Mold for extruding flexible tubes and flexible tube manufacturing device

Abstract

To provide a mold capable of shortening a length of a portion where resins before and after switching mixes together when switching a resin to be extruded onto a surface of a braid wire, and an apparatus of manufacturing a flexible tube using the same.SOLUTION: A mold for extrusion molding a flexible tube comprises: a linear through hole for delivering a braid wire inserted from one end, from the other end; a first resin supply channel connected to the through hole and having a channel parallel to a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the through hole in a portion within a predetermined extent from a connection point between itself and the through hole; and a second resin supply channel connected to the through hole at one end side of the through hole than the connection point between the first resin supply channel and the through hole, and having a channel parallel to the plane in a portion within a predetermined extent from a connection point between itself and the through hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mold for extrusion molding a flexible tube in which the outer surface of a braided wire is coated with resin, and to a flexible tube manufacturing apparatus using the mold. [Background technology]

[0002] In medical institutions, tubular medical devices called catheters are used to inject medicinal solutions, contrast agents, etc. into specific locations within a patient's body, or to extract bodily fluids, etc. Because these catheters are inserted into the body through curved blood vessels, the distal portion of the catheter is required to be flexible so that it can easily bend along the curved portion of the blood vessel without damaging the blood vessel. On the other hand, the portion of the catheter that is not inserted into the body is required to have appropriate rigidity so that the catheter can be easily manipulated. However, some blood vessels have sharp bends, and a catheter is required that can bend at the boundary between the flexible and rigid portions to follow these sharp bends.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a catheter molding device that forms an outer layer tube made of two layers, a first resin and a second resin, by extrusion molding onto a braided layer. The catheter molding device described in Patent Document 1 makes it possible to change the thickness ratio between the inner layer and the outer layer that make up the outer layer tube by adjusting the ratio between the flow rate of the first resin extruded from the first extruder and the flow rate of the second resin extruded from the second extruder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2005 / 120804 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, by using the catheter molding device described in Patent Document 1 and switching the supply of the first resin and the second resin, it is possible to form an outer layer tube molded from a flexible resin and an outer layer tube molded from a harder resin adjacent to each other.

[0006] However, even if the resin supplied to the mold is switched from the first resin to the second resin, the supply of the first resin does not immediately stop because pressure remains in the first resin in the flow path of the first resin, and the first resin in the flow path of the first resin continues to be extruded.In addition, it has been confirmed that for a while after the extrusion of the second resin begins, the second resin pulls out the first resin remaining in the flow path of the first resin.

[0007] The resin flow path needs to be provided around the entire circumferential surface of the mold so that the resin can be supplied simultaneously to the entire outer surface of the braided layer. Because the mold in Patent Document 1 has a conical shape (forward tapered shape), the volume of the resin flow path provided on the outer surface of the mold is large, and a large amount of the first resin is extruded after switching the resin. Therefore, with the molding device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to shorten the length of the portion molded with a mixed resin of soft and hard resins, and it is not suitable for manufacturing a catheter that can be sharply bent at the boundary between the soft and hard resins.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mold that can shorten the length of the portion where the resins before and after switching are mixed when switching the resin to be extruded onto the surface of the braid wire, and a flexible tube manufacturing device using the mold. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The mold for extrusion molding a flexible tube according to the present invention comprises a linear through hole through which a braid wire inserted from one end is fed out from the other end, a first resin supply path connected to the through hole and having a flow path parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the through hole in a portion of a predetermined range from a connection point with the through hole, and a second resin supply path connected to the through hole at a position closer to one end of the through hole than the connection point between the first resin supply path and the through hole and having a flow path parallel to the plane in a portion of a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole. The mold is configured by integrating a die including the other end of the through hole and having a first flat surface parallel to the plane on one end side of the through hole relative to the other end, a flat first plate flange having a second flat surface in close contact with the first flat surface of the die and a third flat surface parallel to the second flat surface, and a flat first spacer having a fourth flat surface in close contact with the third flat surface, the first resin supply path being configured by a first flow path penetrating the first plate flange and the first spacer and extending parallel to the through hole, and a first groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the first flow path between the first groove and the first flat surface, the second resin supply path being configured by a second flow path penetrating the first spacer and extending parallel to the through hole, and a second groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the second flow path between the first groove and the fourth flat surface. do.

[0010] The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mold, a first extruder for supplying a first resin to the mold, a second extruder for supplying a second resin different from the first resin to the mold, a first valve provided between the mold and the first extruder for controlling the supply of the first resin, and a second valve provided between the mold and the second extruder for controlling the supply of the second resin. The mold comprises a linear through hole through which a braid wire inserted from one end is fed out from the other end, a first resin supply path connected to the through hole and having a flow path parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the through hole in a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole, and a second resin supply path connected to the through hole at a position closer to the one end of the through hole than the connection point between the first resin supply path and the through hole and having a flow path parallel to the plane in a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole. The mold is configured by integrating a die including the other end of the through hole and having a first flat surface parallel to the plane on one end side of the through hole relative to the other end, a flat first plate flange having a second flat surface in close contact with the first flat surface of the die and a third flat surface parallel to the second flat surface, and a flat first spacer having a fourth flat surface in close contact with the third flat surface, the first resin supply path being configured by a first flow path penetrating the first plate flange and the first spacer and extending parallel to the through hole, and a first groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the first flow path between the first groove and the first flat surface, the second resin supply path being configured by a second flow path penetrating the first spacer and extending parallel to the through hole, and a second groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the second flow path between the first groove and the fourth flat surface. do. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mold that can shorten the length of the portion where the resins before and after switching are mixed when switching the resin to be extruded onto the surface of the braided wire, and a flexible tube manufacturing device using the mold. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a flexible tube manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1 [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of a mold according to an embodiment [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first plate flange shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first spacer shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 6] 3 is a plan view of the second plate flange shown in FIG. 2 [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second spacer shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of a mold according to Modification 1 [Figure 9] Schematic diagram of a mold according to Modification 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, an example will be described in which the present invention is applied to a manufacturing apparatus for flexible tubing in which a braid (braid) is provided on the outer surface of an inner-layer tube, which is a resin layer, and the braid is further covered with an outer-layer tube, which is a resin layer. A catheter shaft is an example of such a flexible tubing. However, a catheter shaft is merely one example of a flexible tubing, and the present invention can also be applied to manufacturing apparatuses for flexible tubing for other uses, such as flexible tubing used in endoscopes.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a flexible tube manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a mold according to an embodiment. In Fig. 3, for the sake of simplicity, the rotational positions of the components differ from those of the actual configuration.

[0015] The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus for extrusion-molding a flexible tube 7 using a resin and includes a mold 9, a first extruder 1, a second extruder 2, a third extruder 3, a fourth extruder 4, a first valve 21, a second valve 22, a third valve 23, and a fourth valve (not shown). The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100 is fixed to a predetermined stand or the like via a pedestal. Although not shown, a supply device for supplying the braided wire 6, a cooling device for cooling the extruded flexible tube 7, a take-up device for taking up the flexible tube 7, and the like are appropriately provided upstream and downstream of the mold 9. The braided wire 6 is transported from the rear to the front of the flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100. The braided wire 6 is formed by providing a braid (braid) 27 on the outer surface of a resin inner-layer tube 28 and inserting a core wire (guide wire) 29 into the hollow portion of the inner-layer tube 28 (see FIG. 3(b)). The flexible tube 7 has an outer layer tube 26 provided on the surface of the braided wire 6, and the catheter shaft can be obtained by removing the core wire 29 of the braided wire 6 after the outer layer tube 26 has been formed.

[0016] The mold 9 includes a linear through-hole 16 through which the braided wire 6 inserted from the rear end 17a is fed out from the front end 17b, a first resin supply path 11, a second resin supply path 12, a third resin supply path 13, and a fourth resin supply path 14. The first resin supply path 11, the second resin supply path 12, the third resin supply path 13, and the fourth resin supply path 14 are all connected to the through-hole 16. The first resin, the second resin, the third resin, and the fourth resin are supplied to the first resin supply path 11, the second resin supply path 12, the third resin supply path 13, and the fourth resin supply path 14 from the first extruder 1, the second extruder 2, the third extruder 3, and the fourth extruder, respectively. The configuration of the mold 9 will be described in detail below.

[0017] The first extruder 1, the second extruder 2, the third extruder 3, and the fourth extruder 4 are, for example, screw extruders that can melt resin pellets and extrude them at a constant speed from a discharge port at the tip. A first resin, a second resin, a third resin, and a fourth resin are supplied to the first extruder 1, the second extruder 2, the third extruder 3, and the fourth extruder 4, respectively. Typically, the first to fourth resins have different hardnesses. However, when the first to fourth resins are supplied to the mold 9 in the order of the first to fourth resins, the hardnesses of the resins before and after the supply are changed only need to be different, and two of the first and second resins may have the same hardness. Furthermore, the hardnesses of the first to fourth resins do not necessarily increase (or decrease) in the order of the change and can be set depending on the application site of the flexible tube 7. The molten resin extruded from the first extruder 1, the second extruder 2, the third extruder 3 and the fourth extruder 4 is supplied to the mold 9 via the first valve 21, the second valve 22, the third valve 23 and the fourth valve.

[0018] The first valve 21 is provided between the first extruder 1 and the first resin supply path 11 of the mold 9. The first valve 21 is switchable between a state in which the first extruder 1 and the first resin supply path 11 are connected to each other and a state in which the first extruder 1 and the first resin supply path 11 are blocked from communicating with each other. Similarly, the second valve 22 is provided between the second extruder 2 and the second resin supply path 12 of the mold 9. The second valve 22 is switchable between a state in which the second extruder 2 and the second resin supply path 12 are connected to each other and a state in which the second extruder 2 and the second resin supply path 12 are blocked from communicating with each other. The third valve 23 is provided between the third extruder 3 and the third resin supply path 13 of the mold 9. The third valve 23 can switch between a state in which the third extruder 3 and the third resin supply path 13 are in communication with each other and a state in which the communication between the third extruder 3 and the third resin supply path 13 is blocked. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fourth valve is provided between the fourth extruder 4 and the fourth resin supply path 14 of the mold 9. The fourth valve can switch between a state in which the fourth extruder 4 and the fourth resin supply path 14 are in communication with each other and a state in which the communication between the fourth extruder 4 and the fourth resin supply path 14 is blocked.

[0019] The first valve 21, the second valve 22, the third valve 23, and the fourth valve each include, for example, a cylindrical valve element rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis, a case that houses the valve element, and a drive device such as a motor that rotates the valve element. The valve element and the case are provided with multiple flow paths formed by grooves or through-holes. The connection state of the flow paths in the valve element and the case changes depending on the rotational position of the valve element, allowing control between a state in which the extruder is connected to the resin supply path and a state in which the extruder is blocked from the resin supply path. It is preferable that the first valve 21, the second valve 22, the third valve 23, and the fourth valve can discharge (discard) the resin supplied from the corresponding extruder to the outside when the corresponding extruder is blocked from the corresponding resin supply path. This configuration suppresses internal pressure fluctuations in the resin supplied from each extruder to the valve, thereby ensuring stable resin supply from each valve to the resin supply path of the mold 9. The first valve 21, the second valve 22, the third valve 23 and the fourth valve are not particularly limited in configuration or arrangement as long as they can control the supply of the resin as described above.

[0020] The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes a control device 20. The control device 20 includes a computer including a CPU, memory, a storage device, a communication interface, etc., and is connected to the first extruder 1, the second extruder 2, the third extruder 3, the fourth extruder, the first valve 21, the second valve 22, the third valve 23, and the fourth valve via signal lines (not shown). The control device 20 controls the operation of each of these devices connected via signal lines. The control device 20 may also control various devices arranged upstream and downstream of the flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100.

[0021] Hereinafter, an example of the configuration of the mold 9 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0022] The mold 9 of this embodiment is constructed by stacking a die 10, a first plate flange 31, a first spacer 41, a second plate flange 32, and a second spacer 42 in this order and integrating them with bolts or the like.

[0023] Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are plan views of the first plate flange, first spacer, second plate flange, and second spacer, respectively, shown in Figure 2. Figures 4(a), 5(a), 6(a), and 7(a) correspond to views seen from direction A indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, and Figures 4(b), 5(b), 6(b), and 7(b) correspond to views seen from direction B indicated by the arrow in Figure 3.

[0024] The die 10 has a through hole in the center that forms an extrusion opening (end 17b) for extruding the flexible tube 7, and a hole in the center that is closer to the end 17b than the extrusion opening (end 17b). a The through-hole 16 has a first flat surface P1 (see FIG. 3) perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through-hole 16 on the side.

[0025] 3 and 4, the first plate flange 31 is a flat member having a second flat surface P2 in close contact with the first flat surface P1 and a third flat surface P3 parallel to the second flat surface P2. The first plate flange 31 is formed with through holes 34a and 35a, a first groove 112 connected to the through holes 34a and 35a on the second flat surface P2 side, and a second groove 122 connected to the through hole 34a on the third flat surface P3 side.

[0026] 3 and 5, the first spacer 41 has a fourth flat surface P4 that is in close contact with the third flat surface P3 of the first plate flange 31, and a fifth flat surface P5 that is parallel to the fourth flat surface P4. The first spacer 41 has through holes 34b, 35b, and 36a formed therein.

[0027] The second plate flange 32 is a flat plate-shaped member having the same outer shape as the first plate flange 31, 3 and 6, the second plate flange 32 has a sixth flat surface P6 that is in close contact with the fifth flat surface P5 of the first spacer 41, and a seventh flat surface P7 that is parallel to the sixth flat surface P6. The second plate flange 32 has through holes 34c, 35c, 36b, and 37a, and 6 Flat surface P 6 a third groove 132 connected to the through holes 34c and 37a on the side; 7 Flat surface P 7 A fourth groove 142 is formed on the side of the through hole 34c, the fourth groove 142 being connected to the through hole 34c.

[0028] 3 and 7, the second spacer 42 has an eighth flat surface P8 that is in close contact with the seventh flat surface P7 of the second plate flange 32, and a ninth flat surface P9 that is parallel to the eighth flat surface P8. The first spacer 41 has through holes 34d, 35d, 36c, 37b, and 38 formed therein.

[0029] In the mold 9, the through hole 16 is formed by the through hole of the die 10, the through hole 34a of the first plate flange 31, the through hole 34b of the first spacer 41, the through hole 34c of the second plate flange 32, and the through hole 34d of the second spacer 42.

[0030] The above-mentioned first resin supply path 11, second resin supply path 12, third resin supply path 13 and fourth resin supply path 14 are formed by a combination of through holes and / or grooves provided in the die 10, first plate flange 31, first spacer 41, second plate flange 32 and second spacer 42.

[0031] The first resin supply path 11 includes a flow path (first flow path) formed by the through hole 35a in the first plate flange 31, the through hole 35b in the first spacer 41, the through hole 35c in the second plate flange 32, and the through hole 35d in the second spacer 42, and a flow path formed by the first groove 112 in the first plate flange 31, which connects the through hole 16 and the through hole 35a (first flow path) between the first plate flange 31 and the first flat surface P1 of the die 10. The flow path formed by the first groove 112 is provided in a predetermined range from the connection point between the first resin supply path 11 and the through hole 16, and is a flow path that allows the resin to flow in a direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through hole 16.

[0032] The second resin supply path 12 includes a flow path (second flow path) formed by the through hole 36a of the first spacer 41, the through hole 36b of the second plate flange 32, and the through hole 36c of the second spacer 42, and a flow path formed by the second groove 122 of the first plate flange 31, connecting the through hole 16 and the through hole 36a (second flow path) of the first spacer 41 between the first spacer 41 and the fourth flat surface P4 of the first spacer 41. The flow path formed by the second groove 122 is connected to the through hole 16 on the side closer to the end 17a of the through hole 16 than the connection point between the first resin supply path 12 and the through hole 16, and is a flow path that allows the resin to flow in a direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through hole 16 in a predetermined range from the connection point between the second resin supply path 12 and the through hole 16.

[0033] The third resin supply path 13 includes a flow path (third flow path) formed by the through hole 37a of the second plate flange 32 and the through hole 37b of the second spacer 42, and a flow path formed by the third groove 132 of the second plate flange 32, connecting the through hole 16 and the through hole 37a (third flow path) between the second plate flange 32 and the fifth flat surface P5 of the first spacer 41. The flow path formed by the third groove 132 is connected to the through hole 16 on the side closer to the end 17a of the through hole 16 than the connection point between the second resin supply path 12 and the through hole 16, and is a flow path that allows the resin to flow in a direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through hole 16 in a predetermined range from the connection point between the third resin supply path 13 and the through hole 16.

[0034] The fourth resin supply path 14 includes a path (fourth path) formed by the through hole 38 of the second spacer 42, and a path formed by the fourth groove 142 of the second plate flange 32, which path connects the through hole 16 and the through hole 38 (fourth path) between the second spacer 42 and the eighth flat surface P8. The path formed by the fourth groove 142 is connected to the through hole 16 on the side closer to the end 17a of the through hole 16 than the connection point between the fourth resin supply path 14 and the through hole 16, and is a path that causes the resin to flow in a direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through hole 16 in a predetermined range from the connection point between the fourth resin supply path 14 and the through hole 16.

[0035] A method for extrusion molding a flexible tube using the flexible tube manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. In the following description, an example will be described in which the first resin, the second resin, the third resin, and the fourth resin have increasing hardness in that order, and the resins are supplied to the through-hole 16 of the mold 9 in order from the resin with the lowest hardness.

[0036] First, the control device 20 opens the first valve 21 and closes the second valve 22, the third valve 23, and the fourth valve, and supplies the first resin extruded from the first extruder 1 to the through hole 16 of the mold 9 through the first resin supply path 11. While the first resin is being supplied to the mold 9, the braided wire 6 inserted into the through hole 16 is fed out from the extrusion port (the end 17b of the through hole 16), whereby the surface of the braided wire 6 is coated with the first resin.

[0037] Next, the control device 20 opens the second valve 22 and closes the first valve 21, the third valve, and the fourth valve, and supplies the second resin extruded from the second extruder 2 to the through hole 16 of the mold 9 through the second resin supply path 12. Immediately after the resin supplied to the mold 9 is switched from the first resin to the second resin, some of the first resin remains in the through hole 16, and therefore a portion of the outer layer tube 26 covering the braided wire 6 is formed from a mixture of the first and second resins (the shaded portion in FIG. 3( b )). Furthermore, the flow of the second resin draws some of the resin in the first groove 112 into the through hole 16. However, in this embodiment, a predetermined portion of the first resin supply path 11 from the connection with the through hole 16 is formed parallel to a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through hole 16. Therefore, compared to when a conical mold as in Patent Document 1 is used, the amount of the first resin that flows into the through hole 16 after switching can be reduced. Therefore, the length of the portion formed from the mixed resin of the first resin and the second resin can be shortened, and a flexible tube 7 can be manufactured that can be sharply bent at the connection between the portion made of the first resin and the portion made of the second resin.

[0038] Thereafter, the control device 20 similarly opens the third valve 23 and closes the first valve 21, the second valve 22, and the fourth valve, thereby supplying the third resin extruded from the third extruder 3 to the through-hole 16 of the mold 9 through the third resin supply path 13. Next, the control device 20 opens the fourth valve and closes the first valve 21, the second valve 22, and the third valve 23, thereby supplying the fourth resin extruded from the fourth extruder 4 to the through-hole 16 of the mold 9 through the fourth resin supply path 14. By performing this control, as shown in FIG. 3(b), an outer layer tube 26 having a first resin portion, a second resin portion, a third resin portion, and a fourth resin portion in this order and with gradually varying hardness can be formed. Similar to the first groove 112, the second groove 122 and the third groove 123 are formed along a plane perpendicular to the central axis Ax. Therefore, the amount of the second resin that flows into the through hole 16 after switching from the second resin to the third resin, and the amount of the third resin that flows into the through hole 16 after switching from the third resin to the fourth resin can be reduced.

[0039] As described above, by using the mold 9 according to this embodiment, when switching the resin extruded onto the surface of the braided wire 6, the length of the portion where the resins before and after switching are mixed can be shortened. As a result, a flexible tube 7 that can be bent sharply (with a large curvature) can be manufactured in the three shaded areas shown in FIG. 3(b). Furthermore, with the mold 9 according to this embodiment, resin is supplied from the flow paths formed by the first groove 112, the second groove 122, the third groove 132, and the fourth groove 142 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the through-hole 16, i.e., in the radial direction of the braided wire 6. In this case, the resin injection pressure is applied in the radial direction of the braided wire 6, allowing the molten resin for forming the outer-layer tube 26 to reach the inner-layer tube 28, thereby improving the adhesion of the outer-layer tube 26 to the braid 27.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the outer tube 26 is extruded by switching between four types of resin, but the following modifications are also possible depending on the number of bendable portions.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a mold according to the first modification.

[0042] The mold 18 shown in Figure 8(a) is composed of a die 10, a first plate flange 31, and a first spacer 41. The mold 18 has a through hole 16, a first resin supply path 11, and a second resin supply path 12. The configuration of each component and resin supply path is the same as that described above, so repeated explanation will be omitted. When configuring a flexible tube manufacturing apparatus using the mold shown in Figure 8(a), the third extruder, the fourth extruder, the third valve, and the fourth valve can be omitted.

[0043] When the resin supplied to the mold 18 shown in Figure 8(a) is switched from the first resin to the second resin and a flexible tube 7 is extrusion-molded, a flexible tube 7 having one bendable portion can be manufactured as shown in Figure 8(b).

[0044] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a mold according to the second modification.

[0045] The mold 19 shown in Fig. 9(a) is the mold 9 shown in the above embodiment, with the fourth resin supply path 14 omitted. The mold 19 can be constructed using the second plate flange 32 shown in Fig. 6, which does not have the fourth groove 142, and the second spacer 42 shown in Fig. 7, which does not have the through-hole 38. When constructing a flexible tube manufacturing device using the mold shown in Fig. 9(a), 4 The second extruder and the fourth valve can be omitted.

[0046] When the resin supplied to the mold 19 shown in Figure 9(a) is switched in the order of the first resin, the second resin, and the third resin to extrude the flexible tube 7, a flexible tube 7 having two bendable portions can be manufactured as shown in Figure 9(b).

[0047] The configurations of the first to fourth resin supply paths shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the first to fourth resin supply paths do not necessarily need to pass through the mold parallel to the through-hole through which the braid wire passes. The positions of the upstream ends of the first to fourth resin supply paths may be changed as appropriate depending on other configurations of the flexible tube manufacturing apparatus. [Industrial Applicability]

[0048] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a manufacturing device for flexible tubes such as catheter shafts used in the manufacture of medical catheters and tubes used in endoscopes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1. First Extruder 2. Second Extruder 3. Third Extruder 4. Fourth Extruder 6-braid wire 7 Flexible Tube 9. Mold 10 dice 11 First resin supply channel 12 Second resin supply channel 13 Third resin supply channel 14 Fourth resin supply channel 16 through holes 17a, 17b ends 18 Mold 19 Mold 21 First Valve 22 Second Valve 23 Third Valve 31 First plate flange 32 Second plate flange 41 First spacer 42 Second spacer 112 First Groove 122 Second Groove 132 Third Groove 142 Fourth Groove P1~P9 flat surface

Claims

1. A mold for extruding a flexible tube, a linear through-hole through which the braid wire is inserted from one end and fed out from the other end; a first resin supply path connected to the through hole, the first resin supply path having a flow path parallel to a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the through hole in a predetermined range from a connection point with the through hole; a second resin supply path that is connected to the through hole at a position closer to the one end of the through hole than a connection point between the first resin supply path and the through hole, and that has a flow path parallel to the plane in a portion within a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole, The mold is a die including the other end of the through hole and having a first flat surface parallel to the plane on the one end side of the through hole relative to the other end; a first plate flange having a flat plate shape and including a second flat surface in close contact with the first flat surface of the die and a third flat surface parallel to the second flat surface; a first spacer having a flat plate shape and a fourth flat surface that is in close contact with the third flat surface, The first resin supply path includes: a first flow path that penetrates the first plate flange and the first spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; a first groove that is provided in the first plate flange and that forms a flow path connecting the through hole and the first flow path between the first plate flange and the first flat surface; The second resin supply path includes: a second flow path that penetrates the first spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; a second groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the second flow path between the first plate flange and the fourth flat surface.

2. 2. The mold according to claim 1, further comprising a third resin supply path connected to the through hole at a position closer to the one end of the through hole than the connection point between the second resin supply path and the through hole, and having a flow path parallel to the plane in a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole.

3. the first spacer has a fifth flat surface parallel to the fourth flat surface; The mold is a second plate flange having a sixth flat surface in close contact with the fifth flat surface and a seventh flat surface parallel to the sixth flat surface; a second spacer having a flat plate shape and an eighth flat surface in close contact with the seventh flat surface, The third resin supply path is a third flow path that penetrates the second plate flange and the second spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; The mold according to claim 2, further comprising a third groove provided in the second plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the third flow path between the fifth flat surface and the third groove.

4. A flexible tube manufacturing apparatus, The mold and a first extruder that supplies a first resin to the mold; a second extruder that supplies a second resin different from the first resin to the mold; a first valve provided between the mold and the first extruder and configured to control the supply of the first resin; a second valve provided between the mold and the second extruder and configured to control the supply of the second resin; The mold is a linear through-hole through which the braid wire is inserted from one end and fed out from the other end; a first resin supply path connected to the through hole, the first resin supply path having a flow path parallel to a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the through hole in a predetermined range from a connection point with the through hole; a second resin supply path that is connected to the through hole at a position closer to the one end of the through hole than a connection point between the first resin supply path and the through hole, and that has a flow path parallel to the plane in a portion within a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole, The mold is a die including the other end of the through hole and having a first flat surface parallel to the plane on the one end side of the through hole relative to the other end; a first plate flange having a flat plate shape and including a second flat surface in close contact with the first flat surface of the die and a third flat surface parallel to the second flat surface; a first spacer having a flat plate shape and a fourth flat surface that is in close contact with the third flat surface, The first resin supply path includes: a first flow path that penetrates the first plate flange and the first spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; a first groove that is provided in the first plate flange and that forms a flow path connecting the through hole and the first flow path between the first plate flange and the first flat surface; The second resin supply path includes: a second flow path that penetrates the first spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; a second groove provided in the first plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the second flow path between the first plate flange and the fourth flat surface;

5. a third extruder that supplies a third resin different from at least one of the first resin and the second resin to the mold; a third valve provided between the mold and the third extruder and configured to control the supply of the third resin; The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mold includes a third resin supply path connected to the through hole at a position closer to the one end of the through hole than the connection point between the second resin supply path and the through hole, and having a flow path parallel to the plane in a predetermined range from the connection point with the through hole.

6. the first spacer has a fifth flat surface parallel to the fourth flat surface; The mold is a second plate flange having a sixth flat surface in close contact with the fifth flat surface and a seventh flat surface parallel to the sixth flat surface; a second spacer having a flat plate shape and an eighth flat surface in close contact with the seventh flat surface, The third resin supply path is a third flow path that penetrates the second plate flange and the second spacer and extends parallel to the through hole; The flexible tube manufacturing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a third groove provided in the second plate flange and forming a flow path connecting the through hole and the third flow path between the fifth flat surface and the third groove.

Images