Patent ID: 12247560

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through embodiments of the invention; however, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the inventions set forth in the claims, and all of combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solving means of the invention, but selectively adopted configurations are included.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a pump1, As illustrated inFIG.1, the pump1according to this embodiment is provided roughly with a pump unit10that functions as a conveyance unit for conveying an article to be conveyed (hereinafter referred to as “conveyance article”), a drive control device100that controls the operation of the pump unit10and a conveyance article detection device200that detects information on the conveyance article.

The pump unit10is used to be disposed, as a single unit or as being connected in plural numbers, in the middle of an existing piping, to be disposed directly as the piping by being connected in the plural numbers, or to be connected to an outlet of a supply source of the conveyance article. In the following, explanations will be given using a case where the number of pump units10is one which is the minimum unit for the pump1to operate.

FIGS.2A to2Care cross-sectional views of the pump unit10in an axial direction and in a radial direction. As illustrated inFIGS.2A to2C, the pump unit10is provided with an outer cylinder12, an inner cylinder14disposed on an inner circumference side of the outer cylinder12so as to form a double tube with the outer cylinder12, and a pair of end rings16;16that close both ends of the outer cylinder12and of the inner cylinder14so as to form an airtight chamber V between the outer cylinder12and the inner cylinder14.

The outer cylinder12, the inner cylinder14and the end rings16;16are the minimum configuration elements that form the pump unit10.

The outer cylinder12according to this embodiment is formed as a cylindrical body made of an elastic member which allows expansion and contraction while maintaining airtightness. The outer cylinder12is formed, for example, inclusive of a rubber material and a fiber material, and so formed that, in the sectional view in the radial direction, the outer cylinder12has rubber layers and a fiber layer in which plural fiber materials are layered between the rubber layers. Each fiber forming the fiber layer has a length, for example, extending continuously from one end side to the other end side of the outer cylinder12, and disposed so as to extend along the axial direction of the outer cylinder12.

Incidentally, as the disposing form of the fibers in the outer cylinder12, the fibers are not necessarily included in the layer shape, but may be dispersedly buried in the rubber material.

For the rubber material forming the rubber layer, for example, low ammonia natural latex rubber, silicone rubber, synthesis rubber or the like may be used.

Further, for the fiber material forming the fiber layer, a high elastic fiber with a small elastic change in the axial direction is preferable. For example, a fiber having non-extensibility such as an aramid fiber, a carbon fiber, a glass fiber, a nylon, a polyamide-based fiber, a polyolefin-based fiber, a metal fiber or the like may be suitably selected and used. The fiber can be sufficiently improved in terms of its adhesiveness by performing a suitable primer treatment or a suitable surface oxidization treatment, however, it is preferable to select the fiber in accordance with the adhesivity to the rubber material.

As a form of the fiber material, any form such as filament, yarn span yarn and filament yarn), strand or the like may be used, and moreover, it is also possible to use untwisted fibers converged without having being twisted, and fibers made by twisting a plurality of numbers of these untwisted fibers. Depending on the type of the fiber, fibers of different materials of two or more types or fibers of different forms may be combined together.

The length of the fiber is not limited to the length continuing from one end side to the other end side, it may be configured such that plural fibers, which are shorter than the length in the axis direction of the outer cylinder12, are distributed continuously along the axis direction so as to reach from the one end side to the other end side.

The inner cylinder14is formed as a cylinder body made of elastic member which allows expansion and contraction while maintaining the airtightness. The inner cylinder14is formed, for example, of a rubber material. A space on the inner circumferential side of the inner cylinder14is a conveyance path S for conveying the conveyance article. For the rubber material forming the inner cylinder14, any of rubber materials, for example, the natural latex rubber, the silicone rubber, the synthesis rubber or the like, that was used for forming the outer cylinder12, may be used.

Similar to the outer cylinder12, the inner cylinder14may be formed to contain fibers, and extension toward the axial direction may be restricted in a case where the inner cylinder14is about to be expanded due to the introduction of air into the airtight chamber V.

A pair of end rings16;16are provided with cylindrical sections16A;16A, and flat disk-shape flange sections16B;16B formed at one end side of the cylindrical sections16A;16A to have a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical sections16A;16A.

On the outer circumference side of the cylindrical sections16A;16A, the inner circumference of the outer cylinder12is inserted and fixed by a not-shown fixing means so as to maintain the airtight state between the outer circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical sections16A;16A and the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder12.

On the inner circumferential side of the cylindrical sections16A;16A, each end of the inner cylinder14is inserted and fixed by a not-shown fixing means so as to maintain the airtight state between the inner circumference of the cylindrical sections16A;16A and the outer circumference of the inner cylinder14. Fixation of the inner cylinder14to the cylindrical section16A may preferably be done in such a manner that the end part of the inner cylinder14is placed as much close to end faces16t;16tof the end rings16;16.

As illustrated inFIG.2B, the flange sections16B;16B are provided with connecting sections22which allow connection of the pump units10to each other. The connecting section22is provided, for example, as a hole penetrating in a thickness direction of the flange16B, in plural numbers at equal intervals along the circumferential direction outwardly in the radial direction of the outer cylinder12. With this configuration, it is possible to connect the pump units10mutually with the use of fastening means such as bolts and nuts and to connect with piping or the like of a supply source of the conveyance article.

By closing the both ends of the outer cylinder12and of the inner cylinder14by the pair of end rings16;16in this manner, the airtight chamber V enclosed by the outer cylinder12, the inner cylinder14and the pair of end rings16;16is formed in the pump unit10.

As illustrated inFIG.2A, one end ring16is provided with a supply/discharge section24for supplying and discharging the pressurizing medium to and from the airtight chamber V.

The supply/discharge section24is provided, for example, as a hole which opens at one end thereof to the outer circumferential surface of the flange section16B, extends within the end ring16, and opens at the other end thereof between the outer cylinder12and the inner cylinder14that are fixed to the cylindrical section16A. A tube extending from a drive control device100described later is connected to the supply/discharge section24to supply and discharge the pressurizing medium to and from the airtight chamber V (SeeFIG.1).

In the pump unit10, by supplying the pressurizing medium to the airtight chamber V, the outer cylinder12expands outwardly in the radial direction and the inner cylinder14expands inwardly in the radial direction (centripetal direction). With this expansion, because the outer cylinder12is provided with the fibers extending in the axial direction, when the outer cylinder12is about to expand, the extension (expansion) in the axial direction is restrained by the fibers, and only the expansion outwardly in the radial direction is allowed and the outer cylinder12contracts in the axial direction.

Further, in the pump unit10, by discharging the pressurizing medium from the airtight chamber V, the outer cylinder12contracts inwardly in the radial direction and the inner cylinder14contracts outwardly in the radial direction (the centripetal direction) and extends in the axial direction.

Namely, the pump unit10functions, by supplying and discharging the pressurizing medium to and from the airtight chamber V formed by the outer cylinder12, the inner cylinder14and the pair of end rings16;16, as an expansion/contraction member that expands and contracts in the axial and in the radial direction as described above.

The conveyance article in the inner cylinder14of the pump unit10is pushed out toward outside of the inner cylinder14by the pressurizing force resulting from the expansion of the inner cylinder14and by the contraction toward the axial direction. That is, the airtight chamber V functions as a pressure supply chamber for applying the pressure to the conveyance article by the inner cylinder14and pushing out the conveyance article from inside the inner cylinder14.

The airtight chamber V is provided with a shaper ring30for facilitating and stabilizing the expansion of the inner cylinder14when the pressurizing medium is supplied to the airtight chamber V The shaper ring30is a ring shape member which is disposed around the axis of the inner cylinder14and its inner diameter section is made to be an elliptic shape and its outer diameter section is made to be a circular shape. By positioning the inner cylinder14within the inner diameter of the shaper ring30, the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder14correspondingly facing the short axis of the ellipse is previously made to be closer to the inner side in the radial direction than the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder14correspondingly facing the long axis of the ellipse. In other words, the shaper ring30functions as an expansion defining member that defines the shape of the inner cylinder14at the time of expansion.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the drive control device100is provided with a pressurizing medium supply unit102, a regulator104, a supply valve106, a discharge valve108and a supply/discharge control unit (supply/discharge control means)110.

The pressurizing medium supply unit102is a device that increases the pressure of the pressurizing medium to a pressure required for expansion of the pump unit10and generates the pressurizing medium, for example, a compressor may be used. In other words, by using the compressor, air in the atmosphere is generated as compressed air and can be used as the pressurizing medium.

Incidentally, the pressurizing medium is not limited to the air, but may be any gas other than the air, and not limited to the gas, but may also be liquid such as water. In the following explanations, the pressurizing medium is described as the air (compressed air).

The regulator104is a device connected to the pressurizing medium supply unit102via the tube, for reducing to a predetermined pressure the pressure of the pressurizing medium supplied from the pressurizing medium supply unit102, regulating the pressure to a certain level and supplying the regulated pressurizing medium to the pump unit10. The pressurizing medium regulated by the regulator104is supplied to the supply valve106connected to the regulator104via the tube.

The supply valve106is connected to the pump unit10and controls the supply of the pressurizing medium regulated by regulator104to the pump unit10and stoppage of the supply.

The discharge valve108is disposed between the supply valve106and the pump unit10and discharges the pressurizing medium supplied to the pump unit10. In this embodiment, the discharge valve108is configured to discharge the compressed air supplied to the pump unit10into the atmosphere.

For the supply valve106and the discharge valve108, a solenoid valve which is operated by an electrical signal may be applied, for example. By using the solenoid valve for the supply valve106and the discharge valve108, it is possible to improve a response speed of the time when expanding or contracting the pump unit10.

The supply valve106and the discharge valve108are electrically connected to the supply/discharge control unit110, and opening and closing of the valves are controlled on the basis of the signal input from the supply/discharge control unit110. In this embodiment, the supply valve106and the discharge valve108are respectively in a closed state when no signal is input, and the valves are opened when the signal is input and closed when input of the signal is stopped.

The supply/discharge control unit110is a computer which is equipped with hardware such as a CPU as an arithmetic means, a ROM and a RAM as memory means, a communication interface as an input/output means and so on, and which, as the CPU executes the program stored in the memory means, controls opening and closing of the supply valve106and the discharge valve108connected to the supply/discharge control unit110to thereby control the expansion/contraction operations of the pump unit10.

Specifically, the supply/discharge control unit110outputs the signal only to the supply valve106, and by opening the supply valve106, forces the pressurizing medium to flow into the airtight chamber V of the pump unit10so as to cause the pump unit10to expand, as illustrated inFIG.2C.

Further, the supply/discharge control unit110stops, in the expansion process, output of the signal to the supply valve106, and by closing the supply valve106, maintains the expansion state of the pump unit10.

Furthermore, the supply/discharge control unit110outputs, in the state in which the expansion stated of the pump unit10is maintained, the signal only to the discharge valve108, and by opening the discharge valve108, allows the pressurizing medium in the airtight chamber V to flow out to thereby cause the pump unit10to contract, as illustrated inFIG.2A.

The pump unit10is restricted in terms of the extension in the axis direction as the fiber layers extending along the axis direction are provided in the outer cylinder12. As a result, the expansion direction of the outer cylinder12is limited to outward in the radial direction, and along the expansion outward in the radial direction, the length in the axial direction is contracted. In addition, as to the inner cylinder14, the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder14, which correspondingly faces the short axis of the inner cylinder14at the center in the axis direction corresponding to the position of the shaper ring30, precedingly starts to expand, due to the supply of the air into the airtight chamber inwardly in the radial direction (axial center direction), and glue to further supply of the air, the conveyance article in the inner cylinder14is conveyed toward the axial direction, and as illustrated inFIG.2C, inside of the inner cylinder14is approximately completely blocked. Due to this expansion of the inner cylinder14, the conveyance article in the inner cylinder14is pressurized by the inner cylinder14, pushed out toward the axial direction and conveyed.

The conveyance article detection device200is provided with a conveyance article information acquiring means210and a conveyance article information processing means220.

The conveyance article information acquiring means210is provided with a flow rate measuring means212and a pressing force measuring means214, and acquires information on the conveyance article on the basis of the operation of the pump unit10. The information on the conveyance article here refers to the characteristics of the conveyance article, such as fluidity (viscosity), hardness and so on, for example.

The flow rate measuring means212is disposed between the supply valve106and the pump unit10and measures the flow rate of the pressurizing medium supplied to the airtight chamber V at the time of expansion of the inner cylinder14. For the flow rate measuring means212, for example, a flow rate sensor capable of converting the measured flow rate into an electrical signal may be used. The flow rate measuring means212is electrically connected to the conveyance article information processing means220and outputs the measured flow rate to the conveyance article information processing means220.

The pressing force measuring means214is disposed between the flow rate measuring means212and the pump unit10and measures the pressure of the pressurizing medium in the airtight chamber V. For the pressing force measuring means214, for example, a pressure sensor capable of converting the measured pressure into an electrical signal may be used. The pressing force measuring means214is electrically connected to die conveyance article information processing means220and outputs the measured pressure to the conveyance article information processing means220.

It should be noted that the position of the pressing force measuring means214may be anywhere as long as the pressure of the pressurizing medium the airtight chamber V can be measured.

By measuring the pressure of the pressurizing medium in this way, the pressing force of the inner cylinder14pressurizing the conveyance article can be measured indirectly.

The pressing force measuring means214is not limited to the above-mentioned pressure sensor, but may be any means which is capable of detecting the force of the inner cylinder14pressing the conveyance article. For example, it may be configured to directly detect, by attaching a piezoelectric element on the surface where the inner cylinder14contacts the conveyance article, the force of the inner cylinder14pressing the conveyance article, or it may be configured to measure, by using an acceleration sensor for example, stress and deformation of the inner cylinder14to thereby indirectly detect the force of the inner cylinder14pressing the conveyance article.

In the above-described embodiment, the explanation has been given such that the pressure of the inner cylinder14pressurizing the conveyance article at the time of expansion is measured by the pressure sensor as the pressure of the air in the airtight chamber V, but it is not limited to it. For example, it may be configured to directly detect, by providing a load sensor on the surface of the inner cylinder14so as to be in direct contact with the conveyance article, the pressurizing force (pressing force) of the inner cylinder14pressurizing the conveyance article in the process of expansion or at the time of the n maximum expansion of the inner cylinder14, or it may be configured to measure a tension of the inner cylinder14at the time of expansion to thereby indirectly detect the pressure of the inner cylinder14pressurizing the conveyance article.

The conveyance article information processing means220is a computer, which is provided with hardware such as a CPU as an arithmetic means, a ROM and a RAM as memory means and so on, and which processes the information on the conveyance article on the basis of the information such as the flow rate and the pressure input respectively from the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214. The conveyance article information processing means220, when the CPU executes the program stored in the memory means, causes the conveyance article information processing means220to function as each means or each unit described later. The flow rate and the pressure input respectively from the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214are stored with time, for example, as a flow rate history and a pressure history, in the memory means.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the conveyance article information processing means220. InFIG.3, the shaper ring30is omitted. As illustrated inFIG.3, the conveyance article information processing means220is provided with a volume calculating means222, a characteristic determining means224and a fault detecting means226.

The volume calculating means222calculates a volume of the conveyance article contained in the inner cylinder14on the basis of the flow rate value and the pressure value input respectively from the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214.

The volume of the conveyance article can be calculated, for example, by storing beforehand in the memory means a data map in which a relationship among the flow rate, the pressure and the volume of the conveyance article has been obtained, or by storing beforehand in the memory means a mathematical formula which enables calculation of the volume of the conveyance article by inputting the flow rate and the pressure.

The volume of the conveyance article is calculated, for example, as a volume change over time, each time the flow rate and the pressure are input. The calculated volume of the conveyance article is stored along with the time in the memory means.

The characteristic determining means224determines the characteristics of the conveyance article on the basis of the measured flow rate, the measured pressure and the calculated volume value. The characteristics of the conveyance article referred to in this embodiment are, for example, viscosity and hardness.

The viscosity can be determined on the basis of the volume change over time of the conveyance article. For example, in a case where the volume change over time is slow, the viscosity of the conveyance article can be determined to be high, and in a case where the volume change over time is fast, the viscosity of the conveyance article can be determined to be low.

Further, the hardness can be determined on the basis of the volume change over time of the conveyance article and the change of the pressure. For example, in a case where the change of the volume is slow and the change of the pressure is large, the conveyance article can be determined to be hard, and in a case where the change of the volume is fast and the change of the pressure is small, the conveyance article can be determined to be soft.

Incidentally, the characteristics of the conveyance article to be determined by the characteristic determining means224are not limited to the viscosity and the hardness, but may be any characteristics that can be determined on the basis of the measured flow rate, the measured pressure and the calculated volume.

The result determined by the characteristic determining means224may be, for example, arranged to be displayable on a not-shown display means or may be output to the drive control device100.

The failure detecting means226detects, for example, on the basis of the flow rate and the pressure, presence or absence of the failure of the pump unit10. That is, in a case where the pressure does not increase along with increase in the flow rate, the failure detecting means226can detect that air leak is occurring in the pump unit10.

As described above, because the pump1, which is configured by the pump unit10in which the expansion/contraction of the inner cylinder14is controlled by the drive control device100, is provided with the conveyance article detection device200, the characteristics of the conveyance article to be conveyed by the pump unit10can be detected. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether the conveyance by the pump unit10can be performed or not.

In the above-described embodiment, explanations have been given such that the signal is continuously output for a predetermine time to the supply valve106to cause continuous expansion, but it is not limited to this, for example, the signal may be intermittently output at predetermined time intervals to the supply valve106to cause stepwise expansion.

The control of the supply valve106when pressurizing the conveyance article by the pump unit10is not limited to the time, but the control may be performed on the basis of the pressure detected by the pressing force measuring means214or the volume of the conveyance article calculated by the volume calculating means222.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating an example of an installation form of the conveyance article detection device200. The conveyance article detection device200described in the above-mentioned embodiment may be configured as follows, for example. In the above-mentioned embodiment, explanations have been given such that the flow rate measuring means212, which constitutes the conveyance article information acquiring means210, is provided between the supply valve106and the pump unit10, and the pressing force measuring means214is provided between the flow rate measuring means212and the pump unit10, but it is not limited to this.

For example, as illustrated inFIG.4, for example, it may be configured such that the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214are integrally provided with the end ring16having the supply/discharge section24, and further a wireless communication means, which is capable of outputting the flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring means212and the pressure measured by the pressing force measuring means214to the Internet link, may be provided. The power required for the wireless communication device may be supplied to each pump unit10via electrical cables along with pipings extending from the drive control device100.

Then, by setting the function as the conveyance article information processing means220to a server300connected by wired or wireless communication to the network formed by the Internet link and causing the server300to process, the operating state of the pump unit10can be monitored over the network such as the Internet.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating a case where plural pump units10are connected in the pump1having the configuration illustrated inFIG.1. InFIG.5, the shaper ring30is omitted. As illustrated inFIG.5, in the case where the multiple pump units10are connected to configure the pump1, the supply valve106and the discharge valve108, which constitute the drive control device100, are provided for each pump unit10. The supply valve106is connected to the regulator104individually so that the pressurizing medium regulated by the regulator104is distributed respectively. In addition, each supply valve106and each discharge valve108are connected to the supply/discharge control unit110, and supply and stoppage of the pressurizing medium to the corresponding pump unit10is controlled by the output of the signal from the supply/discharge control unit110.

Furthermore, the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214are provided in each pump unit10, and calculation of the volume of the conveyance article by the volume calculating means222, determination of the characteristics of the conveyance article in the pump unit10by the characteristic discriminating means224and detection of the failure of the pimp unit10by the failure detecting means226, which are of the conveyance article information processing means220, are executed for each pump unit10.

As described above, in the case where the plural pump units10are connected, the supply/discharge control unit110controls the supply valve106and the discharge valve108which are connected to each pump unit10, so that the expansion and the contraction of the pump unit10move, for example, like the peristaltic motion of intestines, sequentially from the upstream side towards the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

An explanation will be given as to the conveyance operation of the pump units10illustrated inFIG.5, which are denoted as10A,10B, . . . ,10F, and so on from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. For example, the supply/discharge control unit110controls the supply valve106and the discharge valve108provided in each of the pump units10A to10F, and causes the pump units10A to10F to operate as follows so that the conveyance article can be conveyed.

First, while maintaining the pump units10B to10F in the contracted state, expand only the pump unit10A (Step1).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10A, while maintaining the pump units10C to10F in the contracted state, contract only the pump unit10A and expand the pump unit10B (Step2).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10B, while maintaining the pump units10A and10D to10F in the contacted state, contract the pump unit10B and expand the pump unit10C (Step3).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10C, while maintaining the pump units10A,10B,10E and10F in the contracted state, contract the pump unit10C and expand the pump unit10D (Step4).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10D, while maintaining the pump units10A to10C and10F in the contracted state, contract the pump unit10D and expand the pump unit10E (Step5).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10E, while maintaining the pump units10A to10D in the contracted state, contract the pump unit10E and expand the pump unit10F (Step6).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10F, while maintaining the pump units10B to10E in the contracted state, contract the pump unit10F and expand the pump unit10A (Step7).

By repeating the above-mentioned Step1to Step7as one cycle, the supply/discharge control unit110can convey the conveyance article toward the downstream side. In the supply/discharge control unit110, the control shown in Step1to Step7of the pump units10(A to F) may be stored in the memory means, for example, as an operation pattern1or the like.

Further, it is also possible, for example, that the supply/discharge control unit110causes the pump units10A to10F to operate as follows.

First, while maintaining the pump units10B to10F in the contracted state, expand only the pump unit10A (Step1).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10A, while maintaining the pump units10C to10F in the contracted state and the pump unit10A in the expanded state, expand the pump unit10B (Step2).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10B, while maintaining the pump units10D to10F in the contracted state and the pump unit10B in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10A and expand the pump unit10C (Step3).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10C, while maintaining the pump units10A,10E and10F in the contracted state and the pump unit10C in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10B and expand the pump unit10D (Step4).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10D while maintaining the pump units10A,10B and10F in the contracted state and the pump unit10D in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10C and expand the pump unit10E (Step5).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10E, while maintaining the pump units10A to10C in the contracted state and the pump unit10E in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10D and expand the pump unit10F (Step6).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10F, while maintaining the pump units10B to10D in the contracted state and the pump unit10F in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10E and expand the pump unit10A (Step7).

Next, after expanding the pump unit10A, while maintaining the pump units10C to10E in the contracted state and the pump unit10A in the expanded state, contract the pump unit10F and expand the pump unit10B (Step8).

By causing the pump units10A to10F to repeat the above operation pattern, the conveyance article in the inner cylinder14of the pump unit10is pressure-conveyed sequentially toward the downstream side due to the expansion of the inner cylinder14, hence the supply/discharge control unit110can convey the conveyance article (Step9).

By repeating the above-mentioned Step1to Step9as one cycle, the supply/discharge control unit110can convey the conveyance article toward the downstream side. In the supply/discharge control unit110, the control shown in Step1to Step9of the pump units10(A to F) may be stored in the memory means, for example. as an operation pattern2together with the above-mentioned operation pattern1.

The operations of the pump units10A to10F are not limited to the above-mentioned operation patterns1and2, but another operation pattern that enables conveyance of the conveyance article by the pump units10A to10F may be stored in the memory means of the supply/discharge control unit110.

FIG.6is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the supply/discharge control unit110when plural operation patterns are stored in the supply/discharge control unit110. As illustrated inFIG.6, in the case where the plural operation patters are stored in the memory means of the supply/discharge control unit110, it is preferable to configure to select an operation pattern on the basis of the result of determination by the characteristic determining means224.

For example, it nay lie configured that the conveyance article information processing means220and the supply/discharge control unit110are electrically connected so as to be able to output the result of determination by the characteristic determining means224to the supply/discharge control unit110. Furthermore, a program, which causes the supply/discharge control unit110to function as an operation pattern selecting means that selects an operation pattern being associated with the characteristics of the conveyance article and corresponding to the determination result, may be stored in the memory means of the supply/discharge control unit110.

That is, because each of the pump units10A to10F is provided with the flow rate measuring means212and the pressing force measuring means214, and the characteristics of the conveyance article are detected for each of the pump units10A to10F, by immediately outputting the determination result obtained by the characteristic determining means224to the drive control device100, even in a case where, for example, conveyance articles having different characteristics are mixedly conveyed and the state of the conveyance article changes in the connected pump units10A to10F, the conveyance article can be conveyed without degrading the conveyance efficiency.

In the above-described embodiment, the explanation has been given such that the pump units10A to10F connected as illustrated inFIG.5perform the predetermined operation pattern on the basis of the program stored in the memory means of the supply/discharge control unit110, but it is not limited thereto.

For example, it may be configured to store a program which, when an abnormal conveyance is detected in either one of the pump units during the period in which the pump units10A to10F are in operation of the predetermined operation pattern (hereinafter referred to as “basic operation”), causes another pump unit to operate, as an interrupting processing, that another pump unit being suitable to resolve the conveyance abnormality of the pump unit in which the abnormality was detected. Namely, the program, which causes the supply/discharge control unit110to function as a conveyance abnormality resolving means, may be stored in the memory means. And, after the conveyance abnormality was resolved, the pump unit may be caused to execute the basic operation again.

FIG.7is a diagram illustrating another form of the conveyance article information processing means220. A conveyance abnormality detecting means228, which detects whether or not the conveyance article is normally conveyed, when the plural pump units10A to10F are connected as illustrated inFIG.5, may be provided in each of the pump units10A to10F.

The conveyance abnormality detecting means228can compare, for example, the volume of the conveyance article calculated in each of the pump units10A-10F, and detect a conveyance abnormality such as clogging or the like, in a case where the volume is reduced more than a threshold value from the upstream side to the downstream side in one cycle, or in a case where the volume of a pump unit10in the midway is greater than the volumes of pump units10before and after the pump unit in the midway.

Further, because the failure detecting means226detects the failure of each of the pump units10A to10F, the failure detecting means226can immediately grasp whether the conveyance abnormality detected by the conveyance failure detecting means228is caused by the failure of the pump unit10, or caused by the characteristics of the conveyance article.

Furthermore, it is preferable, by connecting the pump units10as illustrated inFIG.5and configuring each of the connected pump units as illustrated inFIG.4, to store, as an operation history, in the memory means of the server300for each of the pump units, the flow rate and the pressure input to the server300for each of the pump units10, the volume calculated by the volume calculating means222of the sever300, and the characteristics of the conveyance article determined by the characteristic determining means224.

The operation history stored in the server300may be stored in association with a unit of one pump which is configured by the connected pump units, and further, the palace where the pump1is disposed and the information on the conveyance article and so on may be stored in association with the pump1in the sever300.

Then, by aggregating the above-mentioned information from pumps1used in different locations to the sever300and, for example, by machine-learning the aggregated information, an operation pattern according to the conveyance article or a conveyance abnormality that is occurrable due to the conveyance article can be predicted. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve the conveyance efficiency and avoid the conveyance abnormality, hence the reliability of pump1can be improved.

In the case where each of the pump units10is provided with the wireless communication device as illustrated inFIG.4, the function of the supply/discharge control unit110may be separated from the drive control device100and provided to each of the pump units10to thereby allow each of the pump units10to control the operation individually. For example, by providing the pump unit10with the supply/discharge control unit110, the conveyance article detection device200, the supply valve106and the discharge valve108together with the wireless communication unit, and by connecting the tube extending from the regulator104with the electric power supplied to the supply/discharge control unit110, the conveyance article detection device200, the wireless communication unit, the supply valve106and the discharge valve108, the pump unit10may be made operable. In other words, one pump unit10may be configured as a so-called IoT device. In this case, each of the pump units10may be configured such that the supply/discharge control unit110thereof allows the communications among the pump units10in addition to the communication with the server300and, on the basis of the communications among the pump units10, performs the basic operation of the conveyance described above, the operation of the time when the failure was detected, the operation for resolving the conveyance abnormality, and the operations corresponding to the characteristics of the conveyance article, and so on.

In this way, in the case where the pump unit10is provided with the function of the supply/discharge control unit110and the function of the conveyance article detection device200, it is possible to utilize a one-chip microcomputer in which the CPU, the memory means and the communication means functioning as the wireless communication unit are integrated into one.

Further, by exchanging or sharing, among the pump units10, the information on the conveyance article acquired by the conveyance article information acquiring means of each of the pimp units10, and by storing, in the memory means of the one-chip microcomputer, the program that causes each of the pump units10to perform the conveyance operation of the conveyance article independently, the operation of the time when the failure was detected, the operation for resolving the detected abnormality, and the operations of the plural pump units corresponding to the characteristics of the conveyance article, the pump unit10is allowed to operate independently without using the server300.

In this case, by providing the conveyance article information processing means with the function for selecting, on the basis of the acquired information on the conveyance article, control of the operation for resolving the abnormality of the plural the pump units10, or control of the operations, which are based on the determined characteristics of the conveyance article, of the plural pump units10, and by configuring so that the selected content is output to the supply/discharge control unit, it is possible to further automize the operation of the pump1.

As described above, by detecting the characteristics of the conveyance article conveyed by the pump unit10and, on the basis of the detected characteristics of the conveyance article, by causing the pump unit to perform the basic operation of conveyance, the operation of the time when the failure was detected, the operation for resolving the conveyance abnormality and the operation corresponding to the characteristics of the conveyance article, the conveyance of the conveyance article can be optimized and thus the conveyance can be performed effectively.

The configuration of the pump1described above is one example, and the places where the means provided in the supply/discharge control unit110and the means provided in the conveyance article detection device200are to be disposed may be suitably changed to the pump unit10, the drive control device100, the server300or the like.

FIG.8is a diagram illustrating another form of the pump unit10. In the above-described embodiment, the outer cylinder12configuring the pump unit10is configured by an elastic member and configured to be expandable together with the inner cylinder14. However, as illustrated inFIG.8, the outer cylinder12may be configured by a hard resin or the like that does not expand in the radial direction. In the pump unit10illustrated inFIG.8, the inner cylinder14is provided to go along with the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder12. On the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder12, a groove15is formed, which is depressed all around along the circumferential direction and functions as a pressure supply chamber. By supplying the pressurizing medium to the groove15from the supply/discharge section24that penetrates the outer cylinder12, the inner cylinder14expands in the centripetal direction, as shown by the dashed line in the figure. Even if the pump unit10is configured in this way, it is possible to pressurize the conveyance article in the inner cylinder14by the inner cylinder14and convey the conveyance article.

FIGS.9A to9Care graphs showing test results of the evaluation test for measuring the flow rate supplied to the pump unit10and the pressure in the pump unit10and evaluating the effectiveness of the characteristics of the conveyance article obtained from the measured flow rate and the pressure.

In the evaluation test, as illustrated inFIG.1, an acrylic pipe, assuming the conveyance article, was inserted into the inner cylinder14of one pump unit10, and the effectiveness of the detection, based on changes in the flow rate of the air and the pressure, of the volume of the conveyance article was evaluated. Five types of acrylic pipes with outer diameters of 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 35 mm were prepared, and influence on the volume detection was examined for each of the acrylic pipes. The differences in the outer diameter were set to reproduce differences in the magnitude of the viscosity of the conveyance article and differences of the characteristics such as the compressibility.

Incidentally, the dimensions of the inner cylinder14of the pump unit10are such that the inner diameter is 55 mm and the length in the axial direction is 110 mm.

The pressure supplied to the pump unit10was regulated by the regulator104to 60 kPa, the supply valve106was opened for three (3) seconds and then closed and, at the same time, the discharge valve108was opened to discharge the air.

FIG.9Ais a graph showing the change in the pressure in the airtight chamber V. After the start of air supply, in both of a state where the inner cylinder14is empty and a state where the acrylic pipe is inserted, the pressure rises up to 13 kPa without delay. This is considered to be that because the air was filled in the airtight chamber V. Thereafter, the pressure rises slowly to 60 kPa which is the pressure to be applied. The larger the outer diameter of the acrylic pipe inserted is, the faster the rise in the pressure in the airtight chamber V becomes. This is considered to be that because the larger the outer diameter of the acrylic pipe is, the faster the surface of the inner cylinder14comes in contact with the rigid body, the expansion of the inner cylinder14is suppressed and the pressure in the airtight chamber V rises up.

FIG.9Bis a graph showing the amount of air supplied to the airtight chamber V, measured by the flow rate sensor. The larger the diameter of the acrylic pipe is, the smaller the amount of supplied air becomes. This is considered to be that because the larger the diameter of the acrylic pipe is, the more the expansion of the inner cylinder14is suppressed.

FIG.9Cis a graph showing a correlation of the excluded volume calculated from the comparison between the volume of the acrylic pipe and the empty state of the inner cylinder14. As a result of performing linear approximation for the plotted points, a strong positive correlation of 0.9987 was confirmed. In other words, the excluded volume conforms to the increase in the thickness of the acrylic pipe inserted into the inner cylinder14. Therefore, it was confirmed that the volume of the conveyance article in the pump unit10can be detected by measuring the flow rate of compressed air supplied to the airtight chamber V.

Accordingly, by detecting the volume of the conveyance article on the basis of the measured flow rate and the pressure and performing the method for detecting the characteristics of the conveyance article, for examining the change of the volume when the inner cylinder14was in the maximum expansion or until the expansion of the inner cylinder14reaches the maximum, the characteristics of the conveyance article such as the viscosity, hardness and so on can be known.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1: Pump,10(A-F): Pump unit,12: Outer cylinder.14: Inner cylinder,16: End ring,24: Supply/discharge section,30: Shaper ring,100: Drive control device,102: Pressurizing medium supply unit,104: Regulator,106: Supply valve,108: Discharge valve,110: Supply/discharge control unit,200: Conveyance article detection device,210: Conveyance article information acquiring means,212: Flow rate measuring means,214: Pressing force measuring means,220: Conveyance article information processing means,222: Volume calculating means,224: Characteristic determining means,226: Failure detecting means,228: Conveyance abnormality detecting means; V: Airtight chamber.