Baking vessel cleaning device

Abstract

To clean a baking container in a favorable manner.SOLUTION: A cleaning device 10 disclosed herein comprises: a lid 21 covering an opening 100h of a bottomed baking container 100 with the opening on top; at least one cleaning nozzle 30 disposed in the center of the lid 21 on the side facing a bottom 100a of the baking container 100; a gas supply mechanism 40 supplying a gas to the cleaning nozzle 30; a dust collection port disposed in the lid 21; and a suction mechanism 50 drawing the gas inside the baking container 100 through the dust collection port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a baking vessel. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-237245 discloses a method for detecting cracks in a sagger, in which a sagger from which powder has been collected in a previous process is supported on a support plate of a negative pressure space forming means with its opening facing downwards, and a hood capable of containing the sagger is tightly attached to the upper surface of the support plate; while the inside of the negative pressure space forming means is depressurized, air is sprayed from a nozzle provided inside the negative pressure space forming means to remove powder adhering to the inside of the sagger, and the internal pressure of the hood is measured and the presence or absence of cracks in the sagger is detected based on the fluctuations in the internal pressure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-237245 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the present inventors would like to efficiently clean the firing vessel using a device with a simpler configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The cleaning device disclosed herein comprises a lid that covers the opening of a bottomed baking container which is open at the top, at least one cleaning nozzle provided in the center of the lid on the side facing the bottom of the baking container, a gas supply mechanism that supplies gas to the cleaning nozzle, a dust collection port provided in the lid, and a suction mechanism that draws in gas from inside the baking container through the dust collection port. According to this cleaning device, the opening of the baking container can be cleaned appropriately while facing upward. Therefore, it is not necessary to turn the baking container upside down, and the device configuration can be simplified. In addition, the risk of damage to the baking container when it is turned upside down can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a baking system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a schematic diagram of the cleaning device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the lid. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a schematic view of the cleaning device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a schematic diagram of a cleaning device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote members and parts that perform the same function. The dimensional relationships (length, width, thickness, etc.) in each drawing do not reflect the actual dimensional relationships. The directions of up, down, left, right, front, and rear are indicated by arrows U, D, L, R, F, and Rr in the drawings. In the drawings, the symbol X indicates the "front-rear direction of the cleaning device", the symbol Y indicates the "left-right direction of the cleaning device", and the symbol Z indicates the "up-down direction of the cleaning device". However, the directions of up, down, left, right, front, and rear are determined merely for the convenience of explanation, and do not limit the technology disclosed herein unless otherwise specified.

[0008] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a baking system 1. The baking container cleaning device 10 disclosed herein can be incorporated into the baking system 1 as shown in FIG. 1. The baking system 1 includes a supply device 25, a baking furnace 26, an unloading device 27, a cleaning device 10, and a control device 200. In the baking system 1, a baking container 100 (see FIG. 2) that accommodates the object to be treated is used. The baking system 1 is configured so that the baking container 100 can be repeatedly moved between the supply device 25, the baking furnace 26, the unloading device 27, and the cleaning device 10 in this order. That is, the baking container 100 is repeatedly used in the baking system 1. In this embodiment, the supply device 25 is disposed on the most upstream side and the cleaning device 10 is disposed on the most downstream side in the direction in which the baking container 100 is transported.

[0009] The supply device 25 supplies the object to be treated to the firing container 100. Here, the object to be treated may be, for example, a ceramic material used in electronic components or an active material for a battery. Next, the firing container 100 to which the object to be treated has been supplied is transported to the firing furnace 26 along the transport direction. The firing furnace 26 fires the object to be treated housed in the firing container 100. Although not particularly limited, the firing furnace 26 is formed in a tunnel shape and has a transport path for transporting the firing container 100. The inner wall of the firing furnace 26 may be formed, for example, by stacking ceramic fiber boards formed into a predetermined shape. The ceramic fiber board is, for example, a plate material formed into a plate shape by adding an inorganic filler, an inorganic binder, and an organic binder to so-called bulk fiber. The firing furnace 26 has an inlet for carrying the firing container 100 in and an outlet formed downstream of the inlet and for carrying the firing container 100 out. The firing container 100 discharged from the discharge port is transported to the discharge device 27.

[0010] The firing container 100 is transported through the firing furnace 26 by a transport path. In this embodiment, the firing furnace 26 is a continuous firing furnace that transports a plurality of firing containers 100 through the transport path and continuously fires the objects housed in the firing containers 100. Various structures can be adopted as the continuous firing furnace. Examples of the continuous firing furnace include a roller hearth kiln (RHK) and a so-called pusher furnace. The roller hearth kiln is a continuous firing furnace that transports the firing container 100 by a plurality of ceramic rollers. In the roller hearth kiln, for example, a plurality of ceramic rollers are provided at a predetermined interval. On the other hand, the pusher furnace transports the firing container 100 by a pusher. In the pusher furnace, the firing container 100 is transported while sliding on a ceramic rail by being pushed by the pusher in sequence.

[0011] The take-out device 27 is provided downstream of the firing furnace 26. The take-out device 27 is a device that takes out the object to be processed (the fired object) after firing from the firing container 100. The take-out device 27 may include, for example, a gripping mechanism for gripping a pair of side walls 100b of the firing container 100. The firing container 100 from which the fired object has been taken out is transported to the cleaning device 10 along the transport direction.

[0012] The control device 200 may be configured to perform, for example, a process of supplying the object to be treated to the firing container 100, a process of removing the object to be fired from the firing container 100, and a process of cleaning the firing container 100. In this embodiment, a sensor for detecting the position of the firing container 100 is provided at an appropriate position of the firing system 1. In addition, various sensors and detection mechanisms are provided so that the operation of various mechanisms of the supply device 25, the firing furnace 26, the removal device 27, and the cleaning device 10 can be detected. The control device 200 is configured to check the operation of various mechanisms and sense the firing container 100 at a predetermined position, and to perform processes such as supplying the object to be treated to the firing container 100, removing the object to be fired, and cleaning by sequence control based on the sensing.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the cleaning device 10 disclosed herein. The cleaning device 10 disclosed herein is a device for cleaning a baking container 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning device 10 includes a lid 21, a cleaning nozzle 30, a gas supply mechanism 40, a suction mechanism 50, a drive mechanism 60, and a lifting mechanism 70. The lid 21 is provided with a dust collection port 51 (see FIG. 3). Note that in FIG. 2, the baking container 100, the lid 21, and a part of the lifting plate 72 are shown in cross section, with the cleaning nozzle 30 inside being exposed.

[0014] Here, the firing container 100 is a container called a sagger, a setter, a sagger, or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the firing container 100 is a bottomed container with an open top, and in this embodiment, it is a bottomed rectangular container with an open top. The firing container 100 has a bottom surface 100a that is substantially rectangular in plan view, and four side walls 100b that extend upward from the bottom surface 100a. As described above, the firing container 100 has a function of accommodating the object to be treated. The firing container 100 can be made of a material that is excellent in heat resistance (fire resistance). For example, ceramic materials such as mullite, cordierite, and aluminum oxide (alumina) can be used as materials for the firing container 100.

[0015] The lid 21 is a member that covers the opening 100h of the firing container 100. FIG. 3 is a plan view that shows the lid 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 21 is provided with a dust collection port 51. The dust collection port 51 is a hole that penetrates the lid 21 in the thickness direction (Z direction in FIG. 2). In this embodiment, a through hole 21h for inserting the gas supply pipe 41 is formed in the center of the lid 21. The center of the lid does not necessarily mean the center of the lid, but includes an area near the center of the lid. The gas supply pipe 41 is preferably attached so that the center C1 of the lid 21 and the axis of the gas supply pipe 41 are approximately aligned. A seal member 22 is attached to the lower surface of the lid 21 (see FIG. 2). The seal member 22 is provided around the entire circumference at a position that hits the edge of the opening 100h of the firing container 100 when the lid 21 is attached. It is preferable that the seal member 22 is a member that can ensure airtightness and has cushioning properties. Specifically, for example, the sealing member 22 may preferably be made of a silicone sponge.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a shaft 81 is attached to the upper surface of the lid 21 around the center of the lid 21. The lifting table 72 of the lifting mechanism 70 is disposed above the lid 21 in an opposing manner. The shaft 81 passes through a through hole of the lifting table 72 and is supported by a bush 82 so as to be slidable up and down. A coil spring 84 is attached to the shaft 81 between the lifting table 72 and the lid 21 in a compressed state. The gas supply pipe 41 passes through the lifting table 72 at the center of the lifting table 72 and is rotatably attached to a holding mechanism 64 equipped with a bearing. The lower end of the gas supply pipe 41 extends below the lid 21 through a through hole 21h of the lid 21. A bellows-shaped cover 83 is attached above the lid 21 between the through hole 21h and the holding mechanism 64. The cover 83 separates the through hole 21h from the outside, and prevents powder from scattering around when the firing container 100 is cleaned. The cover 83 may be fixed to the lid 21 using, for example, metal fittings or the like, or may be removable by means of a fastener without the need for metal fittings.

[0017] The cleaning nozzle 30 is a nozzle that ejects a gas (gas) for cleaning the inner surface side of the firing container 100. The gas ejected from the cleaning nozzle 30 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, air or an inert gas such as nitrogen gas (N2 gas), argon gas (Ar gas), or helium gas (He gas). As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning nozzle 30 is provided at the center of the lid 21, on the side facing the bottom surface 100a of the firing container 100. It is preferable that at least one cleaning nozzle 30 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, three cleaning nozzles 30a to 30c are attached to a gas supply pipe 41 inserted into the center of the lid 21. Specifically, the cleaning nozzle 30a is attached to the tip of the gas supply pipe 41 inserted into the center of the lid 21. The ejection port of the cleaning nozzle 30a is set to face the center of the bottom surface of the firing container 100 when the lid 21 is closed. The cleaning nozzles 30b, 30c are attached to the tips of branch pipes 46b, 46c branched from the gas supply pipe 41. The branch pipes 46b, 46c are each configured as a hose capable of changing the direction of gas ejection and the shape of the pipe. The branch pipes 46b, 46c may be, for example, a hose (flexible pipe) configured of a material having flexibility. The branch pipe 46 may be, for example, a hose made of rubber, plastic, or metal. The branch pipe 46 may be, for example, a metal pipe capable of changing the direction of gas ejection or a metal pipe with a fixed shape. In this embodiment, the branch pipe 46 is, for example, a so-called adjustable hose made of commercially available plastic. In this way, at least one of the cleaning nozzles 30a to 30c, the cleaning nozzles 30b, 30c, may be attached to a hose capable of changing the direction of gas ejection.

[0018] The gas supply pipe 41 is a pipe for supplying the gas (gas) supplied from the gas supply device 42 to the cleaning nozzle 30, and is a substantially cylindrical pipe. The positions at which the multiple branch pipes 46b and 46c are attached in the gas supply pipe 41 may be appropriately changed according to the size and shape of the firing container 100 to be cleaned, and are not particularly limited. For example, the multiple branch pipes 46b and 46c may be provided below the center in the height direction of the gas supply pipe 41 (Z direction in FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the branch pipes 46b and 46c are provided below the center in the height direction of the gas supply pipe 41. The branch pipes 46b and 46c may be provided at the same height position in the height direction of the gas supply pipe 41, or may be provided at different height positions. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the branch pipes 46b and 46c may be provided alternately in the height direction of the gas supply pipe 41. Furthermore, the branch pipes 46b and 46c may or may not be disposed evenly in the circumferential direction of the gas supply pipe 41.

[0019] Gas is supplied to the cleaning nozzle 30 by a gas supply mechanism 40. For example, when the gas supply device 42 is operated, gas is pressure-fed from the gas supply device 42 through a connection pipe 44, and the gas is supplied to the gas supply pipe 41. Then, the gas is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 30 attached to the gas supply pipe 41.

[0020] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the number of cleaning nozzles 30 is three, and the gas supply pipe 41 has two branch pipes 46b and 46c. The number of cleaning nozzles 30 and the number of branch pipes 46 are not limited to this. For example, the number of cleaning nozzles 30 is not limited to three, and may be, for example, five. In addition, the directions in which the cleaning nozzles 30 eject gas toward the inner surface of the firing container 100 may be different from each other. The gas supply pipe 41 may have only one branch pipe 46, or may have three or more. Preferably, one or more branch pipes may be provided so that the bottom surface 100a and the side wall 100b of the firing container 100 can be cleaned simultaneously. Although not shown, for example, the gas supply pipe 41 may have five branch pipes. In this case, the cleaning nozzles attached to each branch pipe may be arranged so that the side wall 100b is roughly divided into three in the height direction and each position can be cleaned.

[0021] In this embodiment, the direction of the cleaning nozzle 30a is fixed so that the bottom surface 100a of the firing container 100 can be cleaned by the gas jetted from the cleaning nozzle 30a. The direction of the branch pipe 46b is fixed so that the side wall 100b of the firing container 100 can be cleaned by the gas jetted from the cleaning nozzle 30b. The direction of the branch pipe 46c is fixed so that the boundary between the bottom surface 100a and the side wall 100b of the firing container 100 can be cleaned by the gas jetted from the cleaning nozzle 30c. The gas jet direction can be changed as appropriate according to the shape of the firing container 100.

[0022] The gas supply mechanism 40 is a mechanism for supplying gas (for example, air or N2 gas) to the cleaning nozzle 30. The gas supply mechanism 40 includes a gas supply pipe 41, a gas supply device 42, a rotary joint 43, a connection pipe 44, and a socket 45. The gas supply device 42 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a compressor. The connection pipe 44 has one end connected to the gas supply device 42 and the other end connected to the rotary joint 43. The socket 45 has one end connected to the rotary joint 43 and the other end connected to the gas supply pipe 41. The gas supply pipe 41 is supported with its upper end inserted inside the socket 45.

[0023] The suction mechanism 50 is a mechanism that draws in gas (for example, air or N2 gas) inside the firing container 100 through the dust collection port 51. In this embodiment, the suction mechanism 50 includes a dust collection pipe 52 and an exhaust device 53. One end of the dust collection pipe 52 is attached to the dust collection port 51. The other end of the dust collection pipe 52 is attached to the exhaust device 53. The exhaust device 53 is a device that draws in gas inside the firing container 100. Examples of the exhaust device 53 include a vacuum device and a negative pressure chamber. The exhaust device 53 may be equipped with various filters depending on the gas to be exhausted. In this embodiment, there is one suction mechanism 50, and one dust collection port 51 is provided in the lid 21. However, the cleaning device 10 may be equipped with multiple suction mechanisms. In this case, multiple dust collection ports are provided in the lid 21. In this embodiment, the suction mechanism 50 always draws in gas. In other words, the exhaust device 53 operates continuously regardless of whether the baking container 100 is closed by the lid 21 or not. However, the suction mechanism does not have to draw in gas all the time in other embodiments. For example, when the baking container is not closed by a lid, it does not have to operate to draw in gas. Or, even if the baking container is closed by a lid, there may be times when it does not operate to draw in gas.

[0024] The driving mechanism 60 is a mechanism for rotating the gas supply pipe 41. The driving mechanism 60 includes a driving device 61, a pulley 62a, a pulley 62b, a belt 63, and a holding mechanism 64 having a bearing. The driving device 61 is a driving source of the driving mechanism. The driving device 61 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a motor. The pulley 62a is attached to the driving device 61. The pulley 62b is attached to the outer periphery of the gas supply pipe 41. The belt 63 is stretched between the pulleys 62a and 62b. The holding mechanism 64 is disposed between the through hole 21h of the lid 21 and the gas supply pipe 41. As described above, the connecting pipe 44 is connected to the gas supply pipe 41 via the rotary joint 43. Therefore, even if the gas supply pipe 41 is rotated by the driving mechanism 60, the connection part between the rotary joint 43 and the connecting pipe 44 does not rotate. Further, although one embodiment of the drive mechanism 60 is shown here, the drive mechanism 60 may be a mechanism that rotates the gas supply pipe 41. The drive mechanism 60 is not limited to the embodiment exemplified here.

[0025] The lifting mechanism 70 is a mechanism for lifting and lowering the lid 21. In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism 70 includes a lifting device 71, a lifting table 72, shafts 73a and 73b connected to the lifting table 72, a support bar 74, a floating joint 75, a support member 76, and a slide bush 77. The lifting table 72 is a flat member. The lower ends of the shafts 73a and 73b are attached to the lifting table 72. The support bar 74 is a flat member in this embodiment. The upper ends of the shafts 73a and 73b are attached to the support bar 74. The shafts 73a and 73b pass through the support member 76 as shown in FIG. 2. Here, the support member 76 is a member fixedly disposed on a base and is a member that supports the cleaning device 10. A slide bush 77 is attached to the support member 76, and the shafts 73a and 73b are inserted through the slide bush 77. In this embodiment, two shafts 73a and 73b are attached symmetrically to both ends in the front-rear direction (X direction in FIG. 2) of the lift table 72. However, the number of shafts does not have to be two, and three or more shafts, for example, four shafts, may be used.

[0026] The lifting device 71 is, for example, an air cylinder. The tip of a piston rod of the air cylinder serving as the lifting device 71 is attached to a support bar 74 via, for example, a floating joint 75. The lifting device 71 has a port capable of supplying and discharging air. Note that, although an air cylinder is used as the lifting device 71 in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, an actuator that moves the lifting table 72 up and down may be used as the lifting device.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, when the piston rod of the air cylinder as the lifting device 71 is pushed out, the support bar 74 and the shafts 73a and 73b move upward. At this time, the lifting table 72 attached to the lower ends of the shafts 73a and 73b also moves upward. Then, the lid 21 attached to the lower part of the lifting table 72 also moves upward in conjunction. On the other hand, when the piston rod of the air cylinder is pulled down, the support bar 74 and the shafts 73a and 73b move downward. At this time, the lifting table 72 attached to the lower ends of the shafts 73a and 73b also moves downward. Then, the lid 21 attached to the lower part of the lifting table 72 also moves downward in conjunction. As a result, when the baking container 100 is installed in a predetermined position, the lid 21 can be placed at the opening 100h of the baking container 100, and the cleaning nozzle 30 is placed inside the baking container 100. The drive mechanism 60 and the like arranged on the lifting table 72 move up and down together with the lifting table 72. Here, one embodiment of the lifting mechanism 70 is shown, but the lifting mechanism 70 may be a mechanism that lifts and lowers the lid 21. The lifting mechanism 70 is not limited to the embodiment exemplified here. Also, the lifting mechanism 70 is not an essential configuration and may be omitted in other embodiments. In an embodiment that does not include the lifting mechanism 70, the lid 21 may be placed on the opening 100h of the firing container 100 manually, for example.

[0028] 2, each of the shafts 81 connecting the lift table 72 and the lid 21 may be a slide shaft. As a result, after the lift table 72 is lowered to a fixed position, the lift table 72 is further pushed downward, so that the slide shaft is pushed downward and the connected lid 21 is pressed against the peripheral portion of the opening 100h of the firing container 100. At this time, the coil spring 84 suppresses the force of the lid 21 hitting the upper edge of the firing container 100 when it is pushed down.

[0029] When cleaning the firing container 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the firing container 100 is placed at a predetermined position below the lifting and lowering lid 21 with the opening 100h facing upward. When the lifting and lowering mechanism 70 lowers the lid 21, the opening 100h is closed by the lid 21. At this time, a seal member 22 is provided on the lower surface of the lid 21 at a portion that is pressed against the peripheral portion of the opening 100h of the firing container 100. The seal member 22 attached to the lower surface of the lid 21 is pressed against the edge of the opening 100h of the firing container 100 over the entire circumference. This seals the opening 100h of the firing container 100. Due to aging, the firing container 100 may have distortions or defects on the edge of the opening 100h. The sealing member 22 provided on the underside of the lid 21 ensures the sealing of the opening 100h of the baking container 100 more reliably. The sealing member 22 may be made of a silicone sponge or the like. By using such a soft material for the sealing member 22, damage to the baking container 100 when the lid 21 is pressed against the baking container 100 can be prevented. In this embodiment, the suction mechanism 50 attached to the dust collection port 51 of the lid 21 is constantly operating and continues suction even when the lid 21 is pressed against the baking container 100.

[0030] When the lid 21 is pressed against the edge of the opening 100h of the baking container 100 over the entire circumference and the opening 100h of the baking container 100 is sealed, the gas supply mechanism 40 is activated. As a result, gas is supplied from the gas supply device 42 to the gas supply pipe 41 through the connection pipe 44. Then, gas is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 30 attached to the gas supply pipe 41 in the baking container 100. The gas sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 30 is blown onto the inner surface of the baking container 100. As a result, the powder (foreign matter) of the baking material remaining inside the baking container 100 is blown away. The blown away powder of the baking material is sucked through the dust collection port 51 of the lid 21 and removed from the inside of the baking container 100. According to this cleaning method, even fine powder can be suitably cleaned, so that the occurrence of contamination can be more suitably suppressed. Furthermore, since the device itself is less worn even when cleaning is performed repeatedly, there is also the effect of reducing the frequency of replacement of consumables.

[0031] The cleaning device 10 disclosed here includes a lid 21, a cleaning nozzle 30, a gas supply mechanism 40, and a suction mechanism 50, as shown in FIG. 2. The lid 21 is a member that covers the opening 100h of the bottomed baking container 100 that is open at the top. The cleaning nozzle 30 is provided in the center of the lid 21 on the side facing the inner surface of the baking container 100. The suction mechanism 50 draws in gas from the inside of the baking container 100 through a dust collection port 51 provided in the lid 21. According to this cleaning device 10, the opening 100h of the baking container 100 is covered with the lid 21 while facing upward. Then, gas is blown out from the cleaning nozzle 30 provided on the side facing the inner surface of the baking container 100 to blow away foreign matter attached to the inner surface of the baking container 100. The blown-off foreign matter is discharged from the dust collection port 51 of the lid 21 by the suction mechanism 50. This cleaning device 10 does not require a mechanism for turning the baking container 100 upside down. In addition, damage to the baking container 100 when it is turned upside down can be prevented, and the frequency of replacing the baking container 100 can be reduced.

[0032] 2, the cleaning device 10 includes a plurality of cleaning nozzles 30. By including a plurality of cleaning nozzles 30, gas can be sprayed at a time to a plurality of locations on the inner surface of the firing container 100, and for example, the bottom surface 100a and the side wall 100b of the firing container 100 can be cleaned simultaneously. Therefore, the inner surface of the firing container 100 can be cleaned efficiently.

[0033] 2, the cleaning device 10 includes a gas supply pipe 41 provided in the center of the lid 21, and branch pipes 46b and 46c branching from the gas supply pipe 41 and provided with a cleaning nozzle 30. The branch pipes 46b and 46c branching from the gas supply pipe 41 allow the cleaning nozzle 30 to be directed in multiple directions toward the inner surface of the firing container 100. This allows the inner surface of the firing container 100 to be cleaned efficiently.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, at least one of the cleaning nozzles 30b, 30c is attached to a hose capable of changing the direction of gas ejection. The cleaning nozzles 30b, 30c may be attached to a metal tube capable of changing the direction of gas ejection or a metal tube with a fixed shape. This allows the position at which the cleaning nozzle 30 is directed to the inner surface of the baking container 100 to be adjusted. Even if the baking container 100 to be cleaned is changed, the direction of the cleaning nozzle 30 can be adjusted to match the shape of the baking container 100. This improves the versatility of the cleaning device 10.

[0035] 2 further includes a drive mechanism for rotating the gas supply pipe 41 provided in the center of the lid 21. This rotates the branch pipes 46b and 46c branching from the gas supply pipe 41 and provided with the cleaning nozzles 30. The cleaning nozzles 30 are directed in sequence along the circumferential direction, and the gas is sprayed widely onto the inner surface of the firing container 100. Therefore, the inner surface of the firing container 100 can be efficiently cleaned with a small number of cleaning nozzles.

[0036] 2, a lifting mechanism 70 is provided for lifting and lowering the lid 21. The lifting mechanism 70 is configured to press the lid 21 against the peripheral portion of the opening 100h of the firing container 100. In this case, the firing container 100 is preferably placed in a predetermined position below the lid 21, which improves workability.

[0037] <Second embodiment> Fig. 4 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of a cleaning device 210 including a conveying mechanism 90. In Fig. 4, the firing container 100 is shown in cross section with the cleaning nozzle 30 inside exposed. As shown in Fig. 4, the cleaning device 210 of the second embodiment includes a conveying mechanism 90, a stopper 95, and a gripping mechanism 110 (see Fig. 5). Other than these, the cleaning device 210 may be similar to the cleaning device 10 of the first embodiment described above.

[0038] The transport mechanism 90 is for transporting the firing container 100. In this embodiment, the transport mechanism 90 includes a plurality of transport rollers 91 as a transport device. The transport rollers 91 may be cylindrical rollers. The plurality of transport rollers 91 are aligned in height so as to support the firing container 100. The plurality of transport rollers 91 are arranged on the transport path 92 along the transport direction at a predetermined pitch. It is preferable that the transport rollers 91 have a strength sufficient to prevent damage even when the lid 21 is lowered by the lifting mechanism 70 and pressed with a predetermined force. From this viewpoint, it is preferable to use, for example, a ceramic roller or a metal roller as the transport roller 91.

[0039] The stopper 95 is for preventing the movement of the firing container 100 at a predetermined position of the conveying mechanism 90. Specifically, the stopper 95 stops the firing container 100 conveyed by the conveying rollers 91 at a predetermined position corresponding to the point where the lid 21 descends. The stopper 95 includes a shaft 97 that supports the stopper body 96, and an elevator 98 that raises and lowers the stopper body 96 through the shaft 97. The stopper body 96 is a flat plate-shaped member extending in the depth direction (Y direction in FIG. 5), and is configured to protrude from the gap between the multiple conveying rollers 91 at a predetermined position corresponding to the position where the lid 21 descends. At this time, the upper end of the stopper body 96 protrudes so as to be located above the conveying rollers 91.

[0040] The lifting device 98 is a device that lifts and lowers the shaft 97, and is configured with, for example, an air cylinder. In this embodiment, the shaft 97 is attached to an air cylinder that serves as the lifting device 98. The shaft 97 supports the lower end of the stopper body 96, and passes through the conveying path 92 in the vertical direction.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of a cleaning device 210 including a gripping mechanism 110. As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the gripping mechanism 110 includes a gripping member 111 and an arm portion 112. The gripping member 111 is configured to be able to grip the firing container 100. The gripping member 111 may be made of metal, resin, ceramic, or the like. The gripping member 111 is formed of a metal material such as stainless steel, for example. The gripping member 111 includes a first gripping member 111a and a second gripping member 111b provided at a position facing the first gripping member 111a. The first gripping member 111a and the second gripping member 111b are arranged in the left-right direction (Y direction in FIG. 5) as shown in FIG. 5. Here, the first gripping member 111a is provided on the first arm portion 112a. Here, the second gripping member 111b is provided on the second arm portion 112b.

[0042] The first gripping member 111a and the second gripping member 111b grip the firing container 100. Specifically, the firing container 100 is gripped by the first gripping surface 111e of the first gripping member 111a and the second gripping surface 111f of the second gripping member 111b. Although not particularly limited, a protective member may be provided on the surfaces of the first gripping surface 111e and the second gripping surface 111f. The protective member may be, for example, a ceramic coating containing a ceramic component.

[0043] The cleaning device 210 of the second embodiment includes a transport mechanism 90, a stopper 95, and a gripping mechanism 110. In the cleaning device 210, as shown in FIG. 4, the baking container 100 is transported from the rear side to the front side by a plurality of transport rollers 91, and is stopped at a predetermined position by the stopper 95. Specifically, when the piston rod of the air cylinder as the lifting device 98 is pushed out, the stopper 95 moves upward. This allows the baking container 100 transported by the transport rollers 91 to be stopped at a predetermined position. Next, the gripping mechanism 110 fixes the baking container 100 that has reached a predetermined position at that position. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the baking container 100 reaches a predetermined position, a pair of side walls 100b of the baking container 100 are configured to be gripped by the first gripping member 111a and the second gripping member 111b. Then, when the firing container 100 is stopped at a predetermined position by the stopper 95 and the gripping mechanism 110, the lid 21 is lowered by the lifting mechanism 70, and the firing container 100 is closed by the lid 21.

[0044] When cleaning of the baking container 100 is completed, the gripping members 111 open in the left-right direction to open the baking container 100. In addition, the piston rod of the cylinder serving as the lifting device 98 is pushed down, so that the upper end of the stopper body 96 of the stopper 95 moves below the conveying roller 91. As a result, the baking container 100 that has been cleaned can be conveyed by the conveying mechanism 90, and is suitably conveyed to the next process. Therefore, the cleaning device 210 having such a configuration can be suitably incorporated into the baking system 1 described above.

[0045] 4, the cleaning device 10 further includes a transport mechanism 90 for transporting the baking container 100 and a stopper 95 for placing the baking container 100 at a predetermined position. By including the transport mechanism 90, cleaning by the cleaning device 10 can be suitably performed even in a configuration in which the baking containers 100 are continuously transported, such as the baking system 1.

[0046] 5, a gripping mechanism 110 is provided to grip a pair of side walls 100b of the firing container 100. This allows the firing container 100 transported by the transport mechanism 90 to be suitably fixed at a predetermined position for cleaning.

[0047] Although the detailed description has been given above with reference to specific embodiments, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the disclosure herein may be modified in various ways, and each component or each process mentioned herein may be omitted or combined as appropriate, provided that no particular problems arise.

[0048] For example, the cleaning device may have a receiving portion that is pressed against the bottom surface of the baking container. The receiving portion is disposed upstream of the stopper and can move the baking container above the conveying mechanism. This can prevent a load from being applied to the conveying mechanism even when, for example, the lid is pressed against the baking container.

[0049] The technology disclosed herein includes the following items 1 to 10. The following items 1 to 10 are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0050] Item 1 relates to a cleaning device for a baking container. The cleaning device in item 1 is A lid for covering the opening of a bottomed firing container having an open top; At least one cleaning nozzle provided in the center of the lid, on the side opposite to the bottom surface of the baking container; a gas supply mechanism for supplying gas to the cleaning nozzle; A dust collection port provided in the lid; a suction mechanism for drawing in gas inside the firing container through the dust collection port; It is equipped with:

[0051] Item 2 is the cleaning device according to item 1, The cleaning nozzle is provided in plurality.

[0052] Item 3 is the cleaning device according to item 2, A gas supply pipe provided in the center of the lid; a branch pipe branched from the gas supply pipe and provided with the cleaning nozzle; It is equipped with:

[0053] Item 4 is the cleaning device according to item 2 or 3, At least one of the plurality of cleaning nozzles is attached to a hose capable of changing the direction in which gas is ejected.

[0054] Item 5 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 2 to 4, The gas supply system further includes a drive mechanism for rotating the gas supply pipe.

[0055] Item 6 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 1 to 5, A seal member is provided on the underside of the lid at a portion that is pressed against the peripheral edge of the opening of the firing container.

[0056] Item 7 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 1 to 6, A lifting mechanism is provided for lifting and lowering the lid.

[0057] Item 8 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 1 to 7, The lifting mechanism is configured to press the lid against a peripheral edge of the opening of the firing vessel.

[0058] Item 9 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 1 to 8, A conveying device for conveying the firing container; The firing vessel further includes a stopper for placing the firing vessel at a predetermined position.

[0059] Item 10 is a cleaning device according to any one of items 1 to 9, A gripping mechanism is provided for gripping a pair of side walls of the firing container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Firing system 10, 210 Cleaning equipment 21 Lid 22 Sealing material 25 Feeding device 26 Firing furnace 27 Removal device 30 Cleaning nozzle 40 Gas supply mechanism 41 Gas supply pipe 46 Branch Pipe 50 Suction mechanism 51 Dust collection port 60 Drive Mechanism 70 Lifting mechanism 90 Conveyor mechanism 95 Stopper 100 Baking container 100a Bottom 100b side wall 100h opening 110 Gripping mechanism 200 Control device

Claims

1. A cleaning device for cleaning a bottomed baking container having an open top, comprising: A lid configured to cover the opening of the firing container and having a through hole in the center; A dust collection port provided in the lid; a suction mechanism for drawing in gas inside the firing container through the dust collection port; a lift table disposed above the lid and facing the lid, and connected to the lid so that the lid moves up and down in conjunction with the lift table; a holding mechanism including a bearing attached to a central portion of the lift table; a gas supply pipe rotatably attached to a central portion of the lift table via the bearing and extending below the lid through a through-hole of the lid; at least one cleaning nozzle attached to the gas supply pipe below the lid; a cover attached between the through hole of the lid and the holding mechanism so as to cover the through hole of the lid above the lid; a gas supply device connected to the gas supply pipe via a rotary joint; A drive mechanism that rotates the gas supply pipe; Equipped with Cleaning device for firing vessels.

2. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a seal member having cushioning properties is provided on the underside of the lid at a portion that is pressed against a peripheral portion of the opening of the baking container.

3. 3. The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the sealing member is a silicone sponge.

4. Further, a cylinder mechanism for raising and lowering the lift table is provided, 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder mechanism is configured such that the lift table is raised by pushing out a piston and the lift table is lowered by retracting the piston.

5. A conveying device for conveying the firing container; A stopper for placing the firing container in a predetermined position; A gripping mechanism that grips a pair of side walls of the firing container; a guide for guiding the lifting table so that the lid is pressed against the peripheral portion of the opening of the firing container placed at the predetermined position by the stopper; The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising:

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