Line Switching System

Abstract

To perform the washing or disinfection of one conduit while a fluid is circulated in the other conduit.SOLUTION: A dispensing system 1 (line switching system) is equipped with an interface valve 6 that is provided between upper piping 4 and lower piping 5 to switch a channel. The upper piping 4 and the lower piping 5 are equipped with a washing / disinfection medium supplying means 7 supplying a washing medium and / or a disinfection medium. In the required interface valve 6, while a fluid from a supply tank 2 circulates in the upper piping 4 and the washing medium or the disinfection medium from the washing / disinfection medium supplying means 7 circulates in the lower piping 5, a first valve 24 blocks a first liquid port 21a of a first conduit 21, a second valve 25 opens a second liquid port 22a of a second conduit 22, and a drain valve DV opens a drain port D of a third conduit 23, thereby flowing the washing medium or the disinfection medium from the second conduit 22 into the third conduit 23 and then discharging it from the drain port D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a line switching system, which is provided with a third pipe between an upper first pipe and a lower second pipe, and switches the flow path by a valve mechanism. Flow path switching device The present invention relates to a line switching system equipped with the above-mentioned. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in the field of pharmaceuticals, etc., multiple pipes and As a flow path switching device A line switching system provided with an interface valve is known (Patent Document 1). In the line switching system of Patent Document 1, for example, it is possible to send a first stock solution from a first supply tank to a first preparation tank while sending a second stock solution from a second supply tank to a second preparation tank. The interface valve constituting the line switching system includes a first pipeline connected to a higher-level piping provided above and having a first liquid port that opens downward, a second pipeline connected to a lower-level piping provided below and having a second liquid port that opens upward, and a third pipeline provided between the first liquid port of the first pipeline and the second liquid port of the second pipeline, and includes a valve mechanism that allows liquid to flow through the first pipeline and / or the second pipeline, or switches the flow path from the first pipeline to the second pipeline via the third pipeline. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5255478 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, in the above-mentioned line switching system, after the stock solution has been circulated through each of the lines of the piping and interface valves, it is necessary to circulate a sterilizing medium or a cleaning medium to clean or sterilize the lines. However, in the configuration of the interface valve of the line switching system described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the concentrate is flowing through the first pipeline connected to the upper pipeline, it is not possible to clean or sterilize the second pipeline connected to the lower pipeline. In other words, in order to clean the second pipeline, the valve mechanism that closes the second liquid port must also be cleaned; however, in the case of the configuration of Patent Document 1, even if the second liquid port is opened, air may accumulate in the third liquid pipe, preventing the cleaning liquid from circulating, making it impossible to perform adequate cleaning; or, the pressure of the flowing cleaning liquid may cause a gap to form in the valve that closes the first liquid port, resulting in contamination of the raw liquid flowing through the first pipeline. For this reason, in the line switching system of Patent Document 1, cleaning and sterilization could not be performed until all of the stock solution had been transferred from the supply tank to the preparation tank, making the system inefficient. In view of such problems, the present invention provides a method for cleaning or sterilizing one of the first and second pipelines while a fluid is flowing through the other pipeline. Flow path switching device The present invention provides a line switching system comprising: [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] That is The present invention relates to A plurality of upper pipes, each connected to a fluid supply tank and disposed above, a plurality of lower pipes, each connected to a preparation tank and disposed below, and a flow path switching device provided between the upper pipes and the lower pipes for switching the flow path. Flow path switching device With the above Flow path switching device a first pipe line connected to the upper piping and having a first liquid port opening downward, a second pipe line connected to the lower piping and having a second liquid port opening upward, and a third pipe line provided between the first liquid port of the first pipe line and the second liquid port of the second pipe line, A line switching system including a valve mechanism for switching to circulate a liquid through the first pipeline and / or the second pipeline, or to circulate a liquid from the first pipeline to the second pipeline via a third pipeline, a cleaning / sterilization medium supplying means for supplying a cleaning medium and / or a sterilization medium to the upper pipe and the lower pipe; the above Flow path switching device a drain port is formed in the third pipe line, and the valve mechanism includes a first valve that opens and closes the first liquid port, a second valve that opens and closes the second liquid port, and a drain valve that opens and closes the drain port, Required Flow path switching device in a state in which a fluid from the supply tank flows through an upper piping and a cleaning medium or a sterilization medium from a cleaning / sterilization medium supply means flows through a lower piping, the first valve closes the first liquid port, the second valve opens the second liquid port, and the drain valve opens the drain port of the third pipeline, thereby enabling the cleaning medium or the sterilization medium to flow from the second pipeline into the third pipeline and be discharged from the drain port. death, the drain port includes a first drain port formed in the third pipe line at a position adjacent to the first liquid port, and a second drain port formed in the third pipe line at a position adjacent to the second liquid port; As the drain valve of the valve mechanism, a first drain valve for opening and closing the first drain port and a second drain valve for opening and closing the second drain port are provided. It is characterized by the following. Effect of the Invention

[0006] the above The present invention According to the line switching system, Flow path switching device By providing a drain port in the third pipeline, it becomes possible to wash or sterilize the second pipeline, for example, even when the stock solution is being passed through the first pipeline. At this time, by opening the second liquid port of the second line and further opening the drain port of the third line, the second liquid port and the second valve can be cleaned or sterilized by the cleaning medium or sterilization medium that flows into the third line from the second liquid port. In this way, while fluid from the supply tank is being circulated through the upper piping, a cleaning medium or sterilization medium is circulated through the lower piping to clean it, and then new fluid can be circulated through the lower piping. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] Piping diagram for the dispensing system in this embodiment [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view of an interface valve in the second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the 3-2 interface valve in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the 3-2 interface valve in the second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the 3-2 interface valve in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The illustrated embodiment will now be described. FIG. 1 shows a piping diagram of a dispensing system 1 serving as a line switching system according to the present invention, in which liquid raw materials for pharmaceutical products are transported from first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c to first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d, and the multiple liquid raw materials are mixed in the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d to prepare pharmaceutical products. Between the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c and the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d, first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c connected to the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c and first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d connected to the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d are provided at positions where the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c and the first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d intersect. As a flow path switching device An interface valve 6 is provided. In addition, in the dispensing system 1 of this embodiment, after the raw liquid is delivered, the flow path through which the raw liquid has flowed can be washed with a cleaning liquid as a cleaning medium and sterilized with superheated steam as a sterilization medium, and for this purpose, a cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7 is provided which supplies cleaning liquid and superheated steam (hereinafter referred to as cleaning liquid, etc.) to the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c and the first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d. The dispensing system 1 of this embodiment is controlled by a control means (not shown).

[0009] The first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c each contain a different concentrate of a pharmaceutical product, and each tank is provided at its lower end with a discharge port for discharging the concentrate by its own weight, and is provided with an opening / closing valve controlled by a control means. The first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c are connected to the outlets of the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c, respectively, and are arranged substantially horizontally, that is, horizontally, or with the downstream side in the liquid flow direction slightly inclined downward. Note that in this embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c are arranged in parallel at the same height.

[0010] The first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d are configured to receive the concentrate solutions supplied from the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c, and the medicine is prepared by mixing these concentrate solutions inside. Inflow inlets are provided above the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d, and are set at a position lower than the positions of the discharge outlets of the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c, and each inflow inlet is provided with an on-off valve controlled by a control means. The first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d are provided below the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c, and are connected to the inlets of the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d, respectively, and are provided substantially horizontally, i.e., horizontally, or with the downstream side in the liquid flow direction slightly inclined downward.

[0011] The interface valves 6 are provided at positions where the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c and the first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d intersect, and in the following description, each interface valve 6 is named based on the position where the upper pipe 4 intersects with the lower pipe 5. For example, the interface valve 6 provided at the position where the first upper pipe 4a intersects with the second lower pipe 5b is named as the 1-2 interface valve 6. In the drug preparation system 1 of this embodiment, on-off valves 8 controlled by a control means are provided at positions adjacent to the downstream side of the interface valve 6 in the first to third upper-level pipes 4a to 4c. The specific configuration of each interface valve 6 will be described later, but it is equipped with a third pipeline 23 that connects the upper pipe 4 and the lower pipe 5, and a valve mechanism that switches the liquid flow path within the interface valve 6. As a result, each interface valve 6 is configured to switch the flow path so as to circulate liquid through the upper pipe 4 and / or the lower pipe 5, or to circulate liquid from the upper pipe 4 to the lower pipe 5 via the third pipeline 23.

[0012] The cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7, the specific configuration of which will not be described here, has a configuration that allows it to switch between supplying a cleaning liquid and superheated steam, and is connected to an upper supply pipe 9 that circulates the cleaning liquid, etc. to the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c, and a lower supply pipe 10 that circulates the cleaning liquid, etc. to the first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d. The upper supply pipe 9 is provided so as to branch off so as to be connected to the upstream end portions of the first to third upper pipes 4a to 4c, respectively, and an on-off valve that is opened and closed by a control means is provided at each branch position. The lower supply pipe 10 is provided at the same height as the upper supply pipe 9, and is connected to and branches downward at the upstream ends of the first to fourth lower pipes 5a to 5d. An on-off valve that is opened and closed by a control means is provided at each branch position. In addition, first to fourth drain tanks 11a to 11d for recovering cleaning liquid and the like are provided at the downstream end portions of the first to fourth lower-level pipes 5a to 5d, specifically at the positions of the on-off valves provided at the inlets of the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d. Here, the on-off valve is a three-way valve, and by switching the flow path under the control of the control means, the raw solution is caused to flow into the first to fourth preparation tanks 3a to 3d, and the cleaning solution, etc. are caused to flow into the first to fourth drain tanks 11a to 11d. Furthermore, each interface valve 6 is connected to a drain pipe 12 for circulating cleaning liquid and the like discharged from a drain port D formed in the third pipeline 23 as described below, and the drain pipe 12 is connected to a fifth drain tank 11e for recovering the cleaning liquid and the like.

[0013] Next, the interface valve 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Note that Fig. 2 shows the interface valve 6 of a second embodiment described below, but as the basic configuration is the same, the description will be given with reference to this figure. The interface valve 6 of the first embodiment includes a first pipeline 21 connected to the upper pipe 4 and having a first liquid port 21a opening downward, a second pipeline 22 connected to the lower pipe 5 and having a second liquid port 22a opening upward, and the third pipeline 23 provided between the first liquid port 21a of the first pipeline 21 and the second liquid port 22a of the second pipeline 22. A drain port D is provided in the approximate center of the third pipe 23, and the drain port D is connected to the drain pipe 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the drain pipe 12 of each interface valve 6 is connected to the fifth drain tank 11e. The interface valve 6 in this embodiment is equipped with a valve mechanism controlled by a control means, and includes a first valve 24 that opens and closes the first liquid port 21a, a second valve 25 that opens and closes the second liquid port 22a, and a drain valve DV that opens and closes the drain port D.

[0014] Comparing the interface valve 6 of the first embodiment with the interface valve 6 of the second embodiment, the difference is that in the first embodiment, one drain port D is formed in the third pipe 23, whereas in the second embodiment, first and second drain ports Da, Db are formed in the third pipe 23. Also, in terms of the valve mechanism, the first embodiment is provided with one drain valve DV that opens and closes the drain port D, whereas the second embodiment is provided with first and second drain valves DVa, DVb that open and close the first and second drain ports Da, Db.

[0015] Next, a description will be given of the first pipeline 21 and the first valve 24 that opens and closes the first fluid port 21a of the first pipeline 21. Note that the second valve 25 that opens and closes the second fluid port 22a of the second pipeline 22 has a similar configuration, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The first pipe 21 has ports 21b formed at both ends thereof, which are connected to the upper passage, a bulging portion 21c formed in the approximate center thereof, and the first liquid port 21a formed below the bulging portion 21c. The first valve 24 is a diaphragm valve provided above the bulging portion 21c, and includes a valve body 24a made of an elastic body and a drive motor 24b as a drive means for deforming the valve body 24a in the vertical direction. Note that the drive means is not limited to a motor, and may be a cylinder, a manual drive, or the like. A flat surface is formed around the first fluid port 21a in the bulging portion 21c, forming a valve seat on which the valve body 24a of the first valve 24 is seated.

[0016] With this configuration, when the drive motor 24b of the first valve 24 deforms the valve body 24a downward, the valve body 24a comes into close contact with the periphery of the first liquid port 21a, thereby closing the first liquid port 21a and preventing the flow of liquid from the first pipeline 21 to the third pipeline 23. However, even when the valve body 24a blocks the first liquid port 21a, liquid can flow inside the bulge portion 21c by passing through the side of the valve body 24a, and the flow of liquid in the first pipeline 21 is permitted. When the drive motor 24b deforms the valve body 24a upward, the valve body 24a lifts off the first liquid port 21a, opening the first liquid port 21a and allowing liquid to flow from the first pipeline 21 to the third pipeline 23. Here, by closing the on-off valve 8 provided downstream of the interface valve 6 in the upper pipe 4, the flow path of the liquid that has flowed into the first pipe 21 can be switched to the third pipe 23.

[0017] The third pipe 23 is provided in the vertical direction, and the drain port D is provided on a side surface thereof, and the drain pipe 12 is provided in the drain port D. Here, a description will be given using the second drain port Db and the second drain valve DVb according to the second embodiment. The drain pipe 12 is formed with a bulging portion 12a similar to that of the first liquid pipe, and the second drain valve DVb is provided in the bulging portion 12a. The second drain valve DVb is also a diaphragm valve, and the valve body DVba is deformed by a drive motor DVbb to seat and unseat the valve body DVba in the second drain port Db.

[0018] Further, the third pipe 23 is provided with a water jacket 26 as a cooling means, and the third pipe 23 is cooled by circulating cooling liquid supplied from a cooling liquid supply means (not shown) inside the water jacket 26. As a result, when the superheated steam supplied from the cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7 flows through the third pipeline 23, the water jacket 26 cools the third pipeline 23, thereby cooling the superheated steam. As a result, for example, when the raw liquid is flowing through the first pipeline 21 of the interface valve 6, if superheated steam is flowed from the second pipeline 22 to the third pipeline 23, the water jacket 26 cools the superheated steam, thereby making it possible to prevent the thermal effects on the raw liquid flowing through the first pipeline 21.

[0019] The following describes the operation of the above-mentioned preparation system 1. First, the operation when the raw materials are sent from the first to third supply tanks 2a to 2c to any one of the preparation tanks 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the first raw material is delivered from the first supply tank 2a to the third preparation tank 3c, the second raw material is delivered from the second supply tank 2b to the second preparation tank 3b, and the third raw material is delivered from the third supply tank 2c to the fourth preparation tank 3d. First, in order to transfer the first raw material solution from the first supply tank 2a to the third preparation tank 3c, the control means opens and closes the on-off valve of the first supply tank 2a, and also controls the 1-1 to 1-3 interface valves 6 provided along the first upper piping 4a to circulate the first raw material up to the 1-3 interface valve 6. At this time, in the 1-1, 1-2 interface valve 6, the first liquid port 21a of the first pipeline 21 connected to the first upper pipe 4a is closed, so that the first concentrate flows through the first pipeline 21 without flowing into the third pipeline 23. The control means then closes the on-off valve 8 located downstream of the 1-3 interface valve 6, and actuates the first valve 24 and the second valve 25 of the 1-3 interface valve 6 to open the first and second liquid ports 21a, 22a. As a result, the first concentrate flowing through the first upper pipe 4a flows from the first liquid port 21a into the third pipe 23, and then flows to the third lower pipe 5c connected to the second pipe 22, and is supplied to the third preparation tank 3c.

[0020] Similarly, when the second raw material solution is transferred from the second supply tank 2b to the second preparation tank 3b, the 2-1 to 2-2 interface valve 6 provided along the second upper pipe 4b is controlled to allow the second raw material to flow to the 2-2 interface valve 6. In the 2-2 interface valve 6, the second stock solution is caused to flow from the second upper pipe 4b through the third pipeline 23 to the second lower pipe 5b, whereby the second stock solution is supplied to the second preparation tank 3b. When the third stock solution is transferred from the third supply tank 2c to the fourth preparation tank 3d, the third stock solution is circulated to the 3-4 interface valve 6 provided along the third upper pipe 4c, and the flow path of the third stock solution is switched from the third upper pipe 4c to the fourth lower pipe 5d at the 3-4 interface valve 6, so that the third stock solution is supplied to the fourth preparation tank 3d.

[0021] After the supply of the stock solution has been completed, the flow path can be cleaned and sterilized by circulating a cleaning solution or the like from the cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7, and then new stock solution can be circulated. Hereinafter, the operation of the dispensing system 1 as a line switching system for distributing new concentrate will be described with reference to FIG. 3, using the interface valve 6 3-2. In the state shown in FIG. 1, in the 3-2 interface valve 6, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the third concentrate flows through the first line 21 connected to the third upper pipe 4c, and the second concentrate flows through the second line 22 connected to the second lower pipe 5b.

[0022] Thereafter, when the supply of the second concentrate from the second supply tank 2b to the second preparation tank 3b is completed, the flow path including the second lower pipe 5b through which the second concentrate flowed is cleaned and sterilized as shown in Figures 3(b) and (c). In this case, cleaning liquid etc. is supplied from the cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7 to the second lower piping 5b and collected in the second drain tank 11b provided adjacent to the second preparation tank 3b. Since the flow path of the cleaning liquid etc. at this time is the same as that when circulating the original liquid, detailed explanation will be omitted. In the 3-2 interface valve 6, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the first pipeline 21 of the 3-2 interface valve 6 maintains the state shown in FIG. 3(a), and the cleaning liquid, etc. circulates through the second pipeline 22 via the second lower pipeline 5b. Although cleaning liquid or the like is circulated through the second pipeline 22 in this manner, the second liquid port 22a of the second pipeline 22 is closed by the second valve 25, so strictly speaking, cleaning of the portion where the second liquid port 22a and the valve body 25a of the second valve 25 are in close contact with each other is not completed.

[0023] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the control means operates the second valve 25 and the drain valve DV of the 3-2 interface valve 6 to open the second liquid port 22a and the drain port D. This allows the cleaning fluid, etc. to flow from the second pipeline 22 to the third pipeline 23, creating a flow of the cleaning fluid, etc. in the area where the second liquid port 22a and the valve body 25a of the second valve 25 were in close contact, thereby enabling cleaning and sterilization of these. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid and the like that has flowed into the third pipeline 23 is discharged from the drain port D into the drain pipe 12, and then is collected in the fifth drain tank 11e. In addition, since the third pipeline 23 is cooled by the water jacket 26, the superheated steam flowing into the third pipeline 23 is cooled, and the third concentrate flowing through the first pipeline 21 is not heated. In order to clean and sterilize the second pipeline 22, the step shown in FIG. 3(b) may be omitted, and the cleaning liquid and the like may be discharged from the drain port D via the third pipeline 23 from the beginning, as shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0024] In this manner, once cleaning and sterilization of the second lower-level piping 5b and the second pipeline 22 through which the second concentrate liquid had been flowing have been completed, it becomes possible to flow another concentrate liquid through this second lower-level piping 5b and send it to the second preparation tank 3b. Here, an operation for transferring the first stock solution from the first supply tank 2a to the second preparation tank 3b will be described. A detailed explanation of the operation will be omitted, but the first stock solution supplied from the first supply tank 2a flows through the first upper piping 4a and then flows into the second lower piping 5b at the 1-2 interface valve 6, and then passes through the second pipeline 22 of the 2-2 interface valve 6 and the second pipeline 22 of the 3-2 interface valve 6, before flowing into the second preparation tank 3b. At this time, in the 3-2 interface valve 6, as shown in Figure 3 (d), the second liquid port 22a of the second pipeline 22 is closed by the second valve 25, thereby causing the first concentrate to flow through the second lower pipe 5b connected to the second pipeline 22.

[0025] Next, FIG. 3(e) illustrates the operation of the 3-2 interface valve 6 when the third stock solution is transferred from the third supply tank 2c to the second preparation tank 3b. In other words, the operation of the interface valve 6 when switching the flow path from the first pipe 21 to the second pipe 22 via the third pipe 23 is described here. In order to transfer the third stock solution from the third supply tank 2c to the second preparation tank 3b, it is necessary to switch the flow path at the 3-2 interface valve 6 from the third upper pipe 4c to the second lower pipe 5b. Therefore, the control means closes the on-off valve 8 downstream of the 3-2 interface valve 6, opens the first and second valves 24, 25, and keeps the drain valve DV closed. As a result, the third concentrate flowing through the third upper pipe 4c flows from the first pipe 21 via the third pipe 23 into the second pipe 22, and then flows through the second lower pipe 5b to be supplied to the second preparation tank 3b.

[0026] Figures 3(f) and (g) explain the operation of cleaning and sterilizing the entire interface valve 6 after the third concentrate is transferred from the third supply tank 2c to the second preparation tank 3b. The control means circulates cleaning liquid, etc. from the cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 7 to the upper supply piping 9 and the lower supply piping 10, thereby causing the cleaning liquid to circulate through the third upper pipe 4c connected to the upper supply piping 9 and the second lower pipe 5b connected to the lower supply piping 10. In this state, first, as shown in FIG. 3(f), the first valve 24 is operated to open the first liquid port 21a of the first pipeline 21, thereby allowing the cleaning liquid to flow from the first pipeline 21 to the third pipeline 23, and a portion of the cleaning liquid is discharged from the drain port D of the third pipeline 23. This cleans and sterilizes the first liquid port 21a and the valve body 24a of the first valve 24. At this time, cooling of the third pipeline 23 by the water jacket 26 is not necessary.

[0027] Next, as shown in FIG. 3(g), the first valve 24 is operated to close the first liquid port 21a of the first pipeline 21, and the second valve 25 is operated to open the second liquid port 22a of the second pipeline 22. This causes the cleaning liquid to flow from the second pipeline 22 to the third pipeline 23, and causes a portion of the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the drain port D of the third pipeline 23. This causes the second liquid port 22a and the valve body 25a of the second valve 25 to be cleaned and sterilized.

[0028] In this way, according to the dispensing system 1 equipped with the interface valve 6 of this embodiment, even while the concentrate is being circulated through the upper piping 4, the flow path of the concentrate that has been circulating through the lower piping 5 can be cleaned and sterilized in order to change the concentrate to be circulated through the lower piping 5. In other words, when cleaning the lower-level piping 5, the second liquid port 22a of the second line 22 connected to the third line 23 is opened and the cleaning liquid or the like is discharged from the drain port D of the third line 23, thereby cleaning and sterilizing the second liquid port 22a and the valve body 25a of the second valve 25. The same applies when cleaning the upper piping 4; by opening the first liquid port 21a of the first pipeline 21 and discharging the cleaning liquid etc. through the drain port D of the third pipeline 23, the valve body 24a of the first valve 24 that was in close contact with the first liquid port 21a can be cleaned and sterilized. Furthermore, when superheated steam as a sterilization medium flows into the third pipeline 23, a water jacket 26 is provided in the third pipeline 23 to cool the superheated steam, thereby preventing the raw solution flowing through the first pipeline 21 or the second pipeline 22 from being denatured by heat.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the interface valve 6 in the second embodiment. As explained in the first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows the interface valve 6 according to the second embodiment. The interface valve 6 of the present embodiment is configured such that, compared to the interface valve 6 of the first embodiment, a first drain port Da and a second drain port Db are provided in the third pipe 23, and these first drain port Da and second drain port Db are opened and closed by a first drain valve DVa (not shown in FIG. 4) and a second drain valve DVb controlled by a control means. The first drain port Da is provided at a position adjacent to the first liquid port 21a of the third pipeline 23, while the second drain port Db is provided at a position adjacent to the second liquid port 22a, and these first and second drain ports Da, Db are each connected to the fifth drain tank 11e via drain piping 12. The first and second drain valves DVa, DVb are also diaphragm valves, and are closed by tightly contacting the valve bodies DVaa, DVba with the first and second drain ports Da, Db from the side opposite the third pipe 23. The water jacket 26 of the interface valve 6 in this embodiment is provided between the first drain port Da and the second drain port Db.

[0030] The operation of the dispensing system 1 equipped with the interface valve 6 having such a configuration will be described using the operation of the 3-2 interface valve 6, as in the first embodiment. FIG. 4(a) shows a state in which the third concentrate flows through the first line 21 connected to the third upper pipe 4c in the 3-2 interface valve 6, and the second concentrate flows through the second line 22 connected to the second lower pipe 5b. When the supply of the second stock solution is completed, the cleaning / sterilization medium supplying means 7 supplies a cleaning solution or the like to the second lower-level piping 5b as shown in FIG. 4(b), and the second pipeline 22 is cleaned with the cleaning solution or the like. Next, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the control means operates the second valve 25 of the 3-2 interface valve 6 to open the second liquid port 22a, and also operates the first drain valve DVa to open the first drain port Da of the third pipeline 23. Then, a portion of the cleaning liquid etc. circulating through the second pipeline 22 flows into the third pipeline 23 and is discharged from the first drain port Da, thereby cleaning and sterilizing the valve body 25a of the second valve 25 that was in close contact with the second liquid port 22a. Here, in the 3-2 interface valve 6, when cleaning and sterilization with a cleaning liquid or the like are performed after the original liquid has been circulated through the first pipeline 21, the first valve 24 is operated to open the first liquid port 21a, and the second drain valve DVb is further operated to open the second drain port Db of the third pipeline 23.

[0031] In this manner, according to the interface valve 6 of the present embodiment, first and second drain ports Da, Db are formed in the third pipeline 23, and the cleaning liquid, etc., that flows from the second pipeline 22 into the third pipeline 23 is discharged from the first drain port Da adjacent to the first pipeline 21. This makes it possible to prevent a dead leg of the cleaning liquid in the third pipeline 23. Here, a dead leg refers to a liquid pool formed by a closed branch pipeline when the branch pipeline is closed by a valve or the like. If this dead leg is formed, there is a risk of hygiene problems occurring due to fluid stagnation, which may affect the raw liquid that is subsequently distributed. Therefore, in the dispensing system 1 that constitutes the drug preparation system that prepares drugs, it is necessary to prevent the formation of such dead legs as much as possible. In the present embodiment, after the second stock solution is supplied from the second supply tank 2b to the second preparation tank 3b, the flow path through which the second stock solution flows is cleaned and sterilized with a cleaning solution or the like. However, there is a risk that this cleaning solution or water produced by cooling the superheated steam will remain in the third pipeline 23 of the interface valve 6, resulting in a dead leg. However, in this embodiment, the first drain port Da in the third pipeline 23 is located close to the first pipeline 21, so that cleaning liquid and the like do not stagnate and flow is maintained, and even if the first drain port Da is closed after liquid has been circulated through the third pipeline 23, no liquid remains between the first drain port Da and the first liquid port 21a. Similarly, in this embodiment, the second drain port Db in the third pipeline 23 is located in close proximity to the second pipeline 22, so that cleaning liquid, etc. does not stagnate and the flow is maintained, and even if the second drain port Db is closed after liquid has been circulated through the third pipeline 23, no liquid remains between the second drain port Db and the second liquid port 22a. The interface valve 6 in the second embodiment is particularly useful when the upper pipe 4 and the lower pipe 5 are far apart from each other and the third pipe 23 of the interface valve 6 must be set long.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the interface valve 6 in the third embodiment. The interface valve 6 of the present embodiment is configured such that, compared to the interface valve 6 of the second embodiment, a third valve 27 is provided between the first drain port Da and the second drain port Db formed in the third pipeline 23, and the first drain port Da and the second drain port Db are provided in a position close to the third valve 27. The third valve 27 can be a diaphragm valve similar to the first and second valves 24, 25, but the valve body constituting the third valve 27 is configured to completely close the third pipeline 23 when actuated. In the interface valve 6 of this embodiment, the water jacket 26 is provided between the first drain port Da and the second drain port Db so as not to interfere with the operation of the third valve 27.

[0033] The operation of the dispensing system 1 equipped with the interface valve 6 having such a configuration will be described using the operation of the interface valve 6 in 3-2 as in the first embodiment. FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the third concentrate flows through the first line 21 connected to the third upper pipe 4c in the 3-2 interface valve 6, and the second concentrate flows through the second line 22 connected to the second lower pipe 5b. Then, when the supply of the second stock solution is completed, the cleaning / sterilization medium supplying means 7 supplies a cleaning solution or the like to the second lower-level pipe 5b as shown in FIG. 5(b), and the second pipeline 22 is cleaned with the cleaning solution or the like.

[0034] 5(c), the control means operates the second valve 25 of the 3-2 interface valve 6 to open the second liquid port 22a, and also operates the second drain valve DVb to open the second drain port Db of the third pipeline 23. The third valve 27 is maintained in a closed state. Then, a portion of the cleaning liquid etc. circulating through the second pipeline 22 flows into the third pipeline 23, then circulates through the third pipeline 23 and is discharged from the second drain port Db, thereby cleaning and sterilizing the valve body 25a of the second valve 25 that was in close contact with the second liquid port 22a. In this embodiment, the second drain port Db is provided adjacent to the third valve 27 provided in the third pipeline 23, so that no dead leg is formed between the drain port D and the third valve 27 when a cleaning liquid or the like is passed through. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a distance can be secured between the second drain port Db through which the cleaning liquid etc. is discharged and the first pipeline 21, thereby reducing the effect of heat from superheated steam on the raw liquid flowing through the first pipeline 21. In addition, the cleaning liquid etc. and the raw liquid are blocked by two valves, the first valve 24 and the third valve 27, which also prevents the raw liquid from being contaminated by the cleaning liquid etc.

[0035] Although not illustrated, when switching the flow path of the raw liquid from the third upper pipe 4c to the second lower pipe 5b in the 3-2 interface valve 6, the first liquid port 21a of the first pipe 21 and the second liquid port 22a of the second pipe 22 are opened, and the third valve 27 of the third pipe 23 is also opened. Furthermore, when the flow of the third raw liquid in the third upper pipe 4c has been completed, in order to clean and sterilize the first pipe 21, the first liquid port 21a of the first pipe 21 is opened with the third valve 27 closed, and the first drain port Da of the third pipe 23 is opened so that the cleaning liquid, etc. can be discharged from the first drain port Da. Furthermore, when cleaning and sterilizing the entire interface valve 6, cleaning and sterilization can be performed by also opening the third valve 27 of the third pipeline 23 and allowing the third pipeline 23 to flow from the first liquid port 21a to the second liquid port 22a. At this time, cleaning and sterilization can be performed with the first drain port Da and the second drain port Db open, and cooling of the third pipeline 23 by the water jacket 26 is not required. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Dispensing system (line switching system) 2 Supply tank 3 Preparation tank 4 Upper piping 5 Sub-piping 6 Interface valve 7 Cleaning / sterilization medium supply means 21 First pipe 21a 1st liquid port 22 2nd pipe 22a 2nd liquid port 23 3rd pipe 24 1st valve 25 2nd valve 26 Water jacket 27 3rd valve D Drain port DV Drain valve

Claims

1. The apparatus comprises a plurality of upper pipes, each connected to a fluid supply tank and disposed above, a plurality of lower pipes, each connected to a preparation tank and disposed below, and a flow path switching device disposed between the upper pipes and the lower pipes for switching the flow paths, The flow path switching device includes a first pipeline connected to the upper piping and having a first liquid port opening downward, a second pipeline connected to the lower piping and having a second liquid port opening upward, and a third pipeline provided between the first liquid port of the first pipeline and the second liquid port of the second pipeline, A line switching system including a valve mechanism for switching to allow liquid to flow through the first pipeline and / or the second pipeline, or to allow liquid to flow from the first pipeline to the second pipeline via a third pipeline, a cleaning / sterilization medium supplying means for supplying a cleaning medium and / or a sterilization medium to the upper pipe and the lower pipe; a drain port is formed in the third pipe of the flow path switching device, and the valve mechanism includes a first valve that opens and closes the first liquid port, a second valve that opens and closes the second liquid port, and a drain valve that opens and closes the drain port; in a required flow path switching device, while a fluid from the supply tank flows through an upper pipe and a cleaning medium or sterilization medium from a cleaning / sterilization medium supply means flows through a lower pipe, the first valve closes the first liquid port, the second valve opens the second liquid port, and the drain valve opens the drain port of the third pipe, thereby allowing the cleaning medium or sterilization medium to flow from the second pipe into the third pipe and be discharged from the drain port; the drain port includes a first drain port formed in the third pipe line at a position adjacent to the first liquid port, and a second drain port formed in the third pipe line at a position adjacent to the second liquid port; a line switching system, characterized in that a first drain valve for opening and closing the first drain port, and a second drain valve for opening and closing the second drain port are provided as drain valves of the valve mechanism.

2. 2. The line switching system according to claim 1, further comprising an on-off valve for opening and closing the third pipe, the on-off valve being disposed between the first drain port and the second drain port in the third pipe.

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