JP4723011B2 - Processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing facility for processing a workpiece to obtain a workpiece.

  For example, in a factory that manufactures a solid preparation such as a pharmaceutical product, an operator weighs, for example, a powder raw material to be processed and an intermediate product or a product (solid preparation) obtained from the powder raw material. Process chambers for processing such as granulation, sieving, tableting (tablet), inspection and packaging are provided, and powder raw materials are, for example, cardboard, cement bags, or fibers (made of paper) It is carried into a factory in a state of being stored in a packing container such as a drum, and is refilled into a transport container such as a container, for example, and the above-described processes are performed. The inside of these process chambers is kept in a clean atmosphere.

  In such a factory, in order to quickly transport a heavy transport container, for example, a container transport called a stacker crane that can run on a horizontally laid rail and hold the transport container up and down is possible. A method is known in which a mechanism is installed, and process chambers are arranged in multiple layers on both sides along the length direction of the path of the stacker crane, and a transfer container is transferred. For example, when it is necessary to clean a processing apparatus used in a plurality of process chambers or equipment related to the processing apparatus, for example, water and drain pipes are not routed for each process chamber. For example, by arranging a common cleaning chamber on the same floor (level) along the sequence of these process chambers, and in order to share the processing apparatus in each process chamber, the above-described processing apparatus, equipment, etc. In many cases, even if a heavy object is used, an operator can easily carry it using, for example, a carriage.

  On the other hand, when transferring the powder raw material from the packaging container to the transport container as described above, for example, between the outside of the factory and the process chamber so as not to bring dust attached to the outside of the packaging container into the process chamber. A method has been studied in which a replacement chamber maintained at the same level as the process chamber or a slightly lower control level is provided as a buffer area, and the powder raw material is replaced in this replacement chamber. In this case, for example, the replacement chamber is provided instead of one of the process chambers, and the powder raw material is carried into the replacement chamber from a warehouse adjacent to the factory, for example, in a state of being stored in the packing container, After being transferred to the transfer container, it is sequentially transferred to each process chamber where the subsequent processing is performed by, for example, a stacker crane.

  In addition, when replacing the powder raw material in the replacement chamber, pre-processing such as pulverization and sieving of the powder raw material is performed together with replacement of the powder raw material, and further weighing is performed. There is a merit that the number of powder materials can be reduced, and when there are a large amount of powder raw materials to be pre-processed, the powder materials are weighed in the replacement chamber, so that a large amount of powder raw materials can be used with a stacker crane. The advantage of not having to transport is generated. Therefore, the replacement chamber has a pretreatment chamber in which powder raw materials and dust attached to the outside of the packaging container may fall, so that the powder raw materials can be weighed in an atmosphere having the same management level as the process chamber, In some cases, the control chamber is airtightly partitioned into a weighing chamber maintained at a higher management level than that of the pretreatment chamber (similar to the process chamber described above). Further, in order to transport the powder raw material so that the internal atmospheres of the pretreatment chamber and the weighing chamber do not mix with each other, the powder raw material is transferred from the pretreatment chamber to the weighing chamber by, for example, an air transportation method using air. It will be transported airtight. Therefore, the pretreatment chamber and the weighing chamber are arranged adjacent to the floor of the same level, and in order to suppress contamination through workers working in each of the pretreatment chamber and the weighing chamber, A passage through which an operator enters and exits each of the processing chamber and the weighing chamber is individually provided.

  As described above, a plurality of replacement chambers are arranged according to the type of pretreatment performed together with the replacement of the powder raw material, or according to the type of the packing container, the size of the transport container, etc. In such a case, in order to make the passage through which the worker enters and exits the replacement room common, they are arranged in one place on the same floor.

  Here, when the factory in which the above-described stacker crane is arranged is schematically shown in FIG. 23A, a plurality of the replacement chambers 101 are arranged along the passage 104 of the stacker crane 103 like each process chamber 102. In addition, the packing container 105 is transported to each replacement chamber 101 in a transport path 106 in which an automatic transport mechanism such as a conveyor is disposed. For this reason, since the replacement chamber 101 is surrounded on the side by the process chamber 102, the passage 104, and the transport path 106, an operator who works in the replacement chamber 101 can enter the replacement chamber 101 from the side. It cannot enter and exit, and for example, it goes in and out from the upper side or the lower side using a staircase or the like. In this case, the load on the operator increases, and the processing apparatus (equipment related to the processing apparatus) 108 used in the replacement chamber 101 is cleaned in the common cleaning chamber 109 or the mobile processing apparatus. Since 108 is shared by the plurality of process chambers 102, it becomes difficult to carry out 108 from the replacement chamber 101. Further, in the case where the replacement chamber 101 having the weighing chamber 110 described above is provided, in this factory, there are two passages having a high management level (a passage through which an operator enters and leaves the weighing chamber 110 and an operator in the process chamber). Since it is necessary to individually arrange the worker passages 107) that enter and exit 102, space is wasted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), an operator passage 107 is adjacent to each replacement chamber 101, and an operator puts a packing container 105 into each replacement chamber 101 from the transport path 104 via the worker passage 107. Although a method of carrying is also conceivable, in this method, the worker passage 107 having a high management level may be contaminated by the packing container 105, and the packing container 105 is heavy, so that it becomes difficult to carry. .
Furthermore, when a product, which is a processed product manufactured from a powder raw material, is carried out of the factory, if the transport path 106 is connected to the process chamber 102 for packaging, which is the final process, the same operation is performed. Since the worker will enter and exit using the stairs, the load on the worker will increase.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a granular material charging system for charging powder into the device 40, but the above problem is not studied at all.

JP2007-30914A

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to increase the length of a distribution passage in which a process chamber that performs processing on an object to be processed and a processed object in a transport container transports the transport container. In a plurality of processing facilities arranged along the vertical direction, a replacement chamber for delivering a workpiece and a processing object to and from the outside is arranged in the process chamber along the physical distribution passage, and an operator is placed in the replacement chamber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing facility capable of providing a worker's passage for entering and leaving adjacent to a side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber.

The treatment facility of the present invention is
A plurality of process chambers arranged in a horizontal direction to process a workpiece and obtain a workpiece,
A transport mechanism that is provided in a physical distribution passage that extends horizontally along the side surface of one of the side surfaces of the plurality of process chambers, and that transports a processing object or a transport container storing a processing object between the process chambers;
An exchange chamber that is provided adjacent to the process chamber in the direction of alignment of the process chambers, replaces the object to be processed from the packing container to the transport container, and delivers the transport container to the transport mechanism;
Formed on the side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber, and a worker passage for an operator to enter and exit the replacement chamber;
A delivery port formed on the floor of the replacement chamber for receiving the packaging container;
A transfer room provided below the replacement room ;
A transfer vehicle provided in the transfer chamber so as to be horizontally movable in order to deliver a packing container to the replacement chamber via the transfer port,
The transport vehicle includes a fork that holds the packing container and moves up and down along the support column, and the support column is a height position when the fork transfers the packing container to the replacement chamber, and is above the transfer port. It is characterized by being able to expand and contract between the height position of the first position and a height position lower than the delivery port, which is a height position when moving horizontally in the transfer chamber.

In addition, the treatment equipment of the present invention is
A plurality of process chambers arranged in a horizontal direction to process a workpiece and obtain a workpiece,
A transport mechanism that is provided in a physical distribution passage that extends horizontally along the side surface of one of the side surfaces of the plurality of process chambers, and that transports a processing object or a transport container in which the processing objects are stored between the process chambers ;
Replacement for replacing the processing container in the transport container received from the transport mechanism in the direction in which the process chambers are arranged and replaced with the packing container, and delivering the packing container to the transfer chamber Room,
A delivery port formed on the floor of the replacement chamber for delivering the packaging container;
A transfer room provided below the replacement room;
Formed on the side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber, and a worker passage for an operator to enter and exit the replacement chamber;
A transport vehicle provided in the transfer chamber so as to be horizontally movable in order to receive a packing container from the replacement chamber via the transfer port and transport it outside,
The transport vehicle includes a fork that holds the packaging container and moves up and down along the column, and the column is a height position when the fork receives the packaging container from the replacement chamber, a height above the delivery port. It is characterized by being configured to be stretchable between a position and a height position lower than the delivery port, which is a height position when moving horizontally in the transfer chamber.

It is preferable that a cleaning chamber or an equipment storage chamber for cleaning the processing apparatus used in the replacement chamber is connected to the worker passage.
The worker passage may also serve as a passage for an operator to enter and exit the process chamber.
A plurality of the replacement chambers may be arranged.
The delivery port may be formed on at least two floor surfaces of the plurality of replacement chambers.
The cleaning chamber is preferably shared by the process chamber and the replacement chamber.
The delivery port is formed on the floor surface of the worker passage instead of the floor surface of the replacement chamber ,
The transfer chamber may be provided below the worker passage .

  In the present invention, a plurality of process chambers for obtaining a processed product by processing the processed material are provided, and a transport mechanism for storing the processed product or the processed product in a transport container and transporting between the process chambers is provided in the distribution passage. In the processing equipment installed in the facility, when transferring the processing object or the packaging container containing the processing object to the outside, a transfer chamber is arranged downstairs of the process chamber, and the space between the transport container and the packaging container In this case, the object to be processed or the object to be processed is replaced at the same time, and the object to be processed received from the transfer chamber is transferred to the transfer mechanism, or the object to be processed received from the transfer mechanism is transferred to the transfer chamber. A chamber is provided in a row of process chambers, and a delivery port is formed on the floor surface of the replacement chamber for receiving or discharging the packaging container between the replacement chamber and the transfer chamber. Therefore, since the worker's passage for the worker to enter and exit the replacement chamber can be disposed adjacent to the side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber, for example, a processing device used in the replacement chamber When transporting to this replacement chamber, it can be easily transported by the worker through the worker passage, and the workability can be improved by reducing the lifting and lowering of the worker.

It is a perspective view which shows the processing equipment of this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of said processing equipment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows said processing equipment. It is a top view which expands and shows a part of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows said processing equipment. It is a perspective view which shows the stacker crane provided in said processing equipment. It is a perspective view which shows the delivery member used for delivery of the conveyance container by said stacker crane. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the process chamber of said processing equipment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the process chamber of said processing equipment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the process chamber of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a side view which shows an example of an effect | action of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows the other example of said processing equipment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of the process chamber of said processing equipment. It is a top view which shows the conventional processing equipment.

  The treatment facility of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, taking as an example a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory that manufactures a solid preparation (product) of a pharmaceutical product that is a processed material from a powder raw material that is a processed material. . First, the main part of this factory will be schematically described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. This factory is a raw material powder to be processed and intermediate products and products obtained from this raw material powder. Process chamber 21 for performing processing such as filling, storage, weighing, granulation, sieving, tableting (tablet), coating, inspection, packaging, etc., for example, into a container C Is provided adjacent to the processing station 7 in which a plurality of processing floors 1 are arranged in a plurality of layers, for example, four layers, and after the powder raw material and processing before processing are finished. A storage warehouse 2 for storing a packaging container D in which a storage object such as a product (solid preparation) is stored, and a transfer chamber 3 for transferring the packaging container D between the processing station 7 and the storage warehouse 2. And are provided, Transfer chamber is configured to be passed from the lower side of the packaging container D by the conveying vehicle 5 to be described later with respect to 3 processing station 7. An operator passage 62 through which an operator enters and exits the process chamber 21 is provided adjacent to the side of the process chamber 21. 2 and 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a delivery port for delivering the packaging container D between the processing station 7 and the transfer chamber 3. In this example, the delivery port 22 is provided at a plurality of locations, for example, 3 locations. ing. Outer walls (not shown) are formed outside the processing station 7, the storage warehouse 2, and the transfer chamber 3, and each level of the factory is partitioned by a floor surface 11, for example. 2 and 3, a part of the processing station 7 is notched and drawn so that the storage warehouse 2 and the transfer chamber 3 can be seen, and the process chamber 21 and the like are simplified and drawn. Yes.

  The storage warehouse 2 is provided on a predetermined level, for example, the second floor in the factory, and includes a plurality of storage shelves 4 for storing the packing containers D side by side and vertically in a shelf shape. These storage shelves 4 are arranged in parallel so as to be separated from each other, for example, so that a transport vehicle 5 described later can travel between the storage shelves 4 and 4 and access the respective storage shelves 4. The storage warehouse 2 has a receipt / shipment area 2a for receiving powder raw materials from the outside of the factory and delivering products to the outside of the factory. For example, a vertical transport mechanism such as a traverser (not shown) for moving up and down between the first floor and the second floor to deliver the powder raw material and the product is provided at the position. After the powder raw material is stored in a packing container D such as a cardboard, a cement bag, or a fiber (paper) drum, it is carried into the receipt / shipment area 2a from the outside of the factory, and inspection is performed. For example, a plurality of pallets or the like are stacked on the transport table 16 and lifted up to the second floor by the vertical transport mechanism, and stored in the storage warehouse 2 on the transport table 16 as the packing container D via the transport vehicle 5. become. Further, the product is stored in the storage warehouse 2 on the transport table 16 in a state of being stored in the packing container D, and is lowered to the first floor by the above-described vertical transport mechanism and shipped.

  The transfer chamber 3 described above is provided on the same level as the storage warehouse 2, for example, on the second floor, and one end side thereof is connected to the storage warehouse 2 and the other end side enters the internal area of the processing station 7. In FIG. 2, the lower end of the transfer port 22 described above is formed. The internal atmosphere of the transfer chamber 3 has a lower management level than the atmosphere in each process chamber 21 and is set to the same level as a later-described replacement chamber 30.

  On the floor surface 11 between the storage shelves 4, 4, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, transport paths 6 such as magnetic tape are laid in parallel with the storage shelves 4. It extends horizontally toward the station 7, merges into one at a position close to the storage warehouse 2, for example, and branches into a plurality at the transfer chamber 3, as shown in FIG. Each of the transfer ports 22 is formed up to a lower position. In addition, a plurality of transport vehicles 5 such as AGF (Auto Guided Forklift) configured to be movable in the horizontal direction along the transport path 6 are provided on the transport path 6. Comprises a traveling vehicle main body 5a and a fork 5b which is a delivery mechanism for holding the carrier 16 loaded with the packing container D so as to be movable up and down.

  As will be described later, the fork 5b retracts downward when the transport vehicle 5 moves horizontally, and extends upward when the packing container D (transport table 16) is delivered to the replacement chamber 30 and the storage warehouse 2. It is configured. A detection unit (not shown) that detects the conveyance path 6 is provided on the lower surface of the conveyance vehicle 5 so as to be movable along the conveyance path 6. 4 is a marker such as a magnet attached to a stop position of the transport vehicle 5 on the floor surface 11, for example, a position below the transfer port 22. The transport vehicle 5 is a marker 9 by a sensor (not shown) provided on the lower surface. The position is read and stopped above the marker 9 according to an instruction from the control unit 10 to be described later, and a predetermined delivery operation is performed. Although the drawing is omitted in FIG. 2 described above, the marker 9 is provided on the floor surface 11 at each position facing the storage shelf 4 in the storage warehouse 2 as well. In this example, the transport path 6 on which the transport vehicle 5 travels branches from the main line 6a toward the transfer port 22 in the transfer chamber 3 and extends to a position close to a distribution passage 17 of the stacker crane 12 described later. The transfer container C can be delivered to and from the stacker crane 12. The transport vehicle 5 may be, for example, a forklift that is manually operated (operated) by an operator.

  In the processing station 7, a distribution passage 17, which is a transfer path for transferring the transfer container C between the process chambers 21, extends from one end of the factory to the other end in the left-right direction (Y direction) in FIG. 2. The distribution passage 17 is vertically formed through the floor surface 11 from the lower layer (first floor) to the upper layer (fourth floor) of the processing floor 1 in the vertical direction. On both sides along the length direction of the physical distribution passage 17, process chambers 21 for performing the above-described processes are arranged, and these process chambers 21 are stacked over a plurality of layers, for example, the fourth floor. ing. The internal areas of these process chambers 21 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, rails 41 that are laid horizontally along the distribution passage 17 are provided on the floor surface of the distribution passage 17. A stacker crane 12 is disposed which is a transport mechanism that can move horizontally on 41, move the transport container C up and down, and hold the transport container C forward and backward with respect to the process chambers 21 on both sides of the distribution passage 17. As shown in FIG. 6, the stacker crane 12 includes two column portions 42 and 42 that extend in the vertical direction with a space therebetween, and base portions 43 and 43 that support the column portions 42 and 42 from above and below. . In FIG. 5, reference numerals 44 and 46 denote lifts and wheels, respectively, which are configured so that the stacker crane 12 travels on the rail 41 and can move the transport container C up and down along the pillar portions 42 and 42. A transport plate 45 for placing the transport container C is installed on the lift 44, and is configured to be movable back and forth in the horizontal direction with respect to the arrangement of the process chambers 21. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 28 denotes a transfer port formed for transferring the transfer container C between the stacker crane 12 and each process chamber 21, and is configured to be opened and closed by an open / close door 28a, for example. It should be noted that the transport container C is temporarily stored on the inner wall surfaces on both sides in the length direction of the physical distribution passage 17 at positions that do not interfere with the operation of the stacker crane 12 and the delivery of the transport container C in the physical distribution passage 17. The intermediate storage shelves (not shown) are respectively provided, and the transfer container C in the middle of processing is transferred to the intermediate storage shelves by the stacker crane 12.

  In each process chamber 21, a transfer mechanism 15 for transferring the transfer container C between the process chamber 21 and the stacker crane 12 is provided at a position close to the transfer port 28. As shown in FIG. 7, the delivery mechanism 15 is composed of, for example, two conveyors 15a and 15a arranged apart from each other with respect to the transport direction of the transport container C (the advance / retreat direction of the transport plate 45 described above). . The separation distance between the conveyors 15a and 15a is set to be larger than the width dimension of the conveyance plate 45 and smaller than the width dimension of the conveyance container C, and the conveyance plate 45 on which the conveyance container C is placed is transferred. The transfer container C is delivered to the delivery mechanism 15 by being extended to an upper position and then lowering the transfer table 16. When the stacker crane 12 receives the transport container C from the delivery mechanism 15, the stacker crane 12 operates in the reverse order. For example, two transfer mechanisms 15 are arranged side by side in the advancing / retreating direction of the transfer plate 45, a position where the transfer container C is transferred to and from the stacker crane 12, and a position close to the inside of the process chamber 21. It is comprised so that the conveyance container C can be conveyed between. These delivery mechanisms 15 are supported at a position higher than the floor surface 11 by a support member (not shown). The transfer mechanism 15 is provided at a position where the transfer container C is transferred between the stacker crane 12 and the transfer vehicle 5 in the transfer chamber 3 described above.

  Next, the processing floor 1 will be described with reference to FIG. On the side of the row of process chambers 21 arranged along the distribution passage 17 on the side opposite to the distribution passage 17, worker passages 62 for workers to enter and exit from the process chamber 21 are provided. Yes. The worker passage 62 is set to a high management level in the internal area as in the process chamber 21. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 29 denotes a door for an operator to enter and exit each process chamber 21. The worker passage 62 is connected to a changing room (not shown) through which the worker passing through the worker passage 62 changes clothes.

  Further, on the side opposite to the row of the process chambers 21 on the side surface of the worker passage 62, equipment related to the processing device 27 provided in the process chamber 21 such as a dust collector, an air conditioner, or a switchboard is installed. Machine chambers 61 for installing (both not shown) are arranged. Further, for example, at the right end of the row of the process chambers 21 on the front side in FIG. 5, instead of the process chambers 21, a common cleaning chamber (or a cleaning chamber for cleaning the processing device 27 used in each process chamber 21 (or An equipment storage room 37 for storing equipment used in the machine room 61 and the process room 21 is disposed, and the processing device 27 is connected to the cleaning room from each process room 21 via, for example, a worker passage 62. After being carried into 37 by the operator and cleaned, it is returned to the process chamber 21. Here, as the processing apparatus 27 for cleaning in the cleaning chamber 37, there may be, for example, an apparatus main body, peripheral equipment, or related equipment in addition to the processing apparatus 27, depending on the type of processing. For simplification, it is described as the processing device 27. Further, for example, in the case of the process chamber 21 for performing the inspection, the processing device 27 cleaned in the cleaning chamber 37 is an inspection device or a peripheral device related to the inspection device.

  Next, the process chamber 21 already described will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The process chamber 21 is set to have a predetermined management level in accordance with each of the processes described above. Each process chamber 21 is often provided with a processing device 27 such as an apparatus main body and peripheral equipment corresponding to processing performed inside, and these processing devices 27 are provided with casters on the lower surface, for example. Or installed on a carriage so that an operator can transfer between the process chambers 21 and the cleaning chamber 37 or transfer between the plurality of process chambers 21 for use. ing.

  In addition, a replacement chamber 30 for transferring the powder raw material from the packing container D to the transport container C is provided along the direction in which the process chambers 21 are arranged (Y direction). A plurality of, for example, three locations are provided so as to be adjacent to each other on the central side of the process chambers 21. The replacement chamber 30 may be subjected to pretreatment such as crushing and sieving together with the transfer of the powder raw material, or may be further weighed after the pretreatment. In this example, as the exchange chamber 30, a first exchange chamber 31 that performs only the transfer of the powder raw material, a second exchange chamber 32 that performs the transfer, sieving and weighing of the powder raw material, and the powder raw material. A third exchange chamber 33 for performing transfer, crushing and weighing is arranged in this order from the right side in FIG.

  If these exchange chambers 31-33 are demonstrated on behalf of the 2nd exchange chamber 32, the 2nd exchange chamber 32 will be by the division wall 25 in the running direction (Y direction in FIG. 5) of the stacker crane 12, for example. The weighing chamber 34 and the pretreatment chamber 35 are airtightly partitioned into two chambers, and the management levels of the internal atmosphere of the weighing chamber 34 and the pretreatment chamber 35 are individually set as described later. The pretreatment chamber 35 is an area where the packing container D is received from the transfer chamber 3 and unpacked, and the powder raw material is subjected to a sieving process, and the management level of the internal atmosphere is set lower than that of the process chamber 21. ing. On the floor surface 11 of the pretreatment chamber 35, the transfer port 22 described above is opened so as to face the transfer chamber 3 below the floor, and the packing container D is transported to the transport vehicle 5 through the transfer port 22. As a result, it is carried into the pretreatment chamber 35 from the lower side (transfer chamber 3).

  The weighing chamber 34 is an area for receiving the powder raw material that has been pretreated in the pretreatment chamber 35, weighing it, storing it in the transfer container C, and delivering it to the stacker crane 12. Is higher than the pretreatment chamber 35, and is set at the same level as the worker passage 62 and the process chamber 21. Therefore, in the second replacement chamber 32, the powder raw material is transferred from the pretreatment chamber 35 to the weighing chamber 34 via the partition wall 25 so that the internal atmospheres of the weighing chamber 34 and the pretreatment chamber 35 do not mix with each other. For transport, a transport device 51, for example, a pneumatic transport device is provided, and a transport pipe 52 for transporting the powder raw material from the pretreatment chamber 35 to the weighing chamber 34 penetrates the partition wall 25 in an airtight manner. The pretreatment chamber 35 and the weighing chamber 34 are airtightly connected to one end side and the other end side of the transport pipe 52, respectively, and a powder raw material feeding portion 53 and a powder raw material receiving portion for storing the powder raw material. 54 is provided, and the powder raw material delivery part 53 is blown by a blower or the like (not shown) for sending clean gas, for example, air, toward the transport pipe 52 through the internal region of the powder raw material delivery part 53. An apparatus is provided, and the powder raw material receiving section 54 is provided with a powder recovery section such as a filter (not shown) for separating and recovering the powder raw material transported from the transport pipe 52 from the air. For example, the air separated from the powder raw material in the powder raw material receiving unit 54 is discharged to the outside of the factory so as not to contact the internal atmosphere in the weighing chamber 34, for example.

  Next, the pretreatment chamber 35 will be described in detail. Although the drawing is omitted in FIG. 5, the packing container D (conveying table 16) is loaded by the transport vehicle 5 through the delivery port 22 as shown in FIG. 8. The transfer mechanism 15 including the above-described conveyors 15 a and 15 a is provided in the area where the transfer is performed. For example, two transfer mechanisms 15 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the stacker crane 12. These conveyors 15a and 15a are set so as to be separated from each other so as not to interfere with the fork 5b of the transport vehicle 5 described above, and the forks with respect to the mounting surface of the packing container D (transport table 16) in the delivery mechanism 15 The packaging container D is delivered to and from the delivery mechanism 15 by raising and lowering 5b. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, a door (not shown) is opened and closed between the delivery mechanisms 15 and 15 for delivering the packaging container D to and from the transport vehicle 5 and between the delivery mechanism 15 and the delivery port 22. In this case, the atmosphere in the transfer chamber 3 in which the transport vehicle 5 travels and the atmosphere in the pretreatment chamber 35 are partitioned in an airtight manner. Therefore, the area surrounded by the inner walls of the partition walls 26 and 26 and the pretreatment chamber 35 forms an air lock chamber.

  In the pretreatment chamber 35, the above-described powder raw material feeding section 53 and a sieving device (processing device 27) for sieving the powder raw material are provided. In addition, as described above, since the packaging container D brought into contact with the atmosphere outside the factory is carried into the pretreatment chamber 35, the internal atmosphere is partitioned from the worker passage 62 and other process chambers 21. The management level is set lower than that of the worker passage 62 and the other process chambers 21. Therefore, the door 29 of the worker passage 62 is not provided in the pretreatment chamber 35, and a stairway 55 is provided in the pretreatment chamber 35 for the worker to enter and exit from the lower floor (second floor), for example. It has been. As shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary passage 56 is provided on the second floor below the pretreatment chamber 35 through which the operator enters and leaves the pretreatment chamber 35 through the stairs 55. The internal atmosphere is lower than the worker passage 62 and is set to a management level similar to that of the pretreatment chamber 35. Further, a changing room (not shown) separate from the changing room for the worker passage 62 is connected to the auxiliary passage 56 independently. When going back and forth between the chambers 35, changing clothes, washing hands, and the like are performed so that the atmosphere between the process chamber 21 and the pretreatment chamber 35 does not mix with each other. Note that FIG. 8 is drawn by shifting the position of the stairs 55 in order to make the drawing easier to see. The same applies to FIG. 10 described later.

  Next, the weighing chamber 34 will be described with reference to FIG. In this weighing chamber 34, the internal atmosphere is set to a management level comparable to that of the worker passage 62 and the other process chambers 21, so that the worker enters and leaves the weighing chamber 34 in the worker passage 62. A door 29 is provided. Further, the weighing chamber 34 has a powder raw material receiving unit 54 described above, a weigher (processing device 27) for weighing, for example, a powder raw material taken out from the powder raw material receiving unit 54 by an operator, Is provided. The processing device 27 is provided with a weighing container (related equipment) (not shown) that temporarily stores, for example, when the powder raw material is weighed. The weighing container and the processing device 27 are, for example, after the weighing is finished. Then, it is transported by the worker, for example, using the carriage via the worker passage 62 to the common cleaning chamber 37 described above or to be used in another weighing chamber 34.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the weighing chamber 34 is formed with two conveyance ports 28 opened in the physical distribution passage 17 of the stacker crane 12, and the delivery mechanism 15 is also provided at a position facing each conveyance port 28. It has been. Each of these delivery mechanisms 15 and 15 includes, for example, a stacker crane 12 that transports an empty transport container C from a storage location (not shown) by a stacker crane 12 and a transport container C filled with a powder raw material weighed in a weighing chamber 34. In this example, for example, the transfer container C on the delivery mechanism 15 close to the pretreatment chamber 35 is filled with the powder raw material and carried away, and the delivery away from the pretreatment chamber 35 is performed in this example. An empty transport container C is carried into the mechanism 15. As shown in FIG. 9, two of these delivery mechanisms 15 and 15 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the stacker crane 12. As shown in FIG. 9, a partition wall 26 is provided between the area where the powder raw material receiving portion 54 and the processing device 27 are provided and the area close to the worker passage 62. May be partitioned. Further, a process chamber 21 for performing a predetermined process is disposed on the lower layer side of the second replacement chamber 32, but drawing is omitted in FIGS.

  The third replacement chamber 33 described above has substantially the same configuration as the second replacement chamber 32 described above, and the pretreatment chamber 35 is replaced by a crushing device such as a mill or a hopper instead of the sieving device as the processing device 27. Etc. are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the first replacement chamber 31 is an area for replacing the powder raw material from the packing container D to the transport container C without performing pretreatment or weighing, and the floor surface on the third floor 11, a delivery port 22 is formed, and two transport ports 28 that open to the physical distribution passage 17 of the stacker crane 12 are formed. An operator enters and leaves the first replacement chamber 31 through a stairway 55 extending from the auxiliary passage 56. The first replacement chamber 31 is also arranged on the lower floor (second floor), and the packaging container D is carried into the first replacement chamber 31 on the second floor from the side by the transport vehicle 5. Become. On the side surface of the first replacement chamber 31 on the second floor, a door 29 is formed for an operator to enter and exit the first replacement chamber 31 from the auxiliary passage 56 described above. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 27 denotes a processing device.

  The processing floor 1 in which the process chamber 21, the worker passage 62, and the machine room 61 are arranged is similarly laid out in each layer except for the area in which the transfer chamber 3 is arranged, and a predetermined process is performed. Each process chamber 21 is arranged so as to be performed. The replacement chamber 30 in which the transfer port 22 described above is formed on the floor surface 11 is arranged only on the floor (third floor) of the transfer chamber 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the factory includes a control unit 10 that controls the transport operation of the stacker crane 12 and the transport vehicle 5. The control unit 10 includes a CPU, a memory, and a program storage unit. For each part of the factory (the transport vehicle 5 and the stacker crane 12) so that the processed object can be obtained by processing the processed object. And a control signal is output. The program stored in the program storage unit is installed in the control unit 10 from a storage medium (not shown) such as a hard disk, a compact disk, a magnetic optical disk, or a memory card.

  Next, the operation of this factory will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the powder raw material is loaded into the factory from the receipt / shipment area 2a in the state of being filled in the packing container D, and after being inspected, it is lifted to the second floor by a vertical conveyance mechanism (not shown). And stored in the storage warehouse 2 on the transfer table 16. Then, for example, according to an instruction from the control unit 10, the transport vehicle 5 moves along the transport path 6 to a position facing the storage shelf 4 where a predetermined powder raw material is stored, and detects the marker 9 formed on the floor surface 11. Then, the transport vehicle 5 performs a predetermined delivery operation. Specifically, first, the transport vehicle 5 changes its direction so that the fork 5 b faces the storage shelf 4, and for example, the fork 5 b is positioned slightly below the transport table 16 toward the transport table 16. Next, the transport table 16 is lifted from the lower side by the fork 5b. Subsequently, the transport vehicle 5 moves backward, changes its direction toward the processing station 7, and travels along the transport path 6 toward the delivery port 22.

  On the other hand, in the above-described replacement chamber 30, for example, the second replacement chamber 32, an operator enters the weighing chamber 34 through the worker passage 62 as shown in FIG. 11 and as shown in FIG. Another worker enters the pretreatment chamber 35 through the auxiliary passage 56 and the stairs 55. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the transport vehicle 5 detects the marker 9 at a position below the transfer port 22, it stops and performs the following transport operation. First, the transport vehicle 5 extends the fork 5b upward via the transfer port 22 as shown in FIG. 13, and enters the pretreatment chamber 35 via the opening of the partition wall 26 as shown in FIG. The packing container D is carried in together with the transport table 16 and placed on the delivery mechanism 15. As shown in FIG. 15, the packing container D is moved to a position where the operator can take out the packing container D by the delivery mechanisms 15 and 15. Further, the transport vehicle 5 moves along the transport path 6 in order to reduce the fork 5b to the second floor and perform subsequent transport. The operator takes out the powder raw material from the packing container D, performs a sieving process using the processing device 27 (sieving device), and stores the processed powder raw material in the powder raw material delivery unit 53. The packaging container D from which the powder raw material has been taken out is, for example, carried out of the pretreatment chamber 35 via the transfer port 22 by the transport vehicle 5 and transported to a waste unit (not shown).

  In the weighing chamber 34, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, an empty transport container C is carried in from a storage place (not shown) by the stacker crane 12, and placed on the delivery mechanism 15, for example, away from the pretreatment chamber 35. . The operator moves the transfer container C to the delivery mechanism 15 adjacent to the pretreatment chamber 35. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the powder raw material is transported from the powder raw material delivery unit 53 to the powder raw material receiving unit 54 via the transport pipe 52. Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the operator takes out the powder raw material from the powder raw material receiving portion 54 in the weighing chamber 34, weighs it using the processing device 27 (weighing meter), and transports it on the delivery mechanism 15. The container C is stored. When the storage of the powder material of a predetermined weight is completed, as shown in FIG. 19, the transport container C is carried out to the physical distribution passage 17 by the stacker crane 12, and is transported to the process chamber 21 where the next processing is performed.

  In the weighing chamber 34, for example, when the processing device 27 is contaminated by processing, or when the processing device 27 is also used in another weighing chamber 34, as shown in FIG. The processing device 27 and the like are transferred and conveyed to a common cleaning chamber 37 or another weighing chamber 34 by a worker through a worker passage 62.

  On the other hand, for example, depending on the type of powder raw material and the type of processing, the packaging container D is carried into, for example, the third exchange chamber 33 and subjected to crushing instead of the sieving process, or carried into the first exchange chamber 31. Thus, only the replacement of the powder raw material is performed without performing these pretreatments and weighing. And a powder raw material is processed in the state accommodated in the conveyance container C, and each process is performed, A process is performed until it becomes a product.

  According to the above-described embodiment, in a factory in which workpieces and objects to be processed are accommodated in the transport container C, transported by the stacker crane 12, and processed in the process chambers 21 arranged along the physical distribution passage 17. The replacement chamber 30 into which the packing container D is carried from the outside of the factory is arranged in the process chamber 21, and the transfer port 22 is formed on the floor surface 11 of the replacement chamber 30, and the transfer port 5 transfers the transfer port from the lower floor. Since the packing container D is carried into the replacement chamber 30 via 22, the worker passage 62 through which the worker enters and exits the replacement chamber 30 can be provided on the side side adjacent to the replacement chamber 30. Therefore, for example, when the processing device 27 or the like is transported to the replacement chamber 30, even if the processing device 27 is heavy, the worker can easily transport it via the worker passage 62 using the cart 60. Therefore, it can be easily transported by an operator in order to transport to the common cleaning chamber 37 or to use the processing device 27 in the plurality of replacement chambers 30. Further, by arranging the worker passage 62 adjacent to the weighing chamber 34, it is possible to eliminate the lifting and lowering when the worker enters and leaves the weighing chamber 34, so that workability can be improved.

  Further, when the powder raw material is transported from the storage warehouse 2 to the process chamber 21, the exchange chamber 30 is provided as a buffer area between the storage warehouse 2 and the process chamber 21, thereby suppressing contamination via the packing container D. be able to. Further, when the replacement chamber 30 is provided with a region having a higher management level (weighing chamber 34) and a region having a lower management level than the weighing chamber 34 (pretreatment chamber 35), the operator is placed in the pretreatment chamber 35. The auxiliary passage 56 through which the operator enters and exits is arranged below the replacement chamber 30, and the passage through which the operator enters and exits the weighing chamber 34 is provided on the same floor as the weighing chamber 34, so that the operator enters and exits the weighing chamber 34. Since the person passage 62 can be used, that is, the passage between the weighing chamber 34 and the other process chamber 21 can be made common, the construction area of the factory can be reduced.

  In addition, by delivering the packing container D through the delivery port 22 by the transport vehicle 5, the person's flow line (operator passage 62) and the goods flow line (distribution passage 17 and transfer chamber 3) are separated. Therefore, the collision between the worker and the transport vehicle 5 or the stacker crane 12 can be prevented, and the packaging container D or the transport container C by the worker or the object to be processed and the processing in these containers C and D can be prevented. Interference with objects can be suppressed. Furthermore, by directly carrying the packaging container D into the replacement chamber 30 by the transport vehicle 5, the operator does not have to manually transport the heavy packaging container D, and the occurrence of contamination can be suppressed. .

  Further, by holding the packing container D vertically and moving the packing container D by the horizontally movable transporting vehicle 5, it is not necessary to provide a lifting device and a horizontal transport device separately. In the case where a plurality of transfer ports 22 are formed, it is not necessary to provide a lifting device for each transfer port 22, that is, the transport vehicle 5 can be shared by the transfer ports 22, thereby reducing the construction cost of the factory. be able to.

  In the above example, among the passages (worker passage 62 and auxiliary passage 56) through which workers enter and leave the replacement chamber 30, the worker passage 62 is disposed on the same third floor as the replacement chamber 30, and the auxiliary passage 56. Is arranged on the second floor below, but the auxiliary passage 56 may be arranged on the third floor and the worker passage 62 for entering and exiting the weighing chamber 34 may be arranged on the lower floor. In this case, the auxiliary passage 56 is separated from the worker passage 62 on the third floor connected to the other process chamber 21, and the common cleaning chamber 37 that can enter and exit from the auxiliary passage 56 is arranged. Furthermore, although the 2nd exchange chamber 32 and the 3rd exchange chamber 33 which perform pre-processing and the measurement of a powder raw material were provided as the exchange chamber 30, only the 1st exchange chamber 31 may be arrange | positioned in multiple numbers. In this case, the auxiliary passage 56 is disposed on the same floor as the first replacement chamber 31 and is separated from the worker passage 62, and a common cleaning chamber 37 is separately disposed. When the auxiliary passage 56 is arranged on the third floor, the delivery port 22 is not formed in the replacement chamber 30, but is formed in the auxiliary passage 56 and carried in from the delivery port 22 as shown in FIG. The packaging container D may be transported into the replacement chamber 30 by an operator.

  In other words, the delivery port 22 is defined as an area (the pretreatment chamber 35, the first passage 62 other than the pretreatment chamber 35 and the first replacement chamber 31) and the region (the pretreatment chamber 35, the first exchange chamber 31). It may be formed in the replacement chamber 31 or the auxiliary passage 56). However, the delivery port 22 may obstruct the passage of the worker, or it may be difficult for the worker to carry the heavy packaging container D. In some cases, it is preferable to form the transfer port 22 in the replacement chamber 30 as described above. Furthermore, as the replacement chamber 30, one or more of the plurality of process chambers 21 are arranged, and a transfer port 22 is formed on the floor surface 11 for at least one of the replacement chambers 30, and the replacement chamber is formed on the side side. A passage for an operator to enter and exit may be formed at 30. In FIG. 21, the replacement chamber 30 and the like are illustrated in a simplified manner.

  In the above example, the case where the powder raw material is carried into the factory has been described. In this factory, for example, the finished product is taken out from the transport container C and packed in the shipping packing container D. A replacement chamber 30 having a high management level for performing the final process is provided. The replacement chamber 30 is also moved so that both side surfaces thereof are in contact with the distribution passage 17 and the worker passage 62 of the stacker crane 12. It may be arranged so as to be located on the third floor above the floor of the loading chamber 3, and a transfer port 22 that opens toward the transfer chamber 3 may be formed on the floor surface 11. In that case, the transport container C in which the product is stored by the stacker crane 12 is carried into the replacement chamber 30, and the product entered by the worker entering the passage 62 for the worker provided on the side of the replacement chamber 30. Is transferred to the packaging container D. Then, the packaging container D in which the product is stored is loaded on the transport table 16 by the operator, taken out from the lower side by the transport vehicle 5 through the transfer port 22, and stored in the storage shelf 4. . Also in the replacement chamber 30, when the processing device 27 used for packing becomes dirty, or when the processing device 27 is shared in another replacement chamber 30, a common cleaning is performed by an operator using, for example, a carriage. It is conveyed to the chamber 37 and cleaned.

  Further, when the intermediate product which is the processed product is temporarily stored in the packing container D, for example, in the course of processing, for example, when chemical reaction, curing or aging is performed, the intermediate product is packed from the transport container C. Similarly, the replacement chamber 30 to be replaced with the container D is disposed on the third floor above the transfer chamber 3 along the process chamber 21, and the worker passage 62 is disposed on the side and the floor surface 11. Alternatively, the transfer port 22 may be formed.

  In addition, each replacement chamber 30 is provided on one floor. However, for example, when the transfer container C is large, one replacement chamber 30 may be arranged over two upper and lower levels. Such an example will be described with reference to FIG. 22 by taking the first replacement chamber 31 described above as an example. The first replacement chamber 31 is divided into an upper layer area 70 and a lower layer area 71 by the floor surface 11. In each of the areas 70 and 71, a conveyance port 28 that opens to the physical distribution passage 17 of the stacker crane 12 is formed. The upper layer section 70 is provided with the processing device 27 and the delivery mechanism 15 described above, and an opening 72 for raising and lowering the large transport container C is formed on the floor surface 11 between the upper layer section 70 and the lower layer section 71. Has been. Further, in the lower layer area 71, the upper layer area 70 is provided between an input position where an operator can put the powder raw material into the transfer container C from above and a transfer position where the transfer container C is delivered to the stacker crane 12. A vertical transfer mechanism 73 such as a vertical lifter for raising and lowering the transfer container C through the opening 72 is provided, and a delivery mechanism 15 is provided between the vertical transfer mechanism 73 and the transfer port 28 in the lower layer area 71. It has been.

  Then, for example, the empty transport container C carried into the upper layer area 70 by the stacker crane 12 is delivered to the vertical transport mechanism 73 via the delivery mechanism 15, descends to the input position, and the powder raw material is input. Next, when the charging of the powder raw material taken out from the packaging container D carried into the upper layer area 70 through the delivery port 22 is completed, the transportation container C is lowered to the transportation position, and the stacker crane 12 is passed through the delivery mechanism 15. It will be carried out by. Also in this case, the operator similarly enters and exits the replacement chamber 30 through the side auxiliary passage 56, and the processing device 27 is transported to the common cleaning chamber 37 through the auxiliary passage 56 and cleaned. Will be.

  Further, the transport mechanism for transporting the transport container C in the physical distribution passage 17 is not limited to the stacker crane 12. For example, when the process chamber 21 is arranged on only one floor, or the physical flow path 17 by the floor surface 11. When each of the floors is partitioned and a transport mechanism is provided on each floor, a horizontal transport mechanism such as a conveyor may be used. Furthermore, although the process chambers 21 are arranged on both sides of the physical distribution passage 17, the process chambers 21 may be arranged only on one side surface. Furthermore, the transport path 6 is routed so that the transport vehicle 5 can directly access the storage shelf 4. However, a stacker crane 12 is disposed in the storage warehouse 2, and the packing container D is placed between the stacker crane 12 and the transport vehicle 5. The packaging container D may be delivered to the storage shelf 4 by the stacker crane 12.

  In the above example, the present invention has been described by taking a pharmaceutical factory that manufactures a solid preparation as an example. For example, in addition to such a solid preparation, a processing facility provided with a plurality of process chambers 21 for processing an object to be processed For example, the present invention may be applied to factories that manufacture foods and chemicals.

C Transport container D Packing container 1 Processing floor 2 Storage warehouse 3 Transfer chamber 5 Transport vehicle 12 Stacker crane 17 Logistics passage 21 Process chamber 22 Delivery port 30 Replacement chamber

Claims (8)

A plurality of process chambers arranged in a horizontal direction to process a workpiece and obtain a workpiece,
A transport mechanism that is provided in a physical distribution passage that extends horizontally along the side surface of one of the side surfaces of the plurality of process chambers, and that transports a processing object or a transport container storing a processing object between the process chambers;
An exchange chamber that is provided adjacent to the process chamber in the direction of alignment of the process chambers, replaces the object to be processed from the packing container to the transport container, and delivers the transport container to the transport mechanism;
Formed on the side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber, and a worker passage for an operator to enter and exit the replacement chamber;
A delivery port formed on the floor of the replacement chamber for receiving the packaging container;
A transfer room provided below the replacement room ;
A transfer vehicle provided in the transfer chamber so as to be horizontally movable in order to deliver a packing container to the replacement chamber via the transfer port,
The transport vehicle includes a fork that holds the packing container and moves up and down along the support column, and the support column is a height position when the fork transfers the packing container to the replacement chamber, and is above the transfer port. And a height position when moving horizontally in the transfer chamber, which is a height position lower than the delivery port. A plurality of process chambers arranged in a horizontal direction to process a workpiece and obtain a workpiece,
A transport mechanism that is provided in a physical distribution passage that extends horizontally along the side surface of one of the side surfaces of the plurality of process chambers, and that transports a processing object or a transport container in which the processing objects are stored between the process chambers ;
Replacement for replacing the processing container in the transport container received from the transport mechanism in the direction in which the process chambers are arranged and replaced with the packing container, and delivering the packing container to the transfer chamber Room,
A delivery port formed on the floor of the replacement chamber for delivering the packaging container;
A transfer room provided below the replacement room;
Formed on the side surface opposite to the physical distribution passage in the replacement chamber, and a worker passage for an operator to enter and exit the replacement chamber;
A transport vehicle provided in the transfer chamber so as to be horizontally movable in order to receive a packing container from the replacement chamber via the transfer port and transport it outside,
The transport vehicle includes a fork that holds the packaging container and moves up and down along the column, and the column is a height position when the fork receives the packaging container from the replacement chamber, a height above the delivery port. A processing facility characterized in that it is configured to be stretchable between a position and a height position lower than the delivery port, which is a height position when moving horizontally in the transfer chamber.   The processing facility according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning chamber for cleaning a processing device used in the replacement chamber is connected to the worker passage.   The processing facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the worker passage also serves as a passage for an operator to enter and exit the process chamber.   The processing facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the replacement chambers are arranged.   The processing facility according to claim 5, wherein the delivery port is formed on at least two floor surfaces of the plurality of replacement chambers.   The processing facility according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning chamber is shared by a plurality of the process chamber and the replacement chamber. The delivery port is formed on the floor surface of the worker passage instead of the floor surface of the replacement chamber ,
The processing equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer chamber is provided below the worker passage .

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