Fluidized bed equipment cleaning equipment

Abstract

To provide a cleaning device that can effectively clean an interior of a treatment container of a fluidized bed device, while reducing cleaning time and a quantity of cleaning liquid needed.SOLUTION: A cleaning device 10 includes: a cleaning container 10a that, when cleaning an interior of a treatment container, is detachably connected to a lower container and a fluid container, replacing a raw material container; and a cleaning robot 10b stored in the cleaning container 10a. The cleaning container 10a is equipped with a cart 10c so as to be freely movable on a floor surface. The cleaning robot 10b is a vertical articulated robot and operates a robot arm 10b2 to allow the cleaning nozzle 10b3 to move to any position within a three-dimensional space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for fluidized bed apparatus used in granulating, coating, drying, etc. powders and granules in various fields such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, food manufacturing, and agricultural chemical manufacturing. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, a fluidized bed apparatus performs processes such as granulation, coating, and drying while suspending and fluidizing powder and granular material in a processing vessel by a processing gas introduced from the bottom of the processing vessel to form a fluidized bed. This type of fluidized bed apparatus includes apparatuses that involve tumbling, jetting, and stirring of powder and granular particles (these are called combined fluidized bed apparatuses), and typical examples include a tumbling fluidized bed apparatus in which a rotor is disposed at the bottom of the processing vessel, and a Wurster type fluidized bed apparatus in which a draft tube (inner tower) is installed inside the processing vessel.

[0003] For example, in fluidized bed equipment used in pharmaceutical and food manufacturing, thorough cleaning of the processing vessel after processing powder and granular materials is required to prevent the introduction of foreign matter and contamination with other products. While manual cleaning was previously the norm for this cleaning process, particularly in large-scale equipment, it required working at heights within the processing vessel, which was time-consuming and could result in workers being exposed to cleaning fluid during the cleaning process, posing safety and health issues. Therefore, the current mainstream practice is to install cleaning nozzles inside the processing vessel and spray high-pressure cleaning fluid from the cleaning nozzles to clean the inside of the processing vessel. These cleaning nozzles often consist of both a fixed cleaning nozzle located at a predetermined position inside the processing vessel and a two-dimensional mobile cleaning nozzle that can move two-dimensionally, either vertically or horizontally, within the processing vessel. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below describes a process vessel with both a fixed cleaning nozzle installed at the bottom and a mobile cleaning nozzle that can move vertically within the processing vessel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-318945 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Stationary cleaning nozzles have a limited area where they can spray cleaning liquid. Furthermore, two-dimensionally movable cleaning nozzles have limited freedom of movement. Therefore, even if both stationary and two-dimensionally movable cleaning nozzles are used, a long cleaning time is required to effectively clean the inside of the processing vessel, i.e., to ensure that no uncleaned or insufficiently cleaned areas remain inside the vessel. This not only results in poor work efficiency, but also in a large amount of cleaning liquid being used.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device that can effectively clean the inside of a treatment vessel of a fluidized bed apparatus with a shorter cleaning time and with a shorter amount of cleaning liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a fluidized bed apparatus that performs at least one of granulation, coating, and drying processes while suspending and fluidizing powder or granular material within a processing vessel using a processing gas, the processing vessel including a lower vessel to which the processing gas is supplied from a gas supply source, a raw material vessel that is detachably connected to the upper part of the lower vessel and that contains the powder or granular material to be processed, a fluidization vessel that is detachably connected to the upper part of the raw material vessel and that fluidizes the powder or granular material due to the processing gas, and a filter vessel that is disposed above the fluidization vessel and that contains a filter for solid-gas separation.The cleaning device for a fluidized bed apparatus is characterized in that when cleaning the inside of the processing vessel, the cleaning vessel is detachably connected to the lower vessel and the fluidization vessel in place of the raw material vessel, and the cleaning robot is housed in the cleaning vessel, and the cleaning robot is equipped with a cleaning nozzle that can spray a cleaning liquid, and a robot arm that holds the cleaning nozzle and is capable of moving the cleaning nozzle to any position in three-dimensional space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the cleaning device of the present invention, the inside of a treatment vessel of a fluidized bed apparatus can be effectively cleaned with a shorter cleaning time and with a shorter amount of cleaning liquid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a fluidized bed apparatus to which a cleaning device according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fluidized bed apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaning device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 and 2 show the overall configuration of a fluidized bed apparatus to which the cleaning device according to this embodiment is applied. Generally, a fluidized bed apparatus includes a processing vessel that performs at least one of granulation, coating, and drying processes while suspending and fluidizing powder and granules with a processing gas. The processing vessel 1 of the fluidized bed apparatus to which the cleaning device according to this embodiment is applied includes a lower vessel 2 to which a processing gas is supplied from a gas supply source (not shown), a raw material vessel 3 detachably connected to the upper part of the lower vessel 2 and containing the powder and granules to be processed, a fluidization vessel 4 detachably connected to the upper part of the raw material vessel 3 and containing the powder and granules suspended and fluidized by the processing gas, and a filter vessel 5 detachably connected above the fluidization vessel 4 and containing a filter 5a for solid-gas separation. The upper end of the lower vessel 2 and the lower end of the raw material vessel 3, the upper end of the raw material vessel 3 and the lower end of the fluidization vessel 4, and the upper end of the fluidization vessel 4 and the lower end of the filter vessel 5 are detachably connected via sealing members and appropriate fastening means such as fasteners.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the lower vessel 2 and the filter vessel 5 are attached to left and right support columns 7a and 7b, respectively, and the treatment vessel 1 is supported by the support columns 7a and 7b. The flow vessel 4 is rotatably attached to the support column 7a and is detachably fixed to the support column 7b with a locking means 7b1. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, auxiliary support columns 8 are attached to the support columns 7a and 7b. During cleaning or maintenance, the locking means 7b1 can be released to remove the flow vessel 4 from the support column 7b, and the flow vessel 4 can be rotated horizontally around the support column 7a, allowing the flow vessel 4 to be moved to the side of the lower vessel 2 and the filter vessel 5.

[0013] 2, the interior of the lower container 2 serves as an air supply chamber, and an air supply duct 2a and an air supply damper 2b are connected to the lower container 2. The lower container 2 is also provided with a drain port 2c for the cleaning liquid (not shown).

[0014] The raw material container 3 has a conical cylindrical shape with a diameter that gradually decreases downward, and a gas dispersion plate (perforated plate or mesh net) 3a is attached to its bottom. The powder and granular material contained in the raw material container 3 is supported by the gas dispersion plate 3a and is blown up by the treatment gas that is ejected through the gas dispersion plate 3a. In addition, a cart 3b is attached to the raw material container 3 so that it can be freely moved on the floor surface.

[0015] The fluidizing vessel 4 has a cylindrical shape or a conical shape whose diameter gradually decreases downward (in this example, a conical shape). In this embodiment, the fluidizing vessel 4 is provided with a spray nozzle 4a that sprays a spray liquid (binder liquid or film material liquid). The powder and granular material floating and flowing inside the fluidizing vessel 4 is sprayed with the spray liquid from the spray nozzle 4a.

[0016] The space above the filter 5a in the filter container 5 serves as an exhaust chamber, to which an exhaust duct 5b, a duster damper 5c, and an exhaust damper 5d are connected.

[0017] The filter (bag filter) 5a is detachably attached to a hanging ring 5a1 and suspended inside the filter container 5 by a wire 5e, which is connected to a dust removal cylinder 5g via a separation cylinder 5f. The wire 5e can be wound up and rewound by a winch 5h attached to the support. Fine powder adhering to the filter 5a can be removed from the filter 5a and returned to the fluidized bed of powder and granules by operating the separation cylinder 5g and shaking the filter 5a. During cleaning or maintenance, the separation cylinder 5f can be operated to detach the filter 5a from the dust removal cylinder 5g, and the wire 5e can be rewound by the winch 5h, allowing the filter 5a to be lowered.

[0018] Powder and granular material as the material to be processed contained in raw material container 3 is supplied into lower container 2 and blown up by the processing gas ejected through gas dispersion plate 3a, causing it to float and flow within fluidized container 4. Then, spray liquid (binder liquid, membrane material liquid) is sprayed from spray nozzle 4a toward this fluidized bed of powder and granular material. The powder and granular particles are wetted by the spray liquid sprayed from spray nozzle 4a, for example, a mist of membrane material liquid, and at the same time, the solid components contained in the membrane material liquid adhere to the surfaces of the powder and granular particles, dry and solidify, and form a coating layer on the surfaces of the powder and granular particles (coating). Alternatively, the powder and granular particles are wetted by the spray liquid sprayed from spray nozzle 4a, for example, a mist of binder liquid, and adhere and agglomerate, then dry and grow into particles of a predetermined diameter (granulation).

[0019] The treatment gas that has caused the powder and granular material to suspend and fluidize within the fluidized vessel 4 rises within the fluidized vessel 4 and enters the filter vessel 5, where it is separated into solid and gas by the filter 5a and enters the exhaust chamber above the filter vessel 5. It is then exhausted to the outside of the treatment vessel 1 through the exhaust duct 5b connected to the exhaust chamber.

[0020] 3 to 5 show a cleaning device 10 used to clean the processing vessel 1 in the above-mentioned fluidized bed apparatus. This cleaning device 10 includes a cleaning vessel 10a that is detachably connected to the lower vessel 2 and the fluidizing vessel 4 in place of the raw material vessel 3 when cleaning the inside of the processing vessel 1, and a cleaning robot 10b housed in the cleaning vessel 10a.

[0021] The cleaning container 10a has a conical cylindrical shape similar to the raw material container 3, and a mounting base 10a1 for mounting the cleaning robot 10b is fixed to its bottom. The mounting base 10a1 has one or more communication ports that penetrate vertically. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the mounting base 10a1 is configured in a cross shape in a plan view, and the spaces between the four legs of the cross each serve as communication ports 10a2. In addition, a cart 10c is attached to the cleaning container 10a so that it can be freely moved on the floor surface.

[0022] The cleaning robot 10b is primarily comprised of a base 10b1 attached to the center of a mounting base 10a1, a robot arm 10b2 rotatably attached to the base 10b1, and a cleaning nozzle 10b3 attached to the tip of the robot arm 10b2. In this embodiment, the cleaning robot 10b is an articulated robot, such as a vertical articulated robot, and the cleaning nozzle 10b3 can be moved to any position in three-dimensional space by operating the robot arm 10b2. The operation of the cleaning robot 10b is controlled by a control panel 10b4 attached to the frame of the cart 10c. Although not shown, a liquid supply port is provided on the side of the cleaning container 10a, which is connected to a cleaning liquid hose of the cleaning nozzle 10b3. A cleaning liquid supply hose connected to a cleaning liquid supply source such as a cleaning liquid pressure pump is connected to this liquid supply port.

[0023] An example of a work process for cleaning the inside of the processing vessel 1 using the cleaning apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0024] First, the raw material container 3 is disconnected from the lower container 2 and the fluidizing container 4, and then the raw material container 3 is removed from the processing container 1.

[0025] Next, the connection between the flow container 4 and the filter container 5 is released, and the locking means 7b1 is released to remove the flow container 4 from the support 7b, and the flow container 4 is rotated horizontally around the support 7a and moved to the side of the filter container 5. Then, the separation cylinder 5f is operated to separate the filter 5a from the shake-off cylinder 5g, and then the winch 5e is operated to lower the filter 5a and remove it from the hanging ring 5a1.

[0026] After removing the filter 5a from the hanging ring 5a1, the winch 5e is operated to return the hanging ring 5a1 to the filter container 5. The fluidized bed 4 is then rotated horizontally to return to its original position, secured to the support 7b by the locking means 7b1, and connected to the filter container 5. The cleaning device 10 is then inserted between the lower container 2 and the fluidized bed 4, and the cleaning container 10a is connected to the lower container 2 and the fluidized bed 4. The cleaning container 10a and the raw material container 3 are compatible in terms of installation, and the connection of the cleaning container 10a to the lower container 2 and the fluidized bed 4 can be performed in the same way as the connection of the raw material container 3 to the lower container 2 and the fluidized bed 4.

[0027] After the cleaning device 10 is interposed between the lower vessel 2 and the fluidized bed vessel 4 as described above, a cleaning liquid supply hose is connected to the fluid inlet of the cleaning vessel 10a, and the cleaning device 10 is connected to a power source to start the cleaning process. The cleaning process is performed according to a cleaning program pre-registered in the control panel 10b4. The cleaning program chronologically programs the operations of the cleaning robot 10, such as the start of cleaning, the movement path of the cleaning nozzle 10b3, the amount of cleaning liquid sprayed per unit time at each position of the cleaning nozzle 10b3, the spray pressure, spray direction, spray duration, and end of cleaning, so that any powder or granular material adhering to or remaining inside the processing vessel 1 (fluidized bed vessel 4 and filter vessel 5) can be thoroughly and efficiently washed away by spraying the cleaning liquid. This programming may be performed by a teaching method.

[0028] When the cleaning process begins, a high-pressure cleaning liquid (such as high-pressure cleaning water) is supplied from a cleaning liquid supply hose connected to a cleaning liquid source to the cleaning nozzle 10b3 of the cleaning robot 10b via the liquid supply port of the cleaning container 10a. The cleaning robot 10b operates the robot arm 10b2 and the cleaning nozzle 10b3 in accordance with a program signal for a cleaning program output from the control panel 10b4, and the cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 10b3 washes away any powder or granular material adhering to or remaining inside the treatment container 1 (the fluidized container 4 and the filter container 5). The cleaning liquid used to clean the treatment container 1 (the fluidized container 4 and the filter container 5) flows down through the communication port 10a2 of the mounting base 10a1 of the cleaning container 10a, accumulates in the lower container 2, and is sequentially discharged from the drain port of the lower container 2. During this process, the interior of the lower container 2 is also cleaned with the cleaning liquid. The robot arm 10b2 may be operated to insert the cleaning nozzle 10b3 into the lower vessel 2 through the communication port 10a2 of the mounting base 10a1, and the interior of the lower vessel 2 may be cleaned with the cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 10b3.

[0029] The cleaning robot 10b in this embodiment is an articulated robot, for example, a vertical articulated robot, and can move the cleaning nozzle 10b3 to any position in three-dimensional space by operating the robot arm 10b2, thereby thoroughly and efficiently cleaning the inside of the processing vessel 1. Therefore, compared to conventional methods, the inside of the processing vessel 1 can be effectively cleaned with a shorter cleaning time and a shorter amount of cleaning liquid.

[0030] After the cleaning with the cleaning liquid is completed, an air hose leading to a compressed air source may be connected to the liquid supply port of the cleaning container 10a, and compressed air may be ejected from the cleaning nozzle 10b3 while operating the robot arm 10b2 of the cleaning robot 10b, thereby purging droplets of the cleaning liquid remaining in the processing container 1. A so-called two-fluid nozzle may also be used as the cleaning nozzle 10b3.

[0031] Solid components of the powder or spray liquid may adhere firmly to the inside of the fluidized bed container 4, where the powder or granular material floats and flows. Such deposits may not be sufficiently washed away by cleaning with the cleaning nozzle 10b3 alone. In such cases, in addition to cleaning with the cleaning nozzle 10b3, scrubbing cleaning with a scrubbing jig can be performed. This scrubbing cleaning involves holding a scrubbing jig equipped with a scrubbing material such as a sponge or cleaning cloth at the tip of the robot arm 10b2 of the cleaning robot 10b, and scrubbing the deposits from the inner surface of the fluidized bed container 4 with the scrubbing material while moving the scrubbing jig by operating the robot arm 10b2. This scrubbing cleaning can be incorporated into at least one of the pre-, intermediate, and post-cleaning steps of cleaning with the cleaning nozzle 10b3. The cleaning nozzle 10b3 and the scrubbing jig may be replaced with respect to the robot arm 10b2 by removing the cleaning device 10 from the lower vessel 2 and the flow vessel 4, or a holder for holding the cleaning nozzle 10b3 and the scrubbing jig may be provided on the mounting base 10a1 of the cleaning vessel 10a, and with the cleaning device 10 attached to the lower vessel 2 and the flow vessel 4, the robot arm 10b2 may be operated to place one of the cleaning nozzle 10b3 and the scrubbing jig into the holder and remove the other from the holder and hold it at the tip of the robot arm 10b2. Alternatively, both the cleaning nozzle 10b3 and the scrubbing jig may be held at the tip of the robot arm 10b2, and the cleaning nozzle 10b3 and the scrubbing jig may be used selectively by operating the robot arm 10b2.

[0032] After the cleaning of the inside of the processing vessel 1 is completed, cleaning validation using a wiping jig may be performed. In this cleaning validation, the wiping jig with a wiping cloth attached is held at the tip of the robot arm 10b2 of the cleaning robot 10b, and the wiping jig is moved by operating the robot arm 10b2 while wiping the inner surface of the processing vessel 1 with the wiping cloth of the wiping jig, and it is confirmed whether the inside of the processing vessel 1 has been properly cleaned based on the presence or absence of adhesions on the wiping cloth and the degree of adhesion.

[0033] Furthermore, cleaning confirmation (cleaning validation) may be performed using an optical sensor after the cleaning of the inside of the processing vessel 1 is completed. In this cleaning confirmation, the optical sensor is held at the tip of the robot arm 10b2 of the cleaning robot 10b, and while the robot arm 10b2 is operated to move the optical sensor, it is confirmed whether the cleaning of the inside of the processing vessel 1 has been performed correctly based on image data of the inside of the processing vessel 1 acquired by the optical sensor.

[0034] In addition, the cleaning robot 10b may be configured to hold a required disassembly jig at the tip of the robot arm 10b2, and disassemble (remove) and assemble (install) parts, etc. at required locations of the processing vessel 1 while moving the disassembly jig by operating the robot arm 10b2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Processing container 2 Lower vessel 3 Raw material container 4. Flow container 5 filter container 5a filter 10 Cleaning equipment 10a Cleaning container 10b Cleaning robot 10b2 Robot arm 10b3 Cleaning nozzle

Claims

[Claim 1] A fluidized bed apparatus for performing at least one of granulation, coating, and drying processes while suspending and fluidizing powder or granular material in a processing vessel using a processing gas, the processing vessel including a lower vessel to which the processing gas is supplied from a gas supply source, a raw material vessel detachably connected to the upper part of the lower vessel and containing powder or granular material to be processed, a fluidization vessel detachably connected to the upper part of the raw material vessel and causing the powder or granular material to fluidize due to the processing gas, and a filter vessel disposed above the fluidization vessel and containing a filter for solid-gas separation, a cleaning container detachably connected to the lower container and the flow container in place of the raw material container during cleaning of the inside of the processing container; and a cleaning robot housed in the cleaning container; the cleaning robot includes a cleaning nozzle capable of spraying a cleaning liquid, and a robot arm that holds the cleaning nozzle and can move the cleaning nozzle to any position in a three-dimensional space; the cleaning container has a mounting base at its bottom for mounting the cleaning robot; The cleaning device for a fluidized bed apparatus is characterized in that the mounting base is provided with a communication port penetrating in the vertical direction, and the cleaning nozzle can be inserted into the lower vessel through the communication port by operating the robot arm.

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