Residue removal device

Abstract

To provide a residue removal device capable of removing residue from a flow path even if the material of the outer wall of the flow path is soft.SOLUTION: The residue removal device of the present invention is a residue removal device that removes residue from a flexible tube, comprising an arm portion having a branch portion that straddles the outer surface of the flexible tube and clamps the flexible tube, the arm portion comprising: a rotary pressing member at each end of the branch portion that presses the flexible tube while abutting against the outer surface of the flexible tube and rotating; a motor that is attached to the rotary pressing member by one end of a rotating shaft and rotates the rotary pressing member; and an eccentric weight that is provided on the rotary pressing member and causes the rotation of the rotary pressing member to be eccentric when the rotary pressing member is rotated by the motor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a residue removal device, and more particularly to a residue removal device that removes residue inside a tube by applying vibration to the residue. [Background technology]

[0002] Agricultural irrigation often uses groundwater, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. as its water source, and is used for cultivating crops, flowers, etc. Agricultural irrigation water is pumped up from the water source and supplied to fields, etc. through channels such as irrigation canals and aqueducts. The cross-section of the channel can be secured relatively sufficiently close to the water source, but tends to become smaller as it approaches the fields, etc. If foreign matter such as soil, dead leaves, garbage, and dead organisms gets mixed into the channel and settles and solidifies as residue within the channel, it can further narrow the cross-section of the channel and cause blockages, etc.

[0003] For this reason, work is performed periodically to remove the residue inside the flow path. For example, maintenance is performed by periodically supplying tap water through the flow path to clean the inside of the flow path. In addition, if the residue has already solidified and adhered to the inner wall of the flow path and cannot be cleaned by the above-mentioned maintenance, the part where the residue is adhered is identified and the flow path in this part is replaced.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned maintenance requires a large amount of tap water, which is costly, and replacement of the flow passage is also costly and time-consuming.

[0005] Therefore, as a method for clearing blockages in a flow path, there have been methods such as vibrating the flow path to peel off residues adhering to the inner walls of the flow path or removing residues adhering to the inner walls of the flow path before they solidify (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0006] According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, as a method for cleaning the residue in the flow path, the vibration generated by the vibrator of the vibration device is transmitted to a member that is easily transmissive of vibration and is made of a material such as aluminum or stainless steel, called a horn, by contacting the outer wall of the flow path, and the residue can be removed by propagating it into the flow path.

[0007] On the other hand, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, since ultrasonic waves are propagated by the contact between the horn and the outer wall of the flow path, when the material of the outer wall of the flow path is soft such as rubber, the vibration by the ultrasonic waves is reduced by the soft outer wall, and there is a possibility that the residue in the flow path cannot be removed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a residue removing device that can remove the residue inside the flow path even if the material of the outer wall of the flow path is soft.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] That is, the residue removing device according to the first aspect is a residue removing device for removing the residue in the flexible pipe body, and includes an arm portion having a branch portion that sandwiches the flexible pipe body across the outer side surface of the flexible pipe body. The arm portion has, at each end of the branch portion, a rotary pressing member that abuts against the outer side surface of the flexible pipe body and presses the flexible pipe body while rotating, a motor that is pivotally attached to one end side of the rotary pressing member and the rotary shaft and rotates the rotary pressing member, and an eccentric weight that is provided on the rotary pressing member and eccentrically rotates the rotary pressing member when the rotary pressing member rotates by the motor.

[0011] In a second aspect, in the residue removal device of the first aspect, the arm portion may have two branch portions, the motors may be housed in the two branch portions, and a synchronization portion may be provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft of the motor within the branch portion to synchronize the rotation of the two motors.

[0012] As a third aspect, in the residue removal device according to the second aspect, the synchronization unit may be configured by a combination of a pulley and a belt provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft.

[0013] As a fourth aspect, in the residue removal device according to the second aspect, the synchronization unit may be configured by a combination of gears provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft.

[0014] In a fifth aspect, in the residue removal device according to the first aspect, the rotary pressing member may be a disk, one end of a rotating shaft of a motor may be axially attached to the center of the disk of the rotary pressing member, and an eccentric weight may be embedded in the disk near the center.

[0015] As a sixth aspect, in the residue removal device according to the first aspect, the rotary pressing member may be provided with a plurality of protrusions on a circumferential surface thereof.

[0016] A seventh aspect may be such that, in the residue removal device according to the first aspect, it further comprises a main body portion connected to the arm portion, and a power supply portion for driving the motor is provided outside or inside the main body portion. As an eighth aspect, in the residue removal device according to the second aspect, a bent portion may be provided in a central portion of the two branch portions to bring the branch portions closer to or apart from each other. In a ninth aspect, in the residue removal device of the eighth aspect, the bending portion may have a central axis parallel to the extension direction of the arm portion at the overlapping portion of the two branch portions, and one of the branch portions may rotate around the central axis to move the branch portions closer to or farther apart. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The residue removal device according to the present disclosure is a residue removal device that removes residue inside a flexible tubular body, and is equipped with an arm portion having a branch portion that straddles the outer surface portion of the flexible tubular body and clamps the flexible tubular body, and the arm portion is equipped with a rotary pressure member at each end of the branch portion that abuts against the outer surface portion of the flexible tubular body and presses the flexible tubular body as it rotates, a motor that is axially attached to the rotary pressure member by one end side of the rotating shaft and rotates the rotary pressure member, and an eccentric weight that is equipped on the rotary pressure member and decenters the rotation of the rotary pressure member when the rotary pressure member is rotated by the motor, so that residue inside the flow path can be removed even if the outer wall of the flow path is made of a soft material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an overview of a residue removal device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view for explaining an overview of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining an overview of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a top view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a first embodiment of a synchronization unit of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a first embodiment of a synchronization unit of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a second embodiment of the synchronization unit of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the position of the eccentric weight in the stationary state of the rotary pressing member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a first usage example of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a second usage example of the residue removal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a residue removal device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a residue remover according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a residue remover according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a residue remover according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the residue removal device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a residue remover according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following describes a first embodiment (residue removal device 10: see Figs. 1 to 12), a second embodiment (residue removal device 40: see Fig. 13), a third embodiment (residue removal device 50: see Fig. 14), a fourth embodiment (residue removal device 200: see Figs. 15 to 17), and a fifth embodiment (residue removal device 250: see Fig. 18) of the residue removal device according to the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the residue removal devices according to the first to fifth embodiments (10, 40, 50, 200, 250) described below, and may be embodied in various other modified or applied examples without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims.

[0020] (Regarding the Residue Removal Device 10 According to the First Embodiment) A residue removal device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The residue removal device 10 removes residue from within the flexible tube 11 . The flexible pipe 11 is a hollow pipe for transporting liquids such as water. The cross section of the flexible pipe 11 shown in the figure is circular, but it is not limited to circular and may be rectangular or the like. Examples of liquids to be transported include water used for plant cultivation and irrigation, fuel, chemicals, detergents, etc. used in industry, and feed used in aquaculture and livestock farming, but are not limited to these.

[0021] The tubular body can form a flow path through which a liquid passes, and is, for example, a pipe, a tube, a pipe, etc. The flexible tubular body 11 is a tubular body having soft properties such as flexibility and elasticity, and may be a hard or flexible tubular body that can be bent. An example of the flexible tubular body 11 is a soft tube (pipe) made of soft polyvinyl chloride or the like.

[0022] The residue is impurities contained in the liquid that remain inside the flexible pipe 11. For example, the residue of the flexible pipe 11 used to transport irrigation water is soil, gravel, dead leaves, garbage, dead creatures, etc. that are mixed into water sources such as groundwater, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, or mixed into the water during transportation. Examples of the residue of the flexible pipe 11 used to transport fuel for industrial use include metal pieces, stone pieces, wood pieces, solidified oils and fats, solidified fuel components, etc. that are mixed into the fuel when it is stored or transported. Examples of the residue of the flexible pipe 11 used to transport feed for livestock farming include precipitated and solidified feed components (e.g., rice, corn, pasture grass, etc.).

[0023] Over time, these residues accumulate inside the flexible tubular body 11, adhering to the inner wall and solidifying. As the amount of residue increases, the cross section of the flow path of the flexible tubular body 11 shrinks, causing clogging and hindering the transport of liquid. The residue removal device 10 applies vibrations to the flexible tubular body 11 from the outside to remove the residues inside the flexible tubular body 11.

[0024] (Configuration of Residue Removal Device 10 According to First Embodiment) First, the configuration of a residue removal device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 is a perspective view for explaining the outline of the residue removal device 10 according to the first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a view from above, and Fig. 3 is a view from a side. Fig. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 10 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a top view.

[0025] The residue removal device 10 includes an arm 12 and a main body 13. The main body 13 is connected to the arm 12. The arm 12 has two branching parts 14. The arm 12 has a branching part 14 that straddles the outer surface part 11a of the flexible tube 11 and holds the flexible tube 11. The arm 12 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is bifurcated toward the tip to provide two hollow cylindrical branching parts 14. The branching part 14 is a part of the arm 12 from the bifurcated position toward the tip. The materials of the arm 12, the main body 13, and the branching part 14 have properties such as rigidity and durability that can withstand use that meets the intended purpose of the residue removal device 10, and are, for example, metal, plastic resin, wooden board, etc. The branching parts 14 in the arm 12 are not limited to two as shown in the figure, and may be provided in multiple places, such as four places.

[0026] The main body 13 includes a handle 13a in the shape of a hollow rod. The handle 13a is a portion that is held by the user of the residue removal device 10 during use. The main body 13 includes two power supply units 18 for driving a motor 16 (described later) externally (see FIG. 1, etc.). The main body 13 may house the two power supply units 18 in a hollow portion within the handle 13a. The number of power supply units 18 may be one, or three or more. The power supply unit 18 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and when charging, a power cord (not shown) is connected to the power cord socket 18a.

[0027] The arm 12 has a space 20 for disposing the flexible tubular body 11 between the two branching portions 14. The size of the space 20 can be changed appropriately according to the size of the flexible tubular body 11. The arm 12 is provided at each end 14a of the branching portion 14 with a rotary pressing member 15 that abuts against the outer surface portion 11a of the flexible tubular body 11 and presses the flexible tubular body 11 while rotating.

[0028] When rotating, the outer circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15 comes into contact with the outer side surface 11a of the flexible tubular body 11. Since the two rotary pressing members 15 come into contact with the outer side surface 11a of the flexible tubular body 11 from different angles, the movement of the flexible tubular body 11 is restricted by the contact of the rotary pressing members 15 at two points, and the flexible tubular body 11 swings in synchronization with the swing of the two rotary pressing members 15.

[0029] The arm portion 12 includes a rotary pressing member 15 and a motor 16 that is axially attached to one end of a rotary shaft 16a and rotates the rotary pressing member 15. The motors 16 are housed in the two branch portions 14, one each.

[0030] The rotary pressure member 15 includes an eccentric weight 17 that makes the rotation of the rotary pressure member 15 eccentric when the rotary pressure member 15 is rotated by the motor 16 . The rotary pressure member 15 is a disk, one end of a rotary shaft 16a of a motor 16 is axially attached to the center of the disk of the rotary pressure member 15, and an eccentric weight 17 is embedded in the disk near the center.

[0031] The area within the disk near the center does not refer to a position that coincides with the center of rotation of the disk, but rather to a position that is offset from the center of rotation, and refers to any position between the center of rotation of the disk and the outer edge of the disk. The rotary pressing member 15 is disk-shaped and is made of a hard material such as metal, ceramics, plastic resin, wooden board, or processed paper.

[0032] The eccentric weight 17 is a weight for eccentrically rotating the rotary pressing member 15 . The position of the center of gravity (not shown) of the eccentric weight 17 does not coincide with the position of the rotation axis 16a of the disk-shaped rotary pressing member 15, but is a position deviated from the position of the rotation axis 16a, and is somewhere between the rotation axis 16a and the outer peripheral edge of the rotary pressing member 15.

[0033] The eccentric weight 17 is made of a material having a different density from the material used for the rotary pressing member 15. The density of the eccentric weight 17 is higher than the density of the rotary pressing member 15. When the rotary pressing member 15 is made of a plastic resin, the eccentric weight 17 may be made of a plastic resin having a higher density than the plastic resin, a metal, or the like. When the rotary pressing member 15 and the eccentric weight 17 are made of the same material, the thickness of the eccentric weight 17 may be made thicker than the thickness of the rotary pressing member 15.

[0034] The density of eccentric weight 17 may be lower than the density of rotary pressure member 15. For example, when rotary pressure member 15 is made of metal, eccentric weight 17 may be made of a plastic resin or metal having a lower density than this metal. When rotary pressure member 15 and eccentric weight 17 are made of the same material, eccentric weight 17 may be made thinner than rotary pressure member 15.

[0035] Therefore, the eccentric weight 17 may be any weight that causes the rotation of the rotary pressing member 15 to rotate eccentrically when provided in the rotary pressing member 15. Also, instead of providing the eccentric weight 17, the rotary pressing member 15 may have a hole, a recess, or a protrusion in the disk of the rotary pressing member 15. By providing the hole, the recess, or the protrusion in the rotary pressing member 15, the position of the center of gravity of the rotary pressing member 15 is shifted from the position of the rotation shaft 16a, and the rotary pressing member 15 rotates eccentrically when it rotates.

[0036] Furthermore, the number of eccentric weights 17 is not limited to one, and multiple eccentric weights 17 may be provided in the rotary pressing member 15. In the case where the rotary pressing member 15 is provided with a hole, a recess, or a protrusion instead of the eccentric weight 17, the rotary pressing member 15 may be provided with multiple holes, recesses, or protrusions.

[0037] The rotary pressing member 15 has a circumferential surface provided with a plurality of protrusions 15a. A plurality of protrusions 15a are provided around the entire circumference of the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15. The protrusions 15a may be provided at equal intervals or at unequal intervals around the entire circumference of the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15. As the rotary pressing member 15 rotates, the protrusions 15a collide continuously with the outer surface portion 11a of the flexible tubular body 11. Vibrations are propagated from the outside of the flexible tubular body 11 due to the successive collisions of the protrusions 15a.

[0038] Instead of including the eccentric weight 17, the rotation of the rotary pressing member 15 during rotation on its axis may be eccentrically rotated by a plurality of protrusions 15a provided on the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15. The plurality of protrusions 15a do not have to be uniformly arranged at equal intervals on the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15, but may be unevenly arranged on the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member 15 so that the center of gravity of the rotary pressing member 15 is deviated from the position of the rotation shaft 16a.

[0039] The rotary pressing member 15 is detachable from the residue removal device 10, and can be changed to a rotary pressing member of another shape or another material as appropriate according to the shape, size, and material of the flexible tube 11. A residue removal device 40 according to a second embodiment and a residue removal device 50 according to a third embodiment described below are obtained by changing the rotary pressing member 15 of the residue removal device 10 according to the first embodiment to rotary pressing members 45, 55 of another shape.

[0040] A synchronization unit (21, 22) for synchronizing the rotation of the two motors 16 is provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft 16a of the motor 16 in the branching unit 14 (see Figs. 7 and 8). The synchronization units (21, 22) synchronize the rotation of the rotary shafts 16a of the two motors 16, thereby reducing the difference in frequency and amplitude between the two vibrations caused by the rotation of the two motors 16. The other end side of the rotating shaft 16a refers to one of the two ends of the rotating shaft 16a that is different from the end side where the rotary pressing member 15 is provided. Alternatively, of the two motors 16, only one of the motors 16 may be energized to generate power, and the rotating shaft 16a of the other motor 16 may be rotated by the synchronizing units (21, 22).

[0041] The synchronization unit (21, 22) may be configured by a combination of pulley 21a and belt 21b (see FIG. 7), or may be configured by a gear combination 22a (see FIG. 8). As embodiments of the synchronization unit (21, 22), the synchronization unit 21 configured by the combination of pulley 21a and belt 21b will be described below as a first embodiment (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7), and the synchronization unit 22 configured by the gear combination 22a will be described below as a second embodiment (see FIG. 8).

[0042] (First embodiment of the synchronization unit 21) A first embodiment of the synchronization unit 21 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figures 6 and 7 are partial cross-sectional views for explaining the configuration of the first embodiment of the synchronization unit 21 of the residue removal device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0043] At each of the other ends of the two rotating shafts 16a, a pulley 21a is fixed. A belt 21b is wound around these two pulleys 21a. The rotational speeds of the two rotating shafts 16a are made the same by the pulleys 21a and the belt 21b, and the rotations of the two rotating shafts 16a are synchronized. The pulley 21a is a pulley attached to the rotating shaft 16a when transmitting power to another part using the belt 21b from the rotating shaft 16a serving as a power source.

[0044] (Second Embodiment of Synchronization Unit 22) The second embodiment of the synchronization unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the second embodiment of the synchronization unit 22 of the residue removing device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0045] At each of the other ends of the two rotating shafts 16a, either the first gear 22b or the second gear 22c is fixed. The first gear 22b and the second gear 22c are interconnected by meshing with an intermediate gear 22d pivotally supported on a rotating shaft 22e. The rotating shaft 22e is provided in the arm portion 12 so as to be parallel to the two rotating shafts 16a. The rotations of the two rotating shafts 16a are synchronized by a gear combination 22a (a combination of the first gear 22b, the second gear 22c, and the intermediate gear 22d). The illustrated gear meshing forms also include the form of meshing between bevel gears (not shown).

[0046] (Regarding the Operating Principle of the Residue Removing Device 10 According to the First Embodiment) With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the functions of the residue removing device 10 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the position of the first eccentric weight 17 of the rotary pressing member 15 in a stationary state according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operating principle of the residue removing device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, among the two rotary pressing members 15 in the stationary state, the position of the first center of gravity 171a of the first eccentric weight 171 in the left first rotary pressing member 151 and the position of the second center of gravity 172a of the second eccentric weight 172 in the right second rotary pressing member 152 are the same.

[0048] That is, the distance from the first rotation axis 161a to the first center of gravity 171a of the first eccentric weight 171 is the same as the distance from the second rotation axis 162a to the second center of gravity 172a of the second eccentric weight 172.

[0049] Furthermore, when a line passing through the first center of gravity 171a and the first rotation axis 161a of the first eccentric weight 171 is defined as a first line 171c, a line passing through the second center of gravity 172a and the second rotation axis 162a of the second eccentric weight 172 is defined as a second line 172c, an x-axis passing through the first rotation axis 161a is defined as a first x-axis 171b, and an x-axis passing through the second rotation axis 162a is defined as a second x-axis 172b, a first angle 171d which is an angle formed by the first line 171c and the first x-axis 171b is equal to a second angle 172d which is an angle formed by the second line 172c and the second x-axis 172b.

[0050] Therefore, the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the first rotation pressing member 151 and the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the second rotation pressing member 152 do not cancel each other out, and the vibrations generated by the eccentric rotation of the two rotation pressing members 15 (151, 152) can be efficiently transmitted to the flexible pipe body 11.

[0051] Furthermore, since the first rotation pressing member 151 and the second rotation pressing member 152 rotate synchronously with each other, a change in the relationship between the period of the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the first rotation pressing member 151 and the period of the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the second rotation pressing member 152 is suppressed. Therefore, a deviation in the periods of the two vibrations does not occur over time, and the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the first rotation pressing member 151 and the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the second rotation pressing member 152 do not start to cancel each other out.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, since the first rotary pressing member 151 and the second rotary pressing member 152 press against the outer surface portion 11a of the flexible tube 11 from different angles to hold the flexible tube 11, the first rotary pressing member 151 and the second rotary pressing member 152 guide the movement of the flexible tube 11. Therefore, due to the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the first rotary pressing member 151 and the second rotary pressing member 152, the flexible tube 11 is given a rocking motion in the direction of arrow 11c.

[0053] Furthermore, due to the continuous collision of the first protrusion 151a of the first rotary pressing member 151 against the outer surface portion 11a of the flexible tube 11 caused by the rotation of the first rotary pressing member 151, a first propagation 111b of vibration occurs inside the flexible tube 11. Due to the continuous collision of the second protrusion 152a of the second rotary pressing member 152 against the outer surface portion 11a of the flexible tube 11 caused by the rotation of the second rotary pressing member 152, a second propagation 112b of vibration occurs inside the flexible tube 11.

[0054] The residue removing device 10 can apply a plurality of types of heterogeneous vibrations including the first propagation 111b of vibration, the second propagation 112b of vibration, and the rocking motion in the direction of arrow 11c to the flexible tube 11, so that the residues inside the flexible tube 11 can be effectively removed.

[0055] Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a usage example of the residue removing device 10 will be described. (First Usage Example of the Residue Removing Device 10 According to the First Embodiment) First, with reference to FIG. 11, a first usage example of the residue removing device 10 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the first usage example of the residue removing device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0056] As a first usage example, an example in which the residue removing device 10 is used in a plant factory for cultivating grass, flowers, vegetables, etc. will be described. The planters 30 are filled with soil and fertilizer to grow plants. The flexible pipes 11 transport nutrient solution to be supplied to each planter 30. Three planters 30 make up one section of a plant factory. Supports 31 are erected at both ends of the one section of the plant factory, and the flexible pipes 11 are installed between the two supports 31.

[0057] A first bar 32 and a second bar 33 are installed in parallel between the two supports 31 and on the upper part of the flexible tube 11. The first bar 32 suspends the residue removal device 10 by penetrating the upper part of the handle part 13a. The second bar 33 holds the residue removal device 10 by clamping the lower part of the handle part 13a.

[0058] In a plant factory of one section, one or more residue removal devices 10 are installed on a flexible pipe body 11. The residue removal devices 10 are to be appropriately installed by identifying locations on the flexible pipe body 11 where residue is likely to be generated.

[0059] There is a risk that the components of the nutrient solution flowing inside the flexible tubular body 11 will become residue and adhere to the inner wall and solidify, but the residue can be removed by vibrating and rocking the flexible tubular body 11 using the residue removal device 10.

[0060] (Second example of use according to the first embodiment) Next, a second usage example of the residue removal device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining the second usage example of the residue removal device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0061] As a second use example, an example will be described in which the residue removal device 10 is used in a large-scale plant factory that cultivates grass, flowers, vegetables, and the like. In the second use example, a total of six plant factories, each with one section, shown in the first use example, are combined in two rows and three columns to form one large-scale plant factory. In this large-scale plant factory, one or more residue removal devices 10 are installed per section.

[0062] In addition, the combination of two rows and three columns in one section of a large-scale plant factory is merely one example and is not limited to this, and the combination may be three or more rows and two or four or more columns.

[0063] In large-scale plant factories, the distance of the flexible pipe 11 becomes long, but by installing one or more residue removal devices 10 for each section, residues inside the flexible pipe 11 can be removed.

[0064] Second embodiment Next, a residue removal device 40 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 40 according to the second embodiment.

[0065] Regarding the residue removal device 40 of the second embodiment, in FIG. 13, the same parts as those of the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given the same symbols and their descriptions are omitted, and the parts that differ from the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given different symbols and will be described below. Compared to the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment, the residue removal device 40 of the second embodiment has a different shape of the rotary pressing member 45 from the rotary pressing member 15 of the first embodiment, but the other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0066] The rotary pressing member 45 according to the second embodiment has protrusions 45a on the circumferential surface. The protrusions 45a are longer in the radial direction of the rotary pressing member 45 than the protrusions 15a according to the first embodiment, and are characterized in that only five of the protrusions are formed on the circumferential surface.

[0067] Third embodiment Next, a residue removal device 50 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 50 according to the third embodiment.

[0068] Regarding the residue removal device 50 of the third embodiment, in FIG. 14, the same parts as those of the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given the same symbols and their description is omitted, and the parts that differ from the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given different symbols and are described below. Compared to the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment, the residue removal device 50 of the third embodiment has a different shape of the rotary pressing member 55 from the rotary pressing member 15 of the first embodiment, but the other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0069] The rotary pressing member 55 according to the third embodiment has protrusions 55a on the circumferential surface. Compared with the protrusions 15a according to the first embodiment and the protrusions 45a according to the second embodiment, the length of the protrusions 55a in the radial direction of the rotary pressing member 55 is longer than the protrusions 15a and shorter than the protrusions 45a. Another feature is that the number of protrusions 55a formed on the circumferential surface is small, at eight.

[0070] According to the above-described embodiment, the residue removal device 10 can impart multiple types of heterogeneous vibrations to the flexible tube 11 from outside the flexible tube 11, causing the flexible tube 11 to oscillate in the directions of the first propagation 111b, the second propagation 112b, and the arrow 11c, thereby effectively removing residues inside the flexible tube 11.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the rotary pressing member 15 is detachable from the residue removal device 10, and can be changed to a rotary pressing member of another shape as appropriate according to the shape, size, and material of the flexible tube 11.

[0072] (Regarding the Residue Removal Device 200 According to the Fourth Embodiment) A residue removal device 200 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 17. Figure 15 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 200, Figure 16 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 200, and Figure 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the residue removal device 200.

[0073] Regarding the residue removal device 200 of the fourth embodiment, in Figures 15 to 17, the same parts as those of the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given the same symbols and their descriptions are omitted, and the parts that differ from the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment are given different symbols and will be described below. The residue removal device 200 of the fourth embodiment differs from the residue removal device 10 of the first embodiment in that it is provided with a bend 206 that is provided in the center of two branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214) and brings the branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214) closer to or farther apart.

[0074] The residue removal device 200 comprises a main body portion 13 and an arm portion 212 . The main body 13 includes a handle portion 13a and a power supply portion 18, similar to the residue removal device 10. The arm portion 212 includes a first cover portion 201 and a second cover portion 202 at the tip of the handle portion 13a. The arm portion 212 includes a first branch portion 213 on the tip side of the first cover portion 201 and a second branch portion 214 on the tip side of the second cover portion 202 . The first branch portion 213 houses the first motor 161 , and the second branch portion 214 houses the second motor 162 . The bending portion 206 has a central axis 203 parallel to the extension direction of the arm portion 212 at an overlapping portion 204 of two branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214), and one of the branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214) rotates around the central axis 203 to move the branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214) closer to or farther away from each other. As can be seen from the drawing, one of the two branch portions (first branch portion 213, second branch portion 214) bends around the central axis 203.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 16, the first cover part 201 and the second cover part 202 have an overlapping part 204. In the overlapping part 204, a part of the first cover part 201 overlaps with a part of the second cover part 202 so as to sandwich the part from the outside. The central shaft 203 is installed so as to penetrate a part of the first cover part 201 and a part of the second cover part 202 in the overlapping part 204. The bending part 206 bends around the central shaft 203 as a rotation center. As shown in FIG. 16, the central shaft 203 is rotatably supported by a first bearing 205a and a second bearing 205b fixed to the inside of the second cover part 202 of the overlapping part 204. When the bending part 206 bends, the joint surfaces of the first cover part 201 and the second cover part 202 rotate around the central shaft 203 while sliding.

[0076] The first cover part 201 and the second cover part 202 house a synchronization part 220 therein. The synchronization unit 220 includes a first pulley 221 , a second pulley 222 , a third pulley 224 , a fourth pulley 225 , a first belt 227 , and a second belt 228 . The first pulley 221 is fixed to the other end side of the first rotating shaft 161a of the first motor 161. The other end side refers to the end side opposite to the tip of the first rotating shaft 161a to which the first eccentric weight 171 is attached. The second pulley 222 and the third pulley 224 are fixed to the central shaft 203 and rotate together with the central shaft 203 . The fourth pulley 225 is fixed to the other end side of the second rotating shaft 161b of the second motor 162. The other end side refers to the end side opposite to the tip of the first rotating shaft 161a to which the second eccentric weight 172 is attached. The first belt 227 is stretched between the first pulley 221 and the second pulley 222 . The second belt 228 is stretched over a third pulley 224 and a fourth pulley 225 . The second pulley 222 and the third pulley 224 are fixed to the central shaft 203 and therefore rotate at the same rotational speed. The ratio of the diameter of the second pulley 222 to the first pulley 221 is the same as the ratio of the diameter of the third pulley 224 to the fourth pulley 225.

[0077] The first motor 161 and the second motor 162 are synchronized by the synchronization unit 220. Therefore, in the residue removal device 200, similarly to the residue removal device 10, the vibrations generated by the rotation of the two motors (the first motor 161 and the second motor 162) do not cancel each other out.

[0078] Next, the operation of the residue removal device 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the residue removal device 200. As shown in FIG. 17, the residue removal device 200 adjusts the bending angle 206a of the bending portion 206 in accordance with the diameter of the flexible tube (311, 411, 511). The flexible tubes (311, 411, 511) shown in Fig. 17 have gradually increasing diameters in the order of flexible tube 311 (Fig. 17(a)), flexible tube 411 (Fig. 17(b)), and flexible tube 511 (Fig. 17(c)). Therefore, the angle 206a gradually increases in the order of Fig. 17(a), Fig. 17(b), and Fig. 17(c).

[0079] As shown in FIG. 17, the residue removal device 200 adjusts the angle 206a according to the diameter of the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511), and adjusts the angle 206a so that the first protrusion 151a of the first rotary pressing member 151 and the second protrusion 152a of the second rotary pressing member 152 contact the outer side surfaces (311a, 411a, 511a). By doing so, due to the vibration generated by the eccentric rotation of the first rotary pressing member 151 and the second rotary pressing member 152, the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511) are given a rocking motion in the direction of arrow 11c. Further, due to the continuous collision of the first protrusion 151a of the first rotary pressing member 151 against the outer side surfaces (311a, 411a, 511a) of the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511) caused by the rotation of the first rotary pressing member 151, a first propagation of vibration (312a, 412a, 512a) occurs inside the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511). Due to the continuous collision of the second protrusion 152a of the second rotary pressing member 152 against the outer side surfaces (311a, 411a, 511a) of the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511) caused by the rotation of the second rotary pressing member 152, a second propagation of vibration (312b, 412b, 512b) occurs inside the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511).

[0080] The residue removal device 300 can set an angle 206a suitable for the diameter of the flexible tubes (311, 411, 511), thereby generating a first propagation of vibration (312a, 412a, 512a), a second propagation of vibration (312b, 412b, 512b), and a rocking motion in the direction of arrow 11c, and applying a plurality of different types of vibrations from the outside of the flexible tube 11. Therefore, the internal residues can be effectively removed even for a plurality of flexible tubes with different diameters.

[0081] (Regarding the residue removal device 250 according to the fifth embodiment) With reference to FIG. 18, the residue removal device 250 according to the fifth embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the residue removal device 250. The residue removal device 250 of the fifth embodiment is a modified version of the residue removal device 200 of the fourth embodiment, and differs from the residue removal device 200 in that it has only one motor, the motor 261 is provided in the handle portion 13a, and the motor 261 drives the first rotating shaft 161a and the second rotating shaft 162a to rotate via the synchronization portion 270. Regarding the residue removal device 250 according to the fifth embodiment, in FIG. 18, the same parts as those in the residue removal device 200 according to the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted, and the parts different from those in the residue removal device 200 are given different reference numerals and are described below.

[0082] The residue removal device 250 comprises a main body portion 13 and an arm portion 260 . The main body 13 includes a handle portion 13a and a power supply portion 18, similar to the residue removal device 10. The arm portion 260 includes a first cover portion 201 and a second cover portion 202 at the tip of the handle portion 13a. The arm portion 260 includes a first branch portion 213 on the tip side of the first cover portion 201 and a second branch portion 214 on the tip side of the second cover portion 202 . The first branch portion 213 houses the first rotating shaft 161a, and the second branch portion 214 houses the second rotating shaft 161b.

[0083] The first cover part 201 and the second cover part 202 house a synchronization part 270 therein. The synchronization unit 270 includes a first pulley 221 , a second pulley 222 , a third pulley 224 , a fourth pulley 225 , a first belt 227 , and a second belt 228 . The first pulley 221 is fixed to the other end of the first rotating shaft 161a. The other end refers to the end opposite to the tip of the first rotating shaft 161a to which the first eccentric weight 171 is attached. The second pulley 222 and the third pulley 224 are fixed to the central shaft 203 and rotate together with the central shaft 203 . The fourth pulley 225 is fixed to the other end of the second rotating shaft 161b. The other end refers to the end opposite to the tip of the first rotating shaft 161a to which the second eccentric weight 172 is attached. The first belt 227 is stretched between the first pulley 221 and the second pulley 222 . The second belt 228 is stretched over a third pulley 224 and a fourth pulley 225 . The second pulley 222 and the third pulley 224 are fixed to the central shaft 203 and therefore rotate at the same rotational speed. The ratio of the diameter of the second pulley 222 to the first pulley 221 is the same as the ratio of the diameter of the third pulley 224 to the fourth pulley 225.

[0084] The rotating shaft of a motor 261 housed at the tip of the handle portion 13a is connected to the central shaft 203, and the rotating shaft of the motor 261 and the central shaft 203 rotate together. The rotation of the rotating shaft of the motor 261 is transmitted to the first rotating shaft 161a and the second rotating shaft 162a by the synchronizing unit 270, and rotates the first rotating pressure member 151 and the second rotating pressure member 152 connected to the tip end of the first rotating shaft 161a and the second rotating shaft 162a, respectively. The rotation of the first rotating pressure member 151 and the second rotating pressure member 152 is synchronized by the synchronizing unit 270.

[0085] The residue removal device 250 according to the fifth embodiment can rotate the first rotary pressure member 151 and the second rotary pressure member 152 using a single motor 261, thereby reducing the number of parts and weight compared to the case where two motors are used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10 Residue removal device 11 Flexible tube 11a Outer side 11b Propagation of vibration 111b First propagation of vibration 112b Secondary propagation of vibration 11c Arrow 12 Arm section 13 Main body 13a Handle 14 Branch 14a End 15 Rotating pressing member 151 First rotating pressing member 152 Second rotating pressing member 15a Protrusion 151a First protrusion 152a Second protrusion 15b Rotation direction 151b First rotation direction 152b Second rotation direction 16 Motor 161 First motor 162 Second motor 16a Rotation shaft 161a First rotation shaft 162a Second rotation shaft 17 Eccentric weight 171 First eccentric weight 172 Second eccentric weight 171a First center of gravity 172a Second center of gravity 17b x-axis 171b First x-axis 172b Second x-axis 171c First line 172c Second line (There may be a typo here, should it be "second line"?) 17d Angle 171d First angle 172d Second angle 18 Power supply unit 18a Power cord insertion port 20 Space 21 Synchronization unit 21a Pulley 21b Belt 22 Synchronization unit 22a Gear combination 22b First gear 22c Second gear 22d Intermediate gear 22e Rotation shaft 30 Planter 31 Support column 32 First bar 33 Second bar 40 Residue removal device 45 Rotating pressing member 45a Protrusion 50 Residue removal equipment 55 Rotating pressing member 55a Protrusion 200 Residue removal device (fourth embodiment) 201 First cover part 202 Second cover part 203 Center axis 204 Polymerization section 205a First bearing 205b No. 2 bearing 206 Bend 206a Angle 212 Arm section 213 First Branch 213a End 214 Second Branch 214a End 220 Synchronization Department 221 First pulley 222 No. 2 pulley 224 3rd pulley 225 4th pulley 227 First Belt 228 Second Belt 250 Residue removal device (fifth embodiment) 260 Arm section 261 Motor 270 Synchronization Department 311 Flexible tube 311a Outer side 312a First propagation of vibration 312b Secondary propagation of vibration 411 Flexible tube 411a External surface 412a First propagation of vibration 412b Secondary propagation of vibration 511 Flexible tube 511a Outer side 512a First propagation of vibration 512b Secondary propagation of vibration

Claims

1. A residue removal device for removing residue from within a flexible tube, comprising: an arm portion having a branch portion that straddles an outer surface portion of the flexible tube and holds the flexible tube, The arm portion is a rotary pressing member provided at each end of the branched portion and configured to rotate and press the flexible tube in contact with an outer surface of the flexible tube; a motor that is connected to the rotary pressing member by one end of a rotary shaft and rotates the rotary pressing member; an eccentric weight provided on the rotary pressure member and configured to make the rotation of the rotary pressure member eccentric when the rotary pressure member is rotated by the motor; A residue removal device comprising:

2. The arm portion has two branch portions, The motor is housed in each of the two branching portions, 2. The residue removal device according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronization unit for synchronizing rotation of the two motors, the synchronization unit being provided on the other end side of the rotation shaft of the motor within the branching unit.

3. 3. The residue removal device according to claim 2, wherein the synchronization unit is configured by a combination of a pulley and a belt provided on the other end side of the rotating shaft.

4. 3. The residue removal device according to claim 2, wherein the synchronization unit is formed by a combination of gears provided on the other end of the rotating shaft.

5. 2. The residue removal device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary pressing member is a disk, one end of the rotary shaft of the motor is axially attached to a center of the disk of the rotary pressing member, and the eccentric weight is embedded in the disk in the vicinity of the center.

6. 2. The residue removing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided on the circumferential surface of the rotary pressing member.

7. a main body portion connected to the arm portion, 2. The residue removal device according to claim 1, wherein a power supply unit for driving the motor is provided inside or outside the main body.

8. 3. The residue removal device according to claim 2, further comprising a bent portion provided in a central portion of the two branched portions to bring the branched portions closer to or farther apart from each other.

9. The bent portion has a central axis that is parallel to the extension direction of the arm portion at an overlapping portion where the two branch portions overlap, The residue removal device according to claim 8, wherein one of the branched portions rotates about the central axis so that the branched portions approach or move away from each other.

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