrance / exit 84: Peephole

Claims

1. A slide valve is provided on a transport path for switching between transport by allowing powder or granular material to flow through the transport path and stopping the transport by blocking the flow of the powder or granular material, a housing having a bottom surface and a top surface facing the bottom surface at an interval in the flow direction; a bottom surface side flow member fixed to the bottom surface portion, having a cylindrical shape with an end portion on the top surface portion side that is open within the housing, and having a center line of the end portion extending in the flow direction; a top surface side flow member fixed to the top surface portion, having a cylindrical shape with an end portion on the bottom surface portion side that is open within the housing, and a center line of the end portion extending in the flow direction; a plate-shaped valve body accommodated in the housing and extending between the bottom surface side flow member and the top surface side flow member in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction; a slide mechanism that reciprocates the valve body in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, the end of the top surface side flow member at least partially overlaps with the end of the bottom surface side flow member when viewed from the flow direction; The valve body has a communication port formed therethrough in the flow direction, The valve element moves from an open position, in which the bottom surface side flow member and the top surface side flow member are connected via the communication port, to a closed position, in which the bottom surface side flow member and the top surface side flow member are blocked at a blocking portion where the communication port is not formed, by forward movement, and moves from the closed position to the open position by double movement, A slide valve in which a recovery section for recovering the powder and granular material is provided within the housing downstream of the end of the bottom side flow member and the end of the top side flow member in the forward movement direction of the valve body.

2. 2. The slide valve according to claim 1, wherein the recovery section is disposed downstream of the end of the bottom-side flow member in the forward direction and includes a receiving tray for receiving powder or granular material that enters from the top-side portion.

3. The slide valve according to claim 2, wherein the top surface portion is formed with a sight window through which the receiving tray can be seen from outside the housing.

4. 4. The slide valve according to claim 3, wherein the housing has an opening for inserting and removing the tray into and from the housing.

5. a bottom seal member that is provided to surround the outer periphery of the end of the bottom flow member and abuts against the valve body from the bottom portion side; A slide valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a top surface side sealing member that surrounds the outer periphery of the end of the top surface side flow member and abuts against the valve body from the top surface side.

6. The housing includes: a base plate having the bottom surface portion; a cover having the top surface portion and being overlaid on the base plate, A slide valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base plate, the cover, the bottom side flow member, the top side flow member, the valve body, the slide mechanism and the recovery section are individually and disassembleably connected.

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