JPH10244594A - Portable tube joining apparatus and tube joining method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube joining device which can be connected and welded without crushing a tube, is small and portable, has a high degree of freedom of use without being restricted by a use place, and is easy to operate. thing. SOLUTION: A tube joining means having an electrode portion for heating while holding a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube without being crushed, a high-frequency oscillation portion for energizing and heating the electrode portion, and a power supply for supplying power to the high-frequency oscillation portion A portable tube joining apparatus, wherein the high-frequency oscillation section and / or the power supply section are housed in a main body, and the tube joining means is integrated with the main body, or the tube joining means is separated from the main body. apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can be widely used in the field of using tubing in the field of physics and chemistry, such as in the medical field and in chemical experiments. The present invention relates to a portable tube joining device that can be used for a tube or the like used for a bag.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a portable tube joining apparatus, there is a so-called SCD method of DuPont which uses a heating plate. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-30
No. 582, “Sterile Docking Method and Apparatus”) As a tube bonding method of the dielectric heating method, there is a large stationary type (desk size) apparatus. This is a method in which a high-frequency current is applied through a mold (electrode) in contact with the outside of the tube and a core metal for forming an electrode inside the tube, thereby bonding the tubes. As a small tube joining apparatus of the dielectric heating type, there are KL-193 (handy type) and KL-151 (desktop type; single point type) which are commercially available as so-called “tube sealer” from the applicant. This is a method in which a tube containing a liquid is crushed by an electrode (die) to weld the portion, and there is a method in which the liquid or gas in the tube is not communicated with the welded portion as a boundary.

The SCD method has the following problems. The heating plate has a built-in heater inside, and is expensive and cannot be used repeatedly. After cutting the tube with a heating plate and pressing the tube and joining, the tube is heated and cut off each time, so the resin of the tube material adheres to the hot plate (because it becomes sticky), the shape of the cut surface is There are irregularities, and perfect joining cannot always be achieved. In addition, since the tube is pushed off, the tube is deformed, and the mating portion of the tube does not always completely match. In addition, a weld swelling is formed on the inner surface of the welded portion, which causes a disturbance in blood flow. The large-sized dielectric heating device has the following problems. (A) The work place is limited because the device is large and the device is fixed. (B) Since a core is required, welding cannot be performed if a long tube or a core cannot be inserted. (C) Requires skill in work. (D) Since the output is large and there is electromagnetic noise, it can be used only in a specific workplace. The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies in order to solve the above-described problems of the joining apparatus, and as a result, have reached the following invention.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[1] The present invention provides a tube joining means having an electrode portion for heating while holding a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube without being crushed, a high-frequency oscillation portion for energizing and heating the electrode portion, and supplying power to the high-frequency oscillation portion. A portable power supply unit, wherein the high-frequency oscillation unit and / or the power supply unit is housed in a main body, and the tube joining means is integrated with the main body, or the tube joining means is separated from the main body. A tube joining device is provided. [2] In the present invention, the electrode portion is composed of a movable electrode and a fixed electrode, and a mounting groove for a tube is formed on each of the surfaces facing these electrodes, and a dielectric is provided between the two metal electrodes. The portable tube joining device according to the above [1], wherein the portable tube joining device is configured by arranging the movable electrode driving means on the main body. [3] The present invention provides high-frequency power supply from the high-frequency oscillation unit to the electrode unit, setting of the power-on time and timer, movement of the movable electrode upon operation of a trigger, lighting of an indicator lamp, an overcurrent protection circuit, and a limit switch. The portable tube joining apparatus according to the above [1] or [2], further comprising an oscillation control unit for controlling the operation of the portable tube joining apparatus. [4] The present invention provides a tube joining method including the following steps. A step of arranging a joint between two tubes between the dielectrics according to the above [2], a step of pressing and joining the joint, a step of applying high-frequency current to heat and welding the joint, [5] The present invention provides a method for joining tubes in which the joint between two tubes is disposed between dielectrics using a jig for positioning the joint between tubes in the process described in the above [4].

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portable tube joining apparatus 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an electrode section of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a high-frequency oscillation circuit of FIG. . The joining apparatus 1 is a tube joining means 1 having a main body 2 and an electrode portion 3.
A is formed by integrating and miniaturizing A.

The electrode section 3 comprises a movable electrode 4 and a fixed electrode 5. The fixed electrode 5 is mounted on the front surface of the main body 2, and the movable electrode 4 has an L-shaped support protruding from a lower portion of the front surface of the main body 2. The movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 are mounted on the back of the body 14 with a thin insulating sheet (not shown) interposed therebetween. The movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 are two metal electrodes 4A1 (5B1) and 4A2 (5B2), respectively.
It is constituted by arranging a dielectric 6 (7) between them. Opposite surfaces of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 have semicircular grooves 4a for holding tubes 21 and 22, respectively.
(5a) is formed continuously with the electrode 4A1 (5B1), the dielectric 6 (7), and the electrode 4A2 (5B2).

As will be described later, when the joined portion of the two tubes 21 and 22 is arranged at the center of the dielectric 6 and the dielectric 7, the position of the tube joining surface is easily checked from the outside. Only the body 6 (7) is connected to the electrodes 4A1 (4A2), 5
B1 (5B2) can be formed in a different shape so as to be distinguishable from B1 (5B2), colored, or can be marked with a wavy mark on the surface. In FIG. 2, the dielectric 6 (7) is the electrode 4A1.
(4A2) and 5B1 (5B2) are formed in a shape different from that of the top surface, the side surface, and the bottom surface so that they can be identified from any direction. The semicircular diameter of the groove 4a (5a) is preferably equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the tube because the tubes 21 and 22 are more easily held. In particular, by making the inner diameter of the groove 4a (5a) near the dielectric 6 (7) slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tube, the degree of concentration of heat can be improved. The opposing surfaces of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 have good contact with each other except for the groove 4a (5a), and are formed smoothly to reduce contact resistance. The metal electrode 4A1 (5B
1) As the constituent material of 4A2 (5B2), brass, copper, aluminum, duralumin, or the like is used, but brass is optimal in consideration of durability, conductivity, and the like. The dielectric 6
As the constituent material of (7), ethylene tetrafluoride (Teflon), polyamide (nylon), polyacetal (Delrin) or the like is used, and Teflon is most suitable.

When the end faces of the tubes having the same diameter are butt-joined, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat generated by the dielectric 6 (7) is concentrated on the joined portions of the tubes 21 and 22, so that the dielectric 6 (7) is used. Of the tubes 21 and 22 must be appropriately secured. If the thickness t is extremely thin,
Heat is concentrated only on the outer surface of the tubes 21 and 22 and does not reach the inner surfaces of the tubes 21 and 22, so that the joining of the tubes 21 and 22 becomes difficult. If the thickness t is too large, the tubes including the portions to be joined of the tubes 21 and 22 are too melted, so that the tubes cannot be maintained in a circular shape and cannot be joined. Further, the energy for causing the dielectric 6 (7) to generate heat is also large, and the energy loss is also large. On the other hand, when joining the inside and the outside of the different diameter tubes, the thickness of the overlap of the tubes becomes large.
It is necessary to increase the calorific value of (7). FIG. 5 shows the inner surface temperature of the soft vinyl chloride tube and the tube of the dielectric 6 (7).
In the relation of the thickness t to the thickness of the tube, the distribution of the area where the same-diameter tube and the different-diameter tube can be joined is shown. From FIG. 5, it can be understood that joining the different diameter tubes requires a larger thickness of the dielectric 6 (7) to heat the inner surface of the tube.

The main body 2 has a built-in high-frequency oscillating section 8 and an indicator light 10 on the top surface for indicating that high-frequency oscillation is possible,
A switch 11 for energizing a high frequency to the electrode unit 3 and a timer 12 for setting an energizing time are arranged.
A trigger 13 for moving the movable electrode 4 mounted on the movable electrode 4 in the direction of the fixed electrode 5 is provided. The support 14 is the main body 3
A drive mechanism (not shown) such as a solenoid (or a spring) is provided therein and connected to the trigger 13 for driving. The electrode section 3 (the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5) has a structure that can be attached and detached by one-touch by providing a detachable groove or the like in the main body 2 and the support body 14 in order to use an electrode adapted to various diameters of the tubes to be joined. Good to do. It is preferable to adjust the drive mechanism so that the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 are pressed with a constant load when the tubes 21 and 22 are sandwiched.

The high-frequency oscillator 8 heats the tubes 21 and 22 by supplying high-frequency current to the electrode 3. The energization time varies depending on the tube material, thickness, contact or overlapping area, pressurized state, etc., but it is easy to predict by conducting a confirmation test according to each tube in advance, and the same It is meaningful to repeat the joining of different types of tubes. The energization time can be adjusted by the timer 12.
After heating by a timer 12 for a predetermined time and cooling, the switch 11 may be pressed to open the electrode unit 3,
The movable electrode 4 is drawn and the tube 2 is placed between the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5.
It is also possible to fix 1 and 22 as they are and release the timer after a predetermined time has elapsed by the timer 12. Also, the present invention
The electrode portion 3 is covered with a transparent cover 15 into which an electromagnetic shielding material is kneaded so that the electrode 3 is not touched by an operator's hand, and a limit switch 32 is provided in a high-frequency oscillation circuit. An overcurrent (spark) protection circuit 31 is provided to prevent oscillation from turning on and to prevent the circuit from sparking, thereby ensuring safety.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a high-frequency oscillation control unit, which sets a timer 12 for energizing a high-frequency current from the high-frequency oscillation unit 8 to the electrode unit 3, turns on an indicator lamp 10 indicating that high-frequency oscillation is possible, and triggers the trigger. 13, and controls the overcurrent protection circuit 31 and the limit switch 32.

The joining tube used in the present invention is preferably made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, ABS (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, or polystyrene. The most used polyvinyl chloride is best.

The joining apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a structure in which a tube joining section 1A having an electrode section 3 and a main body 2 having a built-in high-frequency oscillation section 8 are integrated and a power supply section 9 is separated. And can be built into the main body 2 and integrated with the tube joint 1A to make it more compact.
In addition, the high-frequency oscillation unit 8 and the power supply unit 9 can be built in the main body 2 and integrated to form a structure in which the tube joint 1A having the electrode unit 3 is separated. The power supply unit 9 can use either a normal commercial power supply (AC 100 V) or a battery. If a battery is used, the operating voltage limit is displayed on the main unit 2 (when the voltage drops below a certain level, an alarm is displayed).
Thus, it is possible to perform reliable joining of the tubes.

[0014]

Next, an embodiment in which tubes are joined by using the joining apparatus 1 will be described. (1) Butt-joining of same-diameter tubes The ends of the two joining tubes 21 and 22 are butted and arranged between the dielectric 6 and the dielectric 7 of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5. The joined portions of the tubes 21 and 22 are connected to the grooves 5 of the fixed electrode 5.
The movable electrode 4 is moved to the fixed electrode 5 by actuating the trigger 13 and the joint between the tubes 21 and 22 is pressed with a constant load and pressurized (see FIG. 6). A high frequency is supplied from the high frequency oscillating unit 8 to heat for a predetermined time. When the pressing of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 is released, tubes 21 and 22 whose ends are welded and joined are obtained. In addition, by using the positioning jig 20 shown in FIG. 7, the joining surfaces of the joining tubes 21 and 22 can be accurately positioned. The positioning jig 20 is composed of a flange portion 20a and a rod-shaped portion 20b formed hollow partway.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a side view of the electrode portion 3 from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6; FIGS. 9 and 10 are the same), the positioning jig 2 is used.
0 is inserted from the right side of the electrode 5B2, and is lightly sandwiched between the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the tube 21 is inserted from the left side of the electrode 5B1 until it comes into contact with the projecting wall 20c of the positioning jig 20. The positioning jig 20 is pulled out and inserted until the tip of the tube 22 contacts the tip of the tube 21 as shown in FIG. In this manner, the dielectric 6 (7) is held in a state where the joining surfaces of the positioning jig 20 and the tube 21 are aligned.
Can be placed between them. Finally, tubes 21, 2
2 is lightly held from both sides by hand, and the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5
The tubes 21 and 22 can be held by strongly contacting and pressing. As described above, positioning jig 2
At the time of insertion between the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5 at 0, the protruding wall 20c forms the dielectric 6 (7) of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5.
By adjusting the length L of the rod-shaped portion 20b so as to be positioned between them, it is possible to reliably arrange the tube 6 with the joining surfaces of the tubes 21 and 22 between the dielectrics 6 (7).

FIG. 11 shows another tube positioning jig 40. The positioning jig 40 is divided into two semi-annular parts, and is formed so that it can be opened and closed by attaching a hinge 41 to one side. A scale 43 is mounted inside the positioning jig 40, and the length L of the tube 22 inserted into the electrode 5B2 is set.
Is measured, the hinge 41 is closed, the tube 22 is held, and the tube 22 is inserted into the electrode 5B2. Since the scale 43 can be slid to the right as shown in FIG. 12, it does not hinder the insertion of the tube 22 into the electrode 5B2. After arranging the tip of the tube 22 between the dielectrics 6 (7),
From the left side of the electrode 5B1, the tip of the tube 21 is connected to the tube 2
Positioning can be performed by inserting until the end 2 is reached.

(2) Inner / Outer Joining of Different Diameter Tubes The outer surface of the small diameter tube and the inner surface of the large diameter tube are joined and overlapped, and disposed between the dielectric 6 and the dielectric 7 of the movable electrode 4 and the fixed electrode 5. In the following, heating and joining can be performed in the same manner as in the above (1), but it is necessary to consider a considerable energizing time in the sum of the overlapping area and the thickness of each tube.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the tubes can be connected and welded without being crushed, the inner surface of the joint is good in appearance. Therefore, in the case of blood, the blood flow is not disturbed, so that a thrombus does not occur in that portion. Since it is a small portable type, there is no restriction on the place of use and the degree of freedom of use is large. Since the operation is easy and does not require any skill, the welding (joining) can be similarly performed by anyone. (It required skill in the conventional stationary high-frequency dielectric heating method.) Tubes with long dimensions can be joined, and the degree of freedom in joining tubes is large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portable tube joining apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an electrode section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the high-frequency oscillation circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram between the inner surface temperature of the tube and the thickness of the dielectric when joining the tubes.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion where a tube is sandwiched between electrode portions.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a positioning jig.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a method for positioning a joint portion of a tube.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a method of positioning a joint portion of a tube.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a method for positioning a joint portion of a tube.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a positioning jig.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a positioning jig.

[Description of sign]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable tube joining apparatus 1A Tube joining means 2 Main body 3 Electrode part 4 Movable electrode 4A1, 4A2 Metal electrode 5 Fixed electrode 5B1, 5B2 Metal electrode 6 Dielectric 7 Dielectric 8 High frequency oscillation part 9 Power supply part 10 Display Light 11 Switch 12 Timer 13 Trigger 14 (Movable electrode) Support 15 Electrode cover 4a Groove 5a Groove 20, 40 Tube positioning jig 21 Tube 22 Tube 30 Oscillation control unit 31 Overcurrent protection circuit 32 Limit switch 41 Hinge 43 Scale

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tube joining means having an electrode portion for heating while holding a thermoplastic synthetic resin tube without being crushed, a high-frequency oscillation portion for energizing and heating the electrode portion, and supplying power to the high-frequency oscillation portion. And a power supply unit, wherein the high-frequency oscillation unit and / or the power supply unit are housed in the main body,
The portable tube joining apparatus, wherein the tube joining means is integrated with the main body, or the tube joining means is separated from the main body. 2. The electrode section comprises a movable electrode and a fixed electrode, and a mounting groove for a tube is formed on a surface facing these electrodes, and a dielectric is disposed between two metal electrodes. The portable tube joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable electrode driving means is formed in a main body. 3. A high-frequency power supply from the high-frequency oscillator to the electrode unit, setting of the power-on time and a timer, movement of a movable electrode upon actuation of a trigger, lighting of an indicator lamp, an overcurrent protection circuit and a limit switch. 3. The portable tube joining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillation control unit for controlling an operation. 4. A method for joining tubes, comprising the following steps. A step of arranging a joint between the two tubes between the dielectrics according to claim 2; a step of pressing and pressurizing the joint; a step of applying high-frequency current to heat and welding the joint; 5. The method of joining tubes according to claim 4, wherein the joining portion of the two tubes is disposed between the dielectrics using a jig for positioning the joining portion of the tubes.