Electrospinning apparatus and method for cleaning electrospinning head

Abstract

To provide an electrospinning apparatus for efficiently and appropriately cleaning an electrospinning head with multiple nozzles arranged in the arrangement direction.SOLUTION: In one embodiment, an electrospinning apparatus has an electrospinning head 2 and a rotary blush 61. The electrospinning head has arranged multiple nozzles 12A, and each of the multiple heads has an ejection port ejecting supplied material liquid. The rotary blush can come into contact with the multiple nozzles from an open side of the ejection port, and in a contact state with the multiple nozzles, can rotate around a rotary shaft set along the arranged direction of the multiple nozzles.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrospinning apparatus and a method for cleaning an electrospinning head. [Background technology]

[0002] There is an electrospinning apparatus that deposits fine fibers on the surface of a collector or a substrate by electrospinning (sometimes called electric charge spinning, etc.) to form a fiber film. In the electrospinning apparatus, a raw material liquid containing a polymeric material is supplied to an electrospinning head equipped with a nozzle. Then, a voltage is applied to the nozzle, and the raw material liquid is supplied to the electrospinning head, whereby the raw material liquid is charged, and the charged raw material liquid is ejected from the nozzle outlet toward the surface of the collector or substrate. As a result, fibers are deposited on the surface of the collector or substrate.

[0003] As described above, when the fiber membrane is formed by the electrospinning apparatus, the fibers, droplets of the raw material liquid, and polymeric materials of the raw material liquid may adhere to the nozzle near the outlet, etc. For this reason, after the fiber membrane is formed, the electrospinning head is cleaned by removing the adhered materials from the nozzle, etc.

[0004] Some electrospinning heads have a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction. In the cleaning work of the electrospinning head, even the electrospinning head with a plurality of nozzles arranged therein is required to be efficiently and appropriately cleaned. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6389910 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-246210 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electrospinning apparatus that efficiently and appropriately cleans an electrospinning head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in an arrangement direction, and a method for cleaning the electrospinning head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment, the electrospinning apparatus comprises an electrospinning head 、 Rotating Brush , suction head and suction drive unit The electrospinning head includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array, each of which has an outlet through which the supplied raw material liquid can be ejected. The rotating brush can contact the plurality of nozzles from the side where the outlet is open, and can rotate around a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles while in contact with the plurality of nozzles. The suction head has a suction port, and the suction port is capable of approaching the rotating brush. When the suction drive unit is driven with the suction port of the suction head in a state where it is in proximity to the rotating brush, a suction force acts from the rotating brush toward the suction port. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view that illustrates an example of an electrospinning apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view that illustrates a schematic diagram of one of the electrospinning heads of the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fiber membrane is formed by one of the electrospinning heads of the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view that illustrates a state in which deposits on one of the electrospinning heads of the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment are being removed by using a cleaning unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the suction head is connected to the cleaning unit in the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a rotating brush of the electrospinning device according to the first embodiment, viewed from one side in the axial direction along the rotation axis. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view that shows a schematic cross section of a rotating brush of an electrospinning device according to a first embodiment, the cross section being parallel or approximately parallel to an axial direction along a rotation axis. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view that illustrates a brush portion of a rotating brush of the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates the brush portion of the rotating brush of the electrospinning apparatus according to the first embodiment, in a state in which the viewing direction and the illustrated area are different from those in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view that illustrates a schematic extended state of a brush portion in a rotating brush of an electrospinning device according to a first modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view that shows a rotating brush of an electrospinning device according to a first modified example, in a cross section parallel or approximately parallel to an axial direction along a rotation axis. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which deposits on one of the electrospinning heads of the electrospinning apparatus according to the second modified example are being removed by using a cleaning unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which gas is jetted from the jet head to a rotating brush in an electrospinning apparatus according to a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an example of an electrospinning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the electrospinning apparatus 1, a depth direction (direction indicated by arrows X1 and X2), a lateral direction (direction indicated by arrows Y1 and Y2) intersecting (perpendicular or approximately perpendicular) with respect to the depth direction, and a height direction (direction indicated by arrows Z1 and Z2) intersecting (perpendicular or approximately perpendicular) with respect to both the depth direction and the lateral direction are defined. The electrospinning apparatus 1 includes one or more electrospinning heads 2, and in the example shown in FIG. 1, four electrospinning heads 2 are included. The electrospinning heads 2 are arranged apart from each other in the height direction. The electrospinning heads 2 are arranged side by side in the height direction. In the electrospinning apparatus 1, a fiber membrane is formed by each of the electrospinning heads 2.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows an electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2. The configuration of the electrospinning head 2A will be described below. In this embodiment, the configuration of the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A is the same as that of the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the configuration of the electrospinning head 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A will not be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrospinning head 2A includes a head body 11, a plurality of nozzles 12A (four in this embodiment), and a plurality of nozzles 12B (four in this embodiment). In the head body 11 (electrospinning head 2), a central axis is defined, and the direction along the central axis in the head body 11 is defined as the longitudinal direction. In the electrospinning head 2A, the longitudinal direction coincides or approximately coincides with the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1. The head body 11 is extended along the central axis and is extended along the longitudinal direction of the electrospinning head 2A. In this embodiment, the head body 11 and the nozzles 12A and 12B are each made of a conductive material. Also, the head body 11 and the nozzles 12A and 12B are each preferably made of a material that is resistant to the raw material liquid, for example, stainless steel.

[0012] In the electrospinning head 2A, each of the nozzles 12A and 12B is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11. Each of the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 toward the outer peripheral side, that is, toward the side away from the central axis of the head body 11. In this embodiment, the multiple nozzles 12A are arranged at the same or approximately the same angular positions relative to each other around the central axis of the head body 11. Therefore, in the electrospinning head 2A, the multiple nozzles 12A are arranged along the longitudinal direction to form one nozzle row. Also, in this embodiment, the multiple nozzles 12B are arranged at the same or approximately the same angular positions relative to each other around the central axis of the head body 11. Therefore, in the electrospinning head 2A, the multiple nozzles 12B are arranged along the longitudinal direction to form one nozzle row. In the electrospinning head 2A, the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B coincide or approximately coincide with the lateral direction of the electrospinning device 1.

[0013] In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzle 12A is disposed apart from the nozzle 12B in the circumferential direction, i.e., around the central axis of the head body 11. Therefore, the nozzle row of the nozzles 12A and the nozzle row of the nozzles 12B are disposed apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the electrospinning head 2A. In the electrospinning head 2A, each of the nozzles 12A protrudes from the head body 11 toward the side from which the other nozzles 12A protrude in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1, and each of the nozzles 12B protrudes from the head body 11 toward the side from which the nozzles 12A and the other nozzles 12B protrude in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. In addition, in the electrospinning head 2A, each of the nozzles 12A is located on the side where the other nozzles 12A are located with respect to the central axis of the head body 11 in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1, and each of the nozzles 12B is located on the side where the nozzle 12A and the other nozzles 12B are located with respect to the central axis of the head body 11 in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1.

[0014] In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged in a zigzag pattern on the outer circumferential surface of the head body 11. The nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction (direction along the central axis) of the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, between the adjacent nozzles (first nozzles) 12A in the longitudinal direction of the electrospinning head 2A, one of the nozzles (second nozzles) 12B is arranged.

[0015] In the electrospinning head 2A, an internal cavity 13 is formed inside the head body 11. The internal cavity 13 is formed along the longitudinal direction (central axis) of the electrospinning head 2A. In the electrospinning head 2A, a flow path 15 is formed inside each of the nozzles 12A and 12B. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the flow path 15 extends along the protruding direction from the head body 11. Therefore, in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the extending direction of the flow path 15 coincides or approximately coincides with the protruding direction from the head body 11. In the electrospinning head 2A, one end (inner peripheral end) of each of the flow paths 15 is connected to the internal cavity 13.

[0016] In the electrospinning head 2A, the nozzle 16 is formed at the other end (outer peripheral end) of each of the flow paths 15. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the nozzle 16 is formed on the outer surface. In this embodiment, in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the nozzle 16 is formed at the end (tip) protruding from the head body 11. Each of the flow paths 15 opens at the nozzle 16 to the outside of the electrospinning head 2A. In the electrospinning head 2A, each of the flow paths 15 opens at the nozzle 16 to the side where the other flow paths 15 open in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the nozzle 16 communicates with the internal cavity 13 of the head body 11 through the flow path 15. Therefore, each of the nozzles 12A and 12B can eject the raw material liquid supplied to the flow path 15 through the internal cavity 13 from the nozzle 16. Each of the nozzles 12A and 12B is capable of ejecting the raw material liquid toward the side protruding from the head body 11, that is, toward the side where the ejection port 16 is open.

[0017] Each of the nozzles 12A and 12B includes a needle portion 25 and a nozzle base 26. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the nozzle base 26 is connected to the head body 11 and forms the root of the protruding portion from the head body 11. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the needle portion 25 further protrudes from the nozzle base 26 toward the outer periphery of the electrospinning head 2 and forms the protruding end from the head body 11. Therefore, in each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the nozzle 25 has an ejection port 16. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the outer diameter of the needle portion 25 is smaller than the outer diameter of the nozzle base 26. In each of the nozzles 12A and 12B, the area surrounded by the outer periphery of the needle portion 25 in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the flow channel 15 is smaller than the area surrounded by the outer periphery of the nozzle base 26.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a state in which a fiber 20 film is formed by an electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2. The formation of the fiber 20 film by the electrospinning head 2A will be described below. In this embodiment, the fiber film is also formed by electrospinning heads 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A in the same manner as the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the description of the formation of the fiber film by electrospinning heads 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrospinning apparatus 1 includes a feed unit 3 for the raw material liquid, a power source 4, and a collector 5 in addition to the electrospinning head 2. In FIG. 1 and the like, the feed unit 3, the power source 4, and the collector 5 are omitted.

[0019] The raw material liquid supply unit 3 can supply the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A. The supply unit 3 constitutes a supply source of the raw material liquid and a supply path of the raw material liquid from the supply source to the electrospinning head 2A. The raw material liquid supply unit 3 includes a storage unit 31, a supply drive unit 32, a supply adjustment unit 33, and a supply pipe 35. Each of the storage unit 31, the supply drive unit 32, the supply adjustment unit 33, and the supply pipe 35 is resistant to the raw material liquid, and in one example, each of the storage unit 31 and the supply pipe 35 is made of an electrically insulating material such as a fluororesin.

[0020] The storage unit 31 is a tank or the like that stores the raw material liquid. The raw material liquid is a polymer material dissolved in a solvent. The polymer contained in the raw material liquid and the solvent that dissolves the polymer are appropriately determined according to the type of the fiber 20 to be deposited on the surface of the collector 5. The polymer material is not particularly limited and can be appropriately changed according to the material of the fiber 20 to be formed. For example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, nylon, aramid, polyimide, polyamideimide, etc. can be used as the polymer material. The solvent used in the raw material liquid may be any one that can dissolve the polymer material. The solvent can be appropriately changed according to the polymer material to be dissolved. For example, water, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, benzene, toluene, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), etc. can be used as the solvent.

[0021] The supply pipe 35 connects the storage unit 31 and the electrospinning head 2A to form a supply flow path for the raw material liquid. The supply drive unit 32 is driven to supply the raw material liquid from the storage unit 31 through the supply pipe 35 to the electrospinning head 2A. In one example, the supply drive unit 32 is a pump. The supply adjustment unit 33 adjusts the flow rate and pressure of the raw material liquid supplied to the electrospinning head 2A. In one example, the supply adjustment unit 33 includes a control valve capable of controlling the flow rate and pressure of the raw material liquid. In this case, the supply adjustment unit 33 adjusts the raw material liquid to an appropriate flow rate and pressure based on the viscosity of the raw material liquid and the structure of the nozzles 12A and 12B. In another example, the supply adjustment unit 33 can switch between supplying and stopping the raw material liquid from the storage unit 31 to the electrospinning head 2A. In this case, the supply adjustment unit 33 includes, for example, a switching valve.

[0022] The power source 4 can apply a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A. When a voltage is applied to the electrospinning head 2A, a voltage of a predetermined polarity is applied to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B via the head body 11. A voltage of the same polarity is applied to the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B. When the power source 4 applies a voltage to the electrospinning head 2A as described above and the supply unit 3 supplies the raw material liquid to the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the nozzles 12A and 12B (electrospinning head 2A).

[0023] In one example, terminals (not shown) electrically connected to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B may be provided, and the power source 4 may apply a voltage to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B via the terminals. In this case, it is not necessary to form the head body 11 from a conductive material. The polarity of the voltage applied to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B may be positive or negative. In one example such as FIG. 3, the power source 4 is a DC power source, and applies a positive voltage to each of the nozzles 12A and 12B.

[0024] The collector 5 is made of a conductive material. The collector 5 is resistant to the raw material liquid, and in one example, is made of stainless steel. The collector 5 is disposed on the side where the nozzles 12A and 12B protrude from the electrospinning head 2A, and on the side where the ejection port 16 opens from the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the collector 5 is disposed on the side where the raw material liquid is ejected from the nozzles 12A and 12B from the electrospinning head 2A in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. In one example such as FIG. 3, the collector 5 is grounded, and the voltage of the collector 5 to the ground is 0V or approximately 0V. In another example, a voltage of the opposite polarity to the raw material liquid and the electrospinning head 2A (nozzles 12A and 12B) is applied to the collector 5 by the power source 4 or a power source other than the power source 4.

[0025] In this embodiment, a voltage is applied to the electrospinning head 2A, and the raw material liquid is supplied to the electrospinning head 2A, so that the raw material liquid is charged to the same polarity as the electrospinning head 2A. By charging the raw material liquid to the same polarity as the electrospinning head 2A, the raw material liquid is ejected toward the collector 5 from the ejection ports 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B due to the potential difference between the raw material liquid of the electrospinning head 2A (nozzles 12A and 12B) and the collector 5. By ejecting the raw material liquid from the electrospinning head 2 toward the collector 5, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the collector 5, and the deposited fibers 20 form a film of the fibers 20. That is, the film of the fibers 20 is formed by the electrospinning method (sometimes referred to as the charge-induced spinning method, etc.). The voltage applied to the nozzles 12A, 12B (electrospinning head 2A) and the voltage applied to the collector 5 are adjusted to an appropriate value depending on the type of polymer material contained in the raw material liquid and the distance of the electrospinning head 2A from the collector 5.

[0026] The collector 5 is formed, for example, in a plate or sheet shape. When the collector 5 is formed in a sheet shape, the fibers 20 may be deposited on the collector 5 wound around the outer circumferential surface of a roll or the like. The collector 5 may be movable. In one example, a pair of rotating drums and a drive source for driving the rotating drums are provided. The rotating drums are driven by the drive source, so that the collector 5 moves between the pair of rotating drums in the same manner as a belt conveyor. The movement (transportation) of the collector 5 makes it possible to change the area on the surface of the collector 5 where the fibers 20 are deposited over time. The film of the fibers 20 formed on the surface of the collector 5 is removed from the collector 5. The film of the fibers 20 is used, for example, in nonwoven fabrics and filters, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] In one example, the collector 5 is not provided. In this case, a substrate made of a conductive material is used. Then, as described above, a voltage is applied to the electrospinning head 2A, and the raw material liquid is supplied to the electrospinning head 2A, so that the raw material liquid is ejected from the nozzles 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B toward the substrate. As a result, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the substrate, and a film of the fibers 20 is formed on the surface of the substrate. In this case, the substrate may be grounded, or a voltage of the opposite polarity to that of the electrospinning head 2A (nozzles 12A and 12B) and the raw material liquid may be applied to the substrate by the power source 4 or a power source other than the power source 4.

[0028] In another example, a substrate is placed on the collector 5. Then, as described above, a voltage is applied to the electrospinning head 2A, and the raw material liquid is supplied to the electrospinning head 2A, whereby the raw material liquid is ejected from the ejection ports 16 of the nozzles 12A and 12B toward the collector 5 and the substrate. As a result, the fibers 20 are deposited on the surface of the substrate placed on the collector 5, and a film of the fibers 20 is formed on the surface of the substrate. In this case, even if the substrate has electrical insulation properties, it is possible to form a film of the fibers 20 on the surface of the substrate.

[0029] In addition, when the substrate is placed on the collector 5, the substrate may be movable on the collector 5. In one example, a rotating drum on which a sheet-shaped substrate is wound and a rotating drum for winding up the substrate on which a film of the fibers 20 is formed are provided. The substrate moves on the collector 5 by rotating each of the rotating drums. By moving (transporting) the substrate, it becomes possible to change the area on the surface of the substrate where the fibers 20 are deposited over time. An example of forming a film of the fibers 20 on the surface of the substrate is, but is not limited to, the manufacture of a separator-integrated electrode for a battery. In this case, one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the electrode group is used as the substrate. The film of the fibers 20 formed on the surface of the substrate becomes a separator integrated with the negative electrode or the positive electrode.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 and other figures, the electrospinning apparatus 1 includes a cleaning unit 6, a unit moving section 7, and a suction head 8. In the electrospinning apparatus 1, the electrospinning head 2 including the electrospinning head 2A performs the work of forming a film of the fiber 20 as described above. When the electrospinning head 2 in the electrospinning apparatus 1 forms a film of the fiber 20, the fiber 20, droplets of the raw material liquid, and polymeric materials of the raw material liquid may adhere as adhesions to the electrospinning heads 2, particularly to the vicinity of the nozzles 12A and 12B on the outer surfaces of the electrospinning heads 2. For this reason, after the work of forming the film of the fiber 20 is performed, the electrospinning heads 2 are cleaned by removing adhesions from the nozzles 12A and 12B in the electrospinning heads 2. The cleaning unit 6 and other units are used for cleaning the electrospinning heads 2.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a state in which deposits on an electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2, are removed by using a cleaning unit 6. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the cleaning unit 6 includes a rotating brush 61, a storage case 62, and a rotation drive unit 63. In the cleaning unit 6, a storage cavity 65 in which the rotating brush 61 is stored is formed inside the storage case 62. The rotating brush 61 is rotatable with respect to the storage case 62 and the like, centering on a rotation axis P. The rotation axis P of the rotating brush 61 is aligned with the arrangement direction of the multiple nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the multiple nozzles 12B. Therefore, the rotation axis P of the rotating brush 61 is aligned with the lateral direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. Preferably, the lateral width of the rotating brush 61 is set to extend from one end to the other end of the multiple nozzles 12A and from one end to the other end of the multiple nozzles 12B so as to abut against all of the multiple nozzles 12A (particularly the needle portions 25) and all of the multiple nozzles 12B (particularly the needle portions 25).

[0032] The rotary drive unit 63 includes a drive member such as an electric motor, and the drive member is driven by supplying electric power. The drive member of the rotary drive unit 63 is connected to the rotary brush 61. When the drive member of the rotary drive unit 63 is driven, the drive force from the drive member is transmitted to the rotary brush 61, and the rotary brush 61 rotates around the rotation axis P. The storage cavity 65 of the storage case 62 opens to the outside of the storage case 62 at an opening 66. The storage cavity 65 of the storage case 62 opens at the opening 66 toward the side opposite to the side where the nozzles 12A, 12B of the electrospinning head 2 protrude in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. That is, the storage cavity 65 opens at the opening 66 toward the side opposite to the side where the nozzles 16 of the electrospinning head 2 open in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1.

[0033] The removal of deposits from the electrospinning head 2A will be described below. In this embodiment, deposits from electrospinning heads 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A are also removed using the cleaning unit 6 or the like in the same manner as deposits from the electrospinning head 2A. Therefore, the description of the formation of the fiber film by the electrospinning heads 2 other than the electrospinning head 2A will be omitted.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, in removing the deposits from the electrospinning head 2A, the rotating brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6 is brought into contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B. The rotating brush 61 comes into contact with each of the nozzles 12A and 12B from the side where the nozzle outlet 16 is open in the depth direction of the electrospinning device 1. Then, in a state where the rotating brush 61 comes into contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A, the rotating brush 61 is rotated. At this time, the rotating brush 61 rotates about the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B. As a result, the rotating brush 61 removes the deposits such as the fibers 20 and droplets of the raw material liquid from each of the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A.

[0035] The unit moving part 7 constitutes a mechanism for moving the cleaning unit 6 including the rotating brush 61 relative to the electrospinning head 2 (including the electrospinning head 2A) and the like. The cleaning unit 6 can be moved in the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1 by the unit moving part 7. In one example such as FIG. 1, the cleaning unit 6 can be moved along the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1 between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the broken line. Therefore, the moving direction of the cleaning unit 6 including the rotating brush 61 intersects (is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to) the rotation axis P of the rotating brush 61. Since the cleaning unit 6 moves as described above, the rotating brush 61 can contact the nozzles 12A and 12B of any of the electrospinning heads 2. Note that, at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the rotating brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6 contacts the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A. The rotating brush 61 moves in a direction intersecting the rotation axis P to a position where it can contact the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A. At this time, if the width of the rotating brush 61 in the direction of the rotation axis P is set so as to cover the entire needle parts 25 of each of the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B, the rotating brush 61 will contact all the nozzles 12A, 12B (particularly the needle parts 25) provided in one electrospinning head 2 at contactable positions. In this case, the rotating brush 61 rotates about the rotation axis P in a state where the rotating brush 61 contacts all the nozzles 12A, 12B (particularly the needle parts 25) of the electrospinning head 2A.

[0036] The unit moving section 7 includes a moving drive section 71 and a driving force transmission section 72. The moving drive section 71 includes a driving member such as an electric motor, and the driving member is driven by the supply of electric power. The driving force transmission section 72 connects the moving drive section 71 and the cleaning unit 6. The driving force transmission section 72 transmits driving force generated by the driving member of the moving drive section 71 to the cleaning unit 6, thereby moving the cleaning unit 6.

[0037] In the electrospinning apparatus 1, the suction head 8 is located away from any of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction. In one example such as FIG. 1, the suction head 8 is located below any of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. In one example such as FIG. 1, the unit moving part 7 moves the cleaning unit 6 to the position shown by the dashed line, so that the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6. At this time, the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6 from the side where the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 is open in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1.

[0038] 5 shows a state in which the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6. As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, a suction cavity 81 is formed inside the suction head 8. The suction cavity 81 opens to the outside of the suction head 8 at a suction port 82. When the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, the suction port 82 is adjacent to the rotating brush 61. At this time, the suction port 82 is adjacent to the rotating brush 61 from the side where the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 is open in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1.

[0039] The electrospinning apparatus 1 also includes a suction unit 9. The suction unit 9 constitutes a suction source for suction from the suction port 82 of the suction head 8, and a suction path from the suction head 8 to the suction source. The suction unit 9 includes a suction drive unit 91, a recovery unit 92, and a suction pipe 93. The suction drive unit 91 is driven or the like to suck the suction object from the suction port 82 of the suction head 8. As described above, when the suction drive unit 91 is driven (suction driven), a suction force acts from the outside of the suction head 8 through the suction port 82 to the suction cavity 81. The suction drive unit 91 is a pump, a blower, or the like. When the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, that is, when the suction port 82 is close to the rotating brush 61, the suction drive unit 91 is driven to actuate a suction force from the rotating brush 61 and the storage cavity 65 to the suction port 82 of the suction head 8.

[0040] The recovery unit 92 is a tank or the like that stores the aspirated material sucked through the suction port 82. In the suction unit 9, a filter (not shown) or the like is provided between the suction drive unit 91 and the recovery unit 92 to prevent the aspirated material from flowing into the suction drive unit 91. The suction piping 93 connects the suction head 8 and the recovery unit 92, and forms a suction flow path for the aspirated material. In the example suction head 8 of FIG. 5 etc., the suction piping 93 is connected from the side opposite to the suction port 82.

[0041] In addition, in the suction head 8, a contact plate 83 is formed in the suction cavity 81. The contact plate 83 is located away from any of the electrospinning heads 2 in the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1. When the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, the contact plate 83 contacts the rotating brush 61. At this time, the contact plate 83 contacts the rotating brush 61 from the side where the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 is open in the depth direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1.

[0042] As described above, when the deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B in each of the electrospinning heads 2 are removed by the rotating brush 61, the removed deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B adhere to the rotating brush 61. For this reason, it is necessary to periodically remove the deposits adhered to the rotating brush 61. When removing the deposits on the rotating brush 61, the cleaning unit 6 is moved to a position where it can be connected to the suction head 8 by driving the movement drive unit 71, for example. As a result, the suction head 8 is connected to the cleaning unit 6, and the contact plate 83 comes into contact with the rotating brush 61.

[0043] Then, with the contact plate 83 in contact with the rotating brush 61, the rotation drive unit 63 is driven to rotate the rotating brush 61 around the rotation axis P. Also, the suction drive unit 91 is driven to apply a suction force from the rotating brush 61 and the storage cavity 65 to the suction port 82. By rotating the rotating brush 61 with the contact plate 83 in contact with the rotating brush 61, deposits on the rotating brush 61 are removed. Also, the suction force from the storage cavity 65 etc. to the suction port 82 causes the removed material from the rotating brush 61 to be sucked into the suction cavity 81 through the suction port 82 etc. The removed material (suctioned material) sucked into the suction cavity 81 flows into a suction duct etc. inside the suction pipe 93 (arrow A1 in FIG. 5 ) and is collected in the collection unit 92.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the electrospinning apparatus 1 includes a control unit 21 and a user interface 22. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the control unit 21 and the user interface 22 are omitted. The control unit (controller) 21 is, for example, a computer. The control unit 21 includes a processor or an integrated circuit (control circuit) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a storage medium such as a memory. The control unit 21 may include only one integrated circuit or a plurality of integrated circuits. The control unit 21 performs processing by executing a program or the like stored in a storage medium or the like. The control unit 21 controls the drive of the supply drive unit 32, the operation of the supply adjustment unit 33, the output from the power source 4, the drive of the rotation drive unit 63, and the drive of the suction drive unit 91. The control unit 21 also controls the drive of the movement drive unit 71 to control the movement of the cleaning unit 6 and adjust the position of the cleaning unit 6.

[0045] The user interface 22 includes an operation member. An operator or the like inputs an operation command related to the operation of the electrospinning apparatus 1 through the operation member. Examples of the operation member include a button, a dial, a display, and a touch panel. The control unit 21 performs control based on the operation command input through the operation member. The user interface 22 may also include a notification unit that notifies the operator or the like of information. In this case, the control unit 21 causes the notification unit to notify the operator or the like of information that needs to be notified. The notification unit notifies the operator or the like by displaying a screen, emitting a sound, turning on a light, etc.

[0046] 6 and 7 show the rotating brush 61 of the cleaning unit 6. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the rotating brush 61 defines an axial direction (direction indicated by arrows C1 and C2) along the rotation axis P and a circumferential direction (direction indicated by arrows P1 and P2) around the rotation axis P. In FIG. 6, the rotating brush 61 is shown as viewed from one side in the axial direction, and in FIG. 7, the rotating brush 61 is shown in a cross section parallel or approximately parallel to the axial direction. Also, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the nozzles 12A and 12B of the electrospinning head 2A are in contact with the rotating brush 61. The rotating brush 61 includes a rotating shaft 101 and a brush portion 102. The rotating shaft 101 is extended along the axial direction with the rotation axis P as the central axis.

[0047] The brush portion 102 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 101. In each of the electrospinning heads 2, deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed by rotating the rotating brush 61 while the brush portion 102 of the rotating brush 61 is in contact with the needle portions 25 of the nozzles 12A and 12B. The brush portion 102 is formed of a large number of brush bristles. In the brush portion 102, each of the brush bristles extends from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 101 toward the outer circumferential side of the rotating brush 61. The outer periphery of the rotating brush 61 is formed by the outer periphery of the brush portion 102, i.e., by the ends of the brush bristles distal from the rotating shaft 101.

[0048] The rotating shaft 101 has an outer diameter D1, and the rotating brush 61 has an outer diameter D2. The outer diameter D2 of the rotating brush 61 is larger than the outer diameter D1 of the rotating shaft 101. In one example such as FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the outer diameter of the brush part 102 is the same or approximately the same as the outer diameter D2 of the rotating brush 61. In addition, the brush part 102 has a dimension L1 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P, and the rotating brush 61 has a dimension L2 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. The dimension L2 of the rotating brush 61 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P is larger than the dimension L1 of the brush part 102 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. In one example such as FIG. 7, the dimension of the rotating shaft 101 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P is the same or approximately the same as the dimension L2 of the rotating brush 61 in the axial direction along the rotation axis P.

[0049] In addition, for each of the many brush bristles forming the brush part 102, the bristle diameter and bristle length h are specified. The bristle diameter is a parameter indicating the thickness of a single brush bristle. In addition, for each brush bristles, the bristle length h corresponds to the dimension from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 101 to the end on the distal side with respect to the rotating shaft 101. In addition, in a state in which deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are being removed by the rotating brush 61 in each of the electrospinning heads 2, each of the nozzles 12A and 12B is pushed into the inside of the brush part 102 from the outer periphery of the brush part 102 (the outer periphery of the rotating brush 61) and inserted into the inside of the brush part 102. Therefore, in the operation of removing deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B by the rotating brush 61 in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the push-in dimension (insertion dimension) α of the nozzles 12A and 12B into the rotating brush 61 is specified. The bristle length h of each of the brush bristles is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the push-in dimension α of the nozzles 12A and 12B is shown in FIG.

[0050] Here, in each of the nozzles 12A, 12B, the outer diameter of the needle portion 25 is 0.6 mm, and the dimension of the needle portion 25 along the extension direction of the flow path 15 is 5 mm to 15 mm. In this case, it is preferable that each of the brush bristles has a bristle diameter of 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm and a bristle length h of 15 mm to 20 mm. Also, it is preferable that the push-in dimension α of the nozzles 12A, 12B into the rotating brush 61 is 7 mm to 12 mm.

[0051] 8 and 9 show the brush unit 102. The viewing direction and the area shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are different from each other. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the brush unit 102 has a plurality of bristle bundles 103. In each of the bristle bundles 103, a plurality of brush bristles are bundled. In one example, one bristle bundle 103 is formed by bundling about 10 brush bristles. In the brush unit 102, each of the bristle bundles 103 is implanted on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 101. Each of the bristle bundles 103 has a bristle bundle diameter r1. The bristle bundle diameter r1 is a parameter indicating the thickness of the bristle bundle 103, and is shown in FIG. 9.

[0052] In this embodiment, the brush part 102 is formed with a plurality of bristle bundle rows (first bristle bundle row) 105A and a plurality of bristle bundle rows (second bristle bundle row) 105B. In each of the bristle bundle rows 105A, a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged around the axis of the rotation axis P at a predetermined pitch (first pitch) δa. In each of the bristle bundle rows 105B, a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged around the axis of the rotation axis P at a predetermined pitch δa that is the same as that of the bristle bundle row 105A. Therefore, each of the bristle bundle rows 105A and 105B is a circumferential bristle bundle row in which a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged around the axis of the rotation axis P. Each of the bristle bundle rows 105A and 105B is formed over the entire circumference around the axis of the rotation axis P. Furthermore, the number of bristle bundles 103 in each of the bristle bundle rows 105A is the same as the number of bristle bundles 103 in each of the bristle bundle rows 105B.

[0053] In addition, in the brush part 102, the bristle bundle rows 105A and the bristle bundle rows 105B are alternately arranged in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. Therefore, each of the bristle bundle rows 105A is arranged adjacent to one or two corresponding bristle bundle rows 105B in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. In addition, in the bristle bundle row 105B, the multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged shifted around the axis of the rotation axis P (circumferential direction of the rotating brush 61) with respect to the bristle bundle row 105A. The shift of the multiple bristle bundles 103 of the bristle bundle row 105B around the axis of the rotation axis P with respect to the bristle bundle row 105A is smaller than the above-mentioned predetermined pitch δa. In one example such as FIG. 8, the shift of the multiple bristle bundles 103 in the bristle bundle row 105B around the axis of the rotation axis P with respect to the bristle bundle row 105A is δa / 2, half the above-mentioned predetermined pitch δa. As described above, bristle bundle rows 105A, 105B are formed, and thus, by the two bristle bundle rows 105A, 105B adjacent to each other in the axial direction along the rotation axis P, an arrangement structure is formed in which multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged in a zigzag pattern around the axis of the rotation axis P.

[0054] Further, in the brush part 102, a plurality of bristle bundle rows (third bristle bundle row) 106A and a plurality of bristle bundle rows (fourth bristle bundle row) 106B are formed. In each of the bristle bundle rows 106A, a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged in the axial direction along the rotation axis P at a predetermined pitch (second pitch) δb. In each of the bristle bundle rows 106B, a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged in the axial direction along the rotation axis P at a predetermined pitch δb of the same size as that of the bristle bundle row 106A. Therefore, each of the bristle bundle rows 106A and 106B is an axial bristle bundle row in which a plurality of bristle bundles 103 are arranged in the axial direction of the rotating brush 61. Each of the bristle bundle rows 106A is formed from the bristle bundles 103 constituting the bristle bundle row 105A, and is composed of the same number of bristle bundles 103 as the bristle bundle row 105A. Also, each of the bristle bundle rows 106B is formed from the bristle bundles 103 that constitute the bristle bundle row 105B, and is composed of the same number of bristle bundles 103 as the bristle bundle row 105B.

[0055] In the brush section 102, the bristle bundle rows 106A and the bristle bundle rows 106B are alternately arranged around the rotation axis P. Therefore, each of the bristle bundle rows 106A is arranged adjacent to the corresponding two of the bristle bundle rows 106B in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. Also, in the bristle bundle row 106B, the multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged shifted in the axial direction along the rotation axis P with respect to the bristle bundle row 106A. The shift of the multiple bristle bundles 103 in the bristle bundle row 106B in the axial direction of the rotating brush 61 with respect to the bristle bundle row 106A is smaller than the above-mentioned predetermined pitch δb. In one example such as FIG. 9, the shift of the multiple bristle bundles 103 in the bristle bundle row 106B in the axial direction along the rotation axis P with respect to the bristle bundle row 106A is δb / 2, half the above-mentioned predetermined pitch δb. As described above, bristle bundle rows 106A, 106B are formed, and the two adjacent bristle bundle rows 106A, 106B around the rotation axis P form an arrangement structure in which multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the axial direction of the rotating brush 61.

[0056] In the electrospinning apparatus 1 of this embodiment, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotating brush 61 can contact the nozzles 12A and 12B from the side where the nozzles 12A and 12B are opened. In each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotating brush 61 can rotate around the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B while in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotating brush 61 can be simultaneously brought into contact with the nozzles 12A arranged in the arrangement direction (horizontal direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1) and the nozzles 12B arranged in the arrangement direction. Therefore, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, it is not necessary to move the rotating brush 61 in the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A in removing the deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, in this embodiment, the work of removing the deposits from each of the electrospinning heads 2 can be performed in a short time, and the efficiency of the cleaning work of each of the electrospinning heads 2 is improved.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotating brush 61 rotates around the rotation axis P while in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B, and removes deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B. When the bristle bundle 103 collides with either of the nozzles 12A and 12B while the rotating brush 61 is rotating, the bristle bundle 103 is deformed. Then, a force for returning the deformed bristle bundle 103 to its original shape acts on the nozzle (either 12A or 12B) that collided. Therefore, by using the rotating brush 61 to remove deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B as described above, the force for returning the bristle bundle 103 to its original shape properly removes deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, in this embodiment, the work of removing deposits from each of the electrospinning heads 2 is properly performed, and the cleaning work of each of the electrospinning heads 2 is properly performed.

[0058] As described above, in this embodiment, even in the electrospinning head 2 in which the multiple nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and the multiple nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction, the electrospinning head 2 can be efficiently and appropriately cleaned. Since deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are appropriately removed, the time until the ejection of the raw material liquid from each of the nozzles 12A and 12B becomes stable is shortened when forming a film of the fiber 20 after cleaning the electrospinning head 2. This improves the work efficiency in the work of forming a film of the fiber 20 using each of the electrospinning heads 2.

[0059] In this embodiment, a solvent that dissolves the fiber 20 and the polymer material of the raw material liquid is not used to remove the deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, the solvent does not remain in the flow paths 15 of the nozzles 12A and 12B after cleaning the electrospinning head 2. Therefore, when forming a film of the fiber 20 after cleaning the electrospinning head 2, the time until the ejection of the raw material liquid from each of the nozzles 12A and 12B becomes stable is further appropriately shortened.

[0060] In this embodiment, a contact plate 83 is provided at a position away from the electrospinning head 2, and the contact plate 83 is capable of contacting the brush portion 102 of the rotating brush 61. The rotating brush 61 is capable of rotating about the rotation axis P in a state in which the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotating brush 61. By rotating the rotating brush 61 in a state in which the contact plate 83 is in contact with the rotating brush 61, deposits on the rotating brush 61 are appropriately removed.

[0061] In this embodiment, a contact plate 83 is provided in the suction cavity 81 of the suction head 8. When the suction drive unit 91 is driven with the suction port 82 of the suction head 8 in close proximity to the rotating brush 61, a suction force acts from the rotating brush 61 to the suction port 82. Therefore, the removed matter removed from the rotating brush 61 by the contact of the contact plate 83 with the rotating brush 61 is appropriately sucked into the suction cavity 81 through the suction port 82 etc. The removed matter (suctioned matter) sucked into the suction cavity 81 is appropriately collected in the collection unit 92.

[0062] In the rotating brush 61 of this embodiment, the bristle bundle row (first bristle bundle row) 105A and the bristle bundle row (second bristle bundle row) 105B are alternately arranged in the axial direction along the rotation axis P. In the bristle bundle row 105B, the multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged shifted around the axis of the rotation axis P (circumferential direction of the rotating brush 61) with respect to the bristle bundle row 105A. In the rotating brush 61, the two bristle bundle rows 106A and 106B adjacent to each other around the axis of the rotation axis P form an arrangement structure in which the multiple bristle bundles 103 are arranged in a zigzag shape along the axial direction of the rotating brush 61. Therefore, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, even if the nozzles 12A and 12B are arranged in a zigzag shape along the longitudinal direction, the bristle bundles 103 are easily brought into contact with each of the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are more appropriately removed.

[0063] (Modification) In the first modified example shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the brush part 102 of the rotating brush 61 is formed by a linear brush in which a number of bristle bundles 103 are arranged along the channel 110. Fig. 10 shows the extended state of the brush part 102 in the rotating brush 61, and Fig. 11 shows the rotating brush 61 in a cross section parallel or approximately parallel to the axial direction. In this modified example, the brush part 102, which is a linear brush, is extended in a spiral shape centered on the rotation axis P on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 101 (arrow A2 in Fig. 10). In this modified example, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the rotating brush 61 can rotate around the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12B while in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, even in the electrospinning head 2 in which a plurality of nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and a plurality of nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction, cleaning can be performed efficiently and appropriately.

[0064] In the second modified example shown in FIG. 12, two suction heads 8A and 8B are provided. In this modified example, the suction heads 8A and 8B move in the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1 together with the cleaning unit 6. FIG. 12 shows a state in which deposits on an electrospinning head 2A, which is one of the electrospinning heads 2, are removed by using the cleaning unit 6. In this modified example, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B contact the rotating brush 61 from the side where the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 is open. Then, in each of the electrospinning heads 2, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B are in contact with the rotating brush 61, and the deposits on the nozzles 12A and 12B are removed by rotating the rotating brush 61 around the rotation axis P.

[0065] In this modification, since the suction heads 8A and 8B move together with the cleaning unit 6, the suction ports 82 of the suction heads 8A and 8B are always located in close proximity to the rotating brush 61. However, the suction heads 8A and 8B are located away from the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 around the axis of the rotation axis P (circumferential direction of the rotating brush 61). In one example such as FIG. 12, the suction heads 8A and 8B are located 180° or approximately 180° away from the opening 66 around the axis of the rotation axis P. Therefore, even when the multiple nozzles 12A and 12B in each of the electrospinning heads 2 are in contact with the rotating brush 61, the suction heads 8A and 8B (suction ports 82) are located away from the electrospinning head 2 (nozzles 12A and 12B) around the axis of the rotation axis P.

[0066] Moreover, the electrospinning apparatus 1 of this modification is provided with a jet head 10 instead of the contact plate 83. The jet head 10 has a jet outlet 111 capable of jetting gas. The jet head 10 is movable in the height direction of the electrospinning apparatus 1 together with the cleaning unit 6 and the suction heads 8A and 8B. The jet outlet 111 of the jet head 10 is always located in close proximity to the rotating brush 61. However, the jet head 10 is located away from the opening 66 of the storage cavity 65 around the axis of the rotation axis P (the circumferential direction of the rotating brush 61). In one example such as FIG. 12, the jet head 10 is located 180° or approximately 180° away from the opening 66 around the axis of the rotation axis P. Therefore, even when the multiple nozzles 12A, 12B in each of the electrospinning heads 2 are in contact with the rotating brush 61, the jet head 10 (jet nozzle 111) is located away from the electrospinning head 2 (nozzles 12A, 12B) around the rotation axis P. Also, unlike the contact plate 83, the jet head 10 does not contact the brush portion 102 of the rotating brush 61.

[0067] In this modification, the electrospinning apparatus 1 includes an air supply unit 120. The air supply unit 120 constitutes a gas supply source to the jet head 10 and an air supply path from the gas supply source to the jet head 10. The air supply unit 120 includes a storage unit 121, an air supply drive unit 122, and an air supply pipe 123. The storage unit 121 is a tank or the like that stores gas. The air supply pipe 123 connects between the storage unit 121 and the jet head 10 and forms an air supply flow path. The air supply drive unit 122 supplies gas from the storage unit 121 through the air supply pipe 123 to the jet head 10 by being driven or the like. In one example, the air supply drive unit 122 is a pump. In this modification, the control unit 21 also controls the driving of the air supply drive unit 122.

[0068] In this modification, gas is supplied to the jet head 10 by driving the air supply drive unit 122, and the gas is jetted from the jet port 111 of the jet head 10 to the rotating brush 61. Fig. 13 shows a state in which gas is jetted from the jet head 10 to the rotating brush 61. As shown in Fig. 13, when gas is jetted from the jet head 10 to the bristle bundle 103 of the rotating brush 61 (arrow A4), the brush bristles 112 spread apart from each other in the bristle bundle 103 from which the gas is jetted. This removes any deposits attached to the brush bristles 112 of the rotating brush 61.

[0069] In this modification, in removing the deposits on the rotating brush 61, the rotating drive unit 63 is driven to rotate the rotating brush 61 around the rotation axis P, and the suction drive unit 91 and the air supply drive unit 122 are driven. As a result, in the storage cavity 65, a flow is formed from the ejection port 111 of the ejection head 10 through the brush part 102 of the rotating brush 61 toward the suction ports 82 of the suction heads 8A and 8B (arrow A3 in FIG. 12). The deposits (removed matter) removed from the rotating brush 61 by the ejection of gas from the ejection head 10 are sucked into the suction cavities 81 of the suction heads 8A and 8B by the suction force from the storage cavity 65 toward the suction port 82. The removed matter (suctioned matter) sucked into the suction cavity 81 flows into the suction duct or the like inside the suction pipe 93 and is collected in the collection unit 92.

[0070] In this modification, the rotating brush 61 in each of the electrospinning heads 2 can rotate around the rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 12A and 12B while in contact with the nozzles 12A and 12B. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, even in the electrospinning head 2 in which the nozzles 12A are arranged in the arrangement direction and the nozzles 12B are arranged in the arrangement direction, cleaning is performed efficiently and appropriately. In this modification, gas is ejected from the ejection head 10 to the rotating brush 61, and the brush bristles 112 in the bristles 103 of the rotating brush 61 are spread apart from each other, thereby removing the deposits on the bristles 103 from the rotating brush 61. Therefore, the deposits on the rotating brush 61 are more appropriately removed.

[0071] In this modification, the suction heads 8A, 8B and the jet head 10 move together with the cleaning unit 6. The control unit 21 can rotate the rotating brush 61 and drive the suction drive unit 91 and the air supply drive unit 122 at the same time when the nozzles 12A, 12B of one electrospinning head 2 (2A) are in contact with the rotating brush 61. Therefore, in this modification, it is possible to remove the deposits on the rotating brush 61 and collect the removed matter from the rotating brush 61 in parallel with the removal of the deposits on the nozzles 12A, 12B of one electrospinning head 2 (2A).

[0072] In a modified example, in a configuration in which a suction head 8 and a contact plate 83 are provided as in the example of Fig. 5, the suction head 8 and the contact plate 83 may be movable together with the cleaning unit 6. In this case, as in the modified examples of Figs. 12 and 13, it is possible to remove deposits from the rotating brush 61 and collect the removed deposits from the rotating brush 61 in parallel with the removal of deposits from the nozzles 12A and 12B of one electrospinning head 2 (2A).

[0073] In a modified example, in a configuration in which a suction head 8 and a jet head 10 are provided as in the modified example of Fig. 12, the suction head 8 and the jet head 10 do not need to move together with the cleaning unit 6. In this case, the suction head 8 and the jet head 10 are positioned apart in the height direction from any of the electrospinning heads 2. Then, by driving the movement drive unit 71, the cleaning unit 6 is moved to a position where the suction head 8 is connected and gas can be jetted from the jet head 10 to the rotating brush 61.

[0074] In addition, in one variation, the electrospinning apparatus 1 includes all of the suction head 8, the contact plate 83, and the jet head 10. In this case, the suction head 8, the contact plate 83, and the jet head 10 may or may not move together with the cleaning unit 6.

[0075] In addition, the number of nozzle rows formed by the nozzles (12A, 12B) and the shapes of the nozzles (12A, 12B) are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment. In one modified example, only one nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 in each of the electrospinning heads 2. In another modified example, three or more nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head body 11 in each of the electrospinning heads 2. In addition, the number of electrospinning heads 2 is not limited to those in the above-described embodiment.

[0076] However, in any of the modified examples, one or more electrospinning heads 2 are provided, and each of the electrospinning heads 2 has a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction. The rotating brush 61 contacts the plurality of nozzles arranged from the side where the nozzle outlet 16 opens. The rotating brush 61 is rotatable about a rotation axis P along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles while in contact with the plurality of nozzles.

[0077] According to at least one of these embodiments or examples, the rotating brush is rotatable about a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the multiple nozzles while in contact with the multiple nozzles, thereby providing an electrospinning device that efficiently and appropriately cleans an electrospinning head in which multiple nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction.

[0078] According to at least one of these embodiments or examples, the rotating brush is rotated around a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the multiple nozzles in a state where the rotating brush is in contact with the multiple nozzles, thereby providing a method for cleaning an electrospinning head that efficiently and appropriately cleans an electrospinning head in which multiple nozzles are arranged in the arrangement direction.

[0079] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. The following are additional notes. [1] An electrospinning head including a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, each of the plurality of nozzles having an ejection port capable of ejecting a supplied raw material liquid; a rotating brush that can come into contact with the plurality of nozzles from the side where the nozzle outlet is open and that can rotate around a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of contact with the plurality of nozzles; An electrospinning apparatus comprising: [2] A suction head having a suction port, the suction port being capable of approaching the rotating brush; a suction drive unit that is driven with the suction port of the suction head in close proximity to the rotating brush to apply a suction force from the rotating brush to the suction port; The electrospinning apparatus of [1], further comprising: [3] The electrospinning apparatus of [1] or [2], further comprising a movement drive unit that, when driven, moves the rotating brush in a direction intersecting the rotation axis and moves the rotating brush to a position where it can contact the multiple nozzles of the electrospinning head. [4] The electrospinning apparatus of any one of [1] to [3], further comprising a contact plate disposed at a position away from the electrospinning head and capable of contacting the rotating brush. [5] The electrospinning apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a jet head arranged at a position away from the electrospinning head and jetting gas toward the rotating brush. [6] The rotating brush includes a plurality of first bristle bundle rows and a plurality of second bristle bundle rows, and the first bristle bundle rows and the second bristle bundle rows are alternately arranged in a direction along the rotation axis, Each of the first hair bundle row and the second hair bundle row includes a plurality of hair bundles, and in each of the first hair bundle row and the second hair bundle row, the plurality of hair bundles are arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch around the axis of the rotation shaft, In the second bristle bundle row, the plurality of bristle bundles are arranged so as to be shifted around the axis of the rotation shaft with respect to the first bristle bundle row. 1. An electrospinning apparatus according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] A method for cleaning an electrospinning head comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, each of the plurality of nozzles having an outlet capable of ejecting a supplied raw material liquid, comprising the steps of: bringing a rotating brush into contact with the plurality of nozzles from a side where the ejection ports are open; rotating the rotating brush about a rotation axis aligned with the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state in which the rotating brush is in contact with the plurality of nozzles; A cleaning method comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1...electrospinning apparatus, 2, 2A...electrospinning head, 3...supply section, 4...power source, 5...collection body, 6...cleaning unit, 7...unit moving section, 8, 8A, 8B...suction head, 9...suction section, 10...jet head, 11...head body, 12A, 12B...nozzle, 15...flow path, 16...jet outlet, 21...control section, 61...rotating brush, 62...storage case, 63...rotation drive section, 71...movement drive section, 82...suction port, 91...suction drive section, 102...brush section, 103...hair bundle, 105A, 105B, 106A, 106B...hair bundle row, 111...jet outlet, 112...brush bristles, 120...air supply section, 122...air supply drive section.

Claims

1. an electrospinning head including a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, each of the plurality of nozzles being formed with an ejection port capable of ejecting a supplied raw material liquid; a rotating brush that can come into contact with the plurality of nozzles from the side where the nozzle outlet is open and that can rotate around a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state of contact with the plurality of nozzles; a suction head having a suction port, the suction port being capable of approaching the rotary brush; a suction drive unit that is driven with the suction port of the suction head in close proximity to the rotating brush to apply a suction force from the rotating brush to the suction port; An electrospinning apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a movement drive unit that, when driven, moves the rotating brush in a direction intersecting the rotation axis to a position where the rotating brush can contact the multiple nozzles of the electrospinning head.

3. 3. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a contact plate disposed at a position remote from the electrospinning head and capable of contacting the rotating brush.

4. The electrospinning apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a jet head arranged at a position away from the electrospinning head and jetting gas toward the rotating brush.

5. The rotating brush includes a plurality of first bristle bundle rows and a plurality of second bristle bundle rows, and the first bristle bundle rows and the second bristle bundle rows are alternately arranged in a direction along the rotation axis of the rotating brush, Each of the first hair bundle row and the second hair bundle row includes a plurality of hair bundles, and in each of the first hair bundle row and the second hair bundle row, the plurality of hair bundles are arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch around the axis of the rotation shaft, In the second bristle bundle row, the plurality of bristle bundles are arranged so as to be shifted around the axis of the rotation shaft with respect to the first bristle bundle row.

5. The electrospinning apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. A method for cleaning an electrospinning head comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in an arrangement direction, each of the plurality of nozzles having an ejection port capable of ejecting a supplied raw material liquid, the method comprising the steps of: bringing a rotating brush into contact with the plurality of nozzles from a side where the ejection ports are open; rotating the rotating brush about a rotation axis aligned with the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzles in a state in which the rotating brush is in contact with the plurality of nozzles; Bringing a suction port of a suction head close to the rotating brush; a suction drive unit is driven in a state in which the suction port is close to the rotating brush, thereby applying a suction force from the rotating brush toward the suction port; A cleaning method comprising:

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