阅读说明：本技术 气体供应装置及气体供应装置的密封垫更换方法 (Gas supply device and method for replacing gasket of gas supply device ) 是由 朴用建 李祥煜 金容澈 徐彻教 金相镇 于 2020-08-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的在于提供一种能够防止密封垫粘在容器的阀连接器而导致密封垫双重插入的情形的气体供应装置和密封垫更换方法。根据本发明的气体供应装置的密封垫更换方法,包括如下步骤：a)将密封垫置于配备在容器的阀连接器与连接在气体需求处的连接配管连接器之间而结合所述阀连接器和所述连接配管连接器；b)解除所述阀连接器和连接配管连接器的结合；c)从所述阀连接器和连接配管连接器之间分离所述密封垫之后,移送所述密封垫,其中,在执行所述a)步骤至c)步骤的过程中,包括密封垫夹持器夹持所述密封垫,并且同时移送夹持了所述密封垫的密封垫夹持器和所述连接配管连接器的过程。(An object of the present invention is to provide a gas supply device and a gasket replacement method capable of preventing a gasket from sticking to a valve connector of a container to cause a double insertion of the gasket. The gasket replacement method of the gas supply apparatus according to the present invention comprises the steps of: a) joining a valve connector and a connection pipe connector provided at a container by interposing a gasket between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector; b) releasing the valve connector and the connecting pipe connector from being coupled; c) transferring the gasket after separating the gasket from between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector, wherein in the process of performing the steps a) to c), a process of clamping the gasket by a gasket clamp and simultaneously transferring the gasket clamp clamping the gasket and the connection pipe connector is included.)

1. A method for replacing a gasket of a gas supply device includes the following steps:

a) joining a valve connector and a connection pipe connector provided at a container by interposing a gasket between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector;

b) releasing the valve connector and the connecting pipe connector from being coupled;

c) removing the gasket after separating the gasket from between the valve connector and the connection piping connector,

wherein the step a) to the step c) include a step of clamping the gasket by a gasket clamp, and simultaneously transferring the gasket clamp clamping the gasket and the connection pipe connector.

2. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

in the step b), the gasket holder holds the gasket in a state where the coupling of the valve connector and the connection pipe connector is released.

3. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

after the step c), a step of recovering the gasket to a gasket recovery section by releasing the clamping of the gasket by the gasket holder is performed.

4. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

in the step c), after the first transfer of the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder holding the gasket in a direction facing the valve connector so as to be away from the valve connector, the gasket holder is transferred in a direction perpendicular to the first transfer for a second time.

5. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

the step a) comprises the following steps:

a-1) the gasket holder holding a new gasket from a gasket supply part and transferring the gasket holder, thereby coupling the held gasket to the connection piping connector;

a-2) simultaneously transferring the gasket holder and the connection pipe connector in the same direction in a state where the gasket holder holds the gasket, so that the valve connector and the connection pipe connector are coupled with the gasket interposed therebetween.

6. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 5,

in the step a-2), the first transfer mechanism is driven to perform a first transfer to transfer the connector connecting portion including the connection tubing connector to the position of the valve connector, and the connection tubing connector transfer mechanism is driven to perform a second transfer to transfer only the connection tubing connector to join the valve connector and the connection tubing connector.

7. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

the gasket holder holds the gasket by a pair of gasket holding members approaching each other or a pair of gasket holding members departing from each other to release the state of holding the gasket.

8. The gasket replacement method for a gas supply apparatus according to claim 1,

a gasket holder transfer mechanism that transfers the gasket holder moves the gasket holder in a horizontal direction and transfers in a direction opposite to the valve connector or in a direction perpendicular to the direction opposite to the valve connector.

9. A method for replacing a gasket of a gas supply device includes the following steps:

a) joining a valve connector and a connection pipe connector provided at a container by interposing a gasket between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector;

b) releasing the combination of the valve connector and the connecting pipe connector, and clamping the sealing gasket by a sealing gasket clamping device;

c) and simultaneously transferring the gasket holder holding the gasket and the connection pipe connector to separate the gasket from the valve connector.

10. A gas supply apparatus comprising:

a connector fastening part for connecting a connection piping connector connected at a gas demand to a valve connector provided at a container;

a first transfer mechanism that advances and retreats the connector fastening portion in the valve connector direction, and a second transfer mechanism that transfers the connector fastening portion in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of the advance and retreat;

a gasket transfer unit including a gasket holder for transferring a gasket interposed between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector in a state where the gasket is held;

and a control unit which controls the gasket holder holding the gasket coupled to the connection pipe connector to be transferred simultaneously with the connection pipe connector.

11. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10,

the control section controls such that: the valve connector and the connection pipe connector are released from each other with a gasket interposed therebetween and are coupled to each other, and the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder are transferred simultaneously after the gasket holder holds the gasket.

12. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10,

the control section controls such that: after the gasket holder holding the gasket is moved to a position of a gasket recovery portion, the clamping of the gasket is released so that the gasket is recovered to the gasket recovery portion.

13. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10,

the control section controls such that: the method includes the steps of first transferring the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder so that the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder are separated from each other in a direction facing the valve connector, and then transferring the gasket holder in a direction perpendicular to the first transfer.

14. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10,

the control section controls such that: the gasket holder holds a new gasket from a gasket supply portion, transfers the gasket holder to couple the held gasket to the connection pipe connector, and simultaneously transfers the gasket holder and the connection pipe connector in the same direction with the gasket held by the gasket holder to couple the valve connector and the connection pipe connector with the gasket interposed therebetween.

15. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10,

the mat sealing holder is constituted by a pair of mat sealing holder members that are close to or away from each other,

wherein the gasket holder further comprises: a gasket holder operating mechanism that moves the pair of gasket holding members toward or away from each other; a gasket holder transfer mechanism for transferring the gasket holder in a horizontal direction,

wherein the control section controls to drive the gasket holder operating mechanism so that the pair of gasket holding members come close to each other to hold the gasket or get away from each other to release the held state of the gasket.

16. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 10, characterized by being provided with:

a connection tubing connector housing surrounding an exterior of the connection tubing connector;

a first transfer mechanism for integrally transferring the connection pipe connector and the connection pipe connector housing toward the valve connector;

a connection pipe connector transfer mechanism for transferring only the connection pipe connector in the direction of the valve connector without transferring the connection pipe connector housing.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a gas supply device and a gasket replacement method, and more particularly, to a gas supply device and a gasket replacement method capable of preventing a gasket from being detached and preventing the gasket from being stuck to a valve connector of a container.

Background

In general, as for an apparatus that supplies a gas to an apparatus that utilizes the gas (particularly, to a gas demand place where fine operations are performed such as a semiconductor device), a kind of gas suitable for various purposes is required to satisfy predetermined concentration, pressure, and the like.

In order to efficiently supply such a gas, many kinds of gases, particularly gases having harmful properties such as flammability, toxicity, corrosiveness, and the like, are stored under high pressure and are strictly controlled in an independent space isolated from humans.

A gas storage container (hereinafter, simply referred to as "container") that stores gas is connected to a gas demand place, and if the gas stored in the container is completely consumed, the container is replaced after separating a connection pipe connected to the gas demand place from a valve of the gas container, and then gas is resupplied by coupling a connector fastening portion including a connection pipe connector connected to the gas demand place to a valve connector of the replaced container.

In the case of combining the valve connector and the connection piping connector of the vessel, a gasket (gasket) for maintaining airtightness therebetween is provided. Since the gasket is made of a resin material, the gasket may be stuck to the valve connector even when the connection pipe connector is separated from the valve connector for replacing the container in a state where the valve connector and the connection pipe connector are coupled for a long time.

As described above, in the case where the gasket is stuck to the valve connector, there is no additional mechanism for sensing this, and an additional component is required in order to confirm whether the gasket is stuck using the sensing sensor or the like, so that there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost of the device is increased.

If the connection piping connector and the valve connector are coupled after a new sealing gasket is coupled to the connection piping connector in a state where the sealing gasket for the valve connector is still bonded, since two sealing gaskets (the existing sealing gasket and the new sealing gasket) are inserted between the connection piping connector and the valve connector in a double insertion manner, an accident of gas leakage may occur due to failure in maintaining airtightness.

Further, when the connection pipe connector is transferred and coupled to the valve connector in a state where the new packing is coupled to the connection pipe connector, a problem may occur in that the new packing is separated from the connection pipe connector during the transfer of the connection pipe connector.

As a prior art related to a gas supply apparatus of a semiconductor device, korean patent laid-open publication No. 10-0242982 is disclosed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas supply device and a gasket replacement method capable of preventing a gasket from being stuck to a valve connector of a container to cause double insertion of the gasket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas supply device and a gasket replacement method that can prevent a gasket from being detached from a connection pipe connector when the connection pipe connector is transferred to replace the gasket.

The gasket replacing method of the gas supply device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes the steps of: a) joining a valve connector and a connection pipe connector provided at a container by interposing a gasket between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector; b) releasing the valve connector and the connecting pipe connector from being coupled; c) transferring the gasket after separating the gasket from between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector, wherein in the process of performing the steps a) to c), a process of clamping the gasket by a gasket clamp and simultaneously transferring the gasket clamp clamping the gasket and the connection pipe connector is included.

In the b) step, the gasket holder may hold the gasket in a state where the coupling of the valve connector and the connection pipe connector is released.

After the step c), a step of recovering the gasket to a gasket recovery portion by releasing the clamping of the gasket by the gasket holder may be performed.

In the step c), after the first transfer of the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder holding the gasket in a direction facing the valve connector so as to be away from the valve connector, the gasket holder may be transferred in a direction perpendicular to the first transfer.

The step a) may include the steps of: a-1) the gasket holder holding a new gasket from a gasket supply part and transferring the gasket holder, thereby coupling the held gasket to the connection piping connector; a-2) simultaneously transferring the gasket holder and the connection pipe connector in the same direction in a state where the gasket holder holds the gasket, so that the valve connector and the connection pipe connector are coupled with the gasket interposed therebetween.

In the step a-2), the first transfer mechanism may be driven to perform a first transfer to transfer the connector connection portion including the connection tubing connector to the position of the valve connector, and the connection tubing connector transfer mechanism may be driven to perform a second transfer to transfer only the connection tubing connector to join the valve connector and the connection tubing connector.

The gasket holder may hold the gasket by a pair of gasket holding members approaching each other or a pair of gasket holding members departing from each other to release the clamped state of the gasket.

A gasket holder transfer mechanism that transfers the gasket holder may move the gasket holder in a horizontal direction and transfer in a direction opposite to the valve connector or in a direction perpendicular to the direction opposite to the valve connector.

Another method for replacing a gasket of a gas supply apparatus according to the present invention includes the steps of: a) joining a valve connector and a connection pipe connector provided at a container by interposing a gasket between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector; b) releasing the combination of the valve connector and the connecting pipe connector, and clamping the sealing gasket by a sealing gasket clamping device; c) and simultaneously transferring the gasket holder holding the gasket and the connection pipe connector to separate the gasket from the valve connector.

The gas supply device of the present invention includes: a connector fastening part for connecting a connection piping connector connected at a gas demand to a valve connector provided at a container; a first transfer mechanism that advances and retreats the connector fastening portion in the valve connector direction, and a second transfer mechanism that transfers the connector fastening portion in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of the advance and retreat; a gasket transfer unit including a gasket holder for transferring a gasket interposed between the valve connector and the connection pipe connector in a state where the gasket is held; and a control unit which controls the gasket holder holding the gasket coupled to the connection pipe connector to be transferred simultaneously with the connection pipe connector.

The control portion may perform control such that: the valve connector and the connection pipe connector are released from each other with a gasket interposed therebetween and are coupled to each other, and the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder are transferred simultaneously after the gasket holder holds the gasket.

The control portion may perform control such that: after the gasket holder holding the gasket is moved to a position of a gasket recovery portion, the clamping of the gasket is released so that the gasket is recovered to the gasket recovery portion.

The control portion may perform control such that: the method includes the steps of first transferring the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder so that the connection pipe connector and the gasket holder are separated from each other in a direction facing the valve connector, and then transferring the gasket holder in a direction perpendicular to the first transfer.

The control portion may control such that: the gasket holder holds a new gasket from a gasket supply portion, transfers the gasket holder to couple the held gasket to the connection pipe connector, and simultaneously transfers the gasket holder and the connection pipe connector in the same direction with the gasket held by the gasket holder to couple the valve connector and the connection pipe connector with the gasket interposed therebetween.

The mat seal holder may be constituted by a pair of mat seal holding members that are close to or away from each other, and further includes: a gasket holder operating mechanism that moves the pair of gasket holding members toward or away from each other; and a gasket holder transfer mechanism that transfers the gasket holder in a horizontal direction, wherein the control unit controls to drive the gasket holder operating mechanism so that the pair of gasket holding members move closer to each other to hold the gasket or move away from each other to release a state of holding the gasket.

Can be provided with: a connection tubing connector housing surrounding an exterior of the connection tubing connector; a first transfer mechanism for integrally transferring the connection pipe connector and the connection pipe connector housing toward the valve connector; a connection pipe connector transfer mechanism for transferring only the connection pipe connector in the direction of the valve connector without transferring the connection pipe connector housing.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a double insertion of the packing caused by the packing sticking to the valve connector of the container.

Also, it is possible to prevent the gasket from being detached from the connection pipe connector in the case of transferring the connection pipe connector for replacing the gasket.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a gas supply device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a fixing block is coupled to a valve portion of a container in the gas supply device of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a lower module of the gas supply apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a plug module in a gas supply apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a gasket supply portion in the gas supply device of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a gasket transfer unit in the gas supply device of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a transfer mechanism of a connecting piping connector in the gas supply apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing an initial state for coupling a valve connector and a connecting nipple connector in the gas supply apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a state where the gasket supply portion is transferred to cause the gasket holder to hold the gasket in the state of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the gasket transfer part couples the gasket to the connecting pipe connector in the state of fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of fig. 10 viewed from another angle, showing a state in which the packing is coupled to the connecting pipe connector.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which the packing transfer portion and the connector fastening portion are simultaneously transferred such that the connection piping connector and the valve connector are arranged to face each other in the state of fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which the connection tubing connector is rotated and transferred in the state of fig. 12, and thus the connection tubing connector and the valve connector are coupled.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing a state in which the connector fastening portion is rotated and transferred in a state in which the container is replaced, so that the connection piping connector and the valve connector are separated, and the gasket holder is transferred to hold the gasket.

Fig. 15 is a plan view showing a state in which the gasket holder that holds the gasket is transferred together with the connector fastening portion in the state of fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view showing a state where the gasket of the gasket holder is collected in the gasket collection portion in the state of fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which the mat seal holder is transferred to the initial position in the state of fig. 16.

Description of the symbols

1: gas supply device 2: upper module

3: the lower module 4: valve opening and closing module

10: the container 20: valve with a valve body

30: valve connector 31: cover body

50: the handle 211: upper plate

311: upper housing 312: first side shell

313: second side housing 314: lower casing

315: inner housing 320: cover body separating part

330: connector fastening portion 331: connecting pipe connector

335: transfer mechanism 335-1 for connecting piping connector: connector clamping component

335-2: snap shaft 335-3: guide shaft

340: sub-module transfer mechanism 340 a: first transfer mechanism

340 b: the second transfer mechanism 350: alignment block

351: second alignment portion 352: second joint part

352 a: the protrusion 360: plug-in module

361: plug 362: plug support member

363: plug support housing 364: plug transfer guide

370: gasket supply portions 371a, 371 b: sealing gasket

372: gasket housing portion 373: gasket storage section transfer mechanism

380: the gasket transfer portion 381: sealing gasket holder

382: gasket holder operating mechanism 383: first sealing gasket holder transfer mechanism

384: second mat holder transfer mechanism 510, 520, 530: fixed block

511: first coupling portion 512: a first aligning part

Detailed Description

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Here, when referring to the directions, the X axis shown in fig. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction, the Y axis is referred to as the left-right direction, and the Z axis is referred to as the vertical direction. And, the horizontal direction includes the left-right direction and the front-rear direction constituted by the XY plane. In addition, when the front-rear direction is distinguished, the side on which the container 10 is disposed is referred to as front, and the side on which the lower module 3 is disposed is referred to as rear. Also, when the left and right directions are distinguished with reference to the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330, the side where the cover separating portion 320 is disposed is defined as the right side, and the side where the connector fastening portion 330 is disposed is defined as the left side.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the gas supply apparatus 1 of the present invention may include: an upper module 2 including an upper plate 211 fixed to a position spaced upward from a valve portion provided at an upper end of the container 10; a lower module 3 provided at a lower portion of the upper module 2, provided with a cover separating portion 320 and a connector fastening portion 330, the cover separating portion 320 separating a cover 31 covering a valve connector 30, the valve connector 30 being provided at the valve portion, the connector fastening portion 330 for connecting a connection piping connector 331 connected to a gas demand place to the valve connector 30; and a valve opening/closing module 4 for opening and closing the valve of the valve portion.

The container 10 is provided with the valve portion at an upper portion of the container 10 as a configuration for storing and supplying a process gas supplied to a gas demand of a semiconductor device or the like.

The valve portion includes: a valve (not shown) for controlling the supply of gas; a valve connector 30 provided at one side of the valve to be fastened to a connector fastening part 330 of the lower module 3; a cover 31 covering the valve connector 30; a valve shutter (not shown) opens and closes the valve; and a handle 50 connected to an upper portion of the valve gate, and configured to open and close the valve by lifting and lowering the valve gate according to rotation.

Fixing blocks 510, 520, 530 are coupled to the valve portions. The fixing blocks 510, 520, 530 are provided with first alignment portions 512.

The fixing blocks 510, 520, 530 may be formed using a first fixing block 510, a second fixing block 520, and a third fixing block 530 surrounding the valve portion.

If the valve portion is surrounded by the combination of the second and third fixing blocks 520 and 530, the valve connector 30 and the cover 31 in the valve portion are exposed by protruding in a lateral direction with respect to the fixing blocks 520 and 530, and the handle 50 in the valve portion is exposed by protruding in an upward direction with respect to the fixing blocks 520 and 530.

The first fixing block 510 is formed in a rectangular barrel shape having a length in the Y-axis direction, the second fixing block 520 is coupled to one side surface in the Y-axis direction, and a first aligning portion 512 is provided at one side surface in the X-axis direction.

The first alignment portion 512 may be formed of an alignment pin insertion groove 512 concavely formed on one side surface in the X-axis direction.

The lower module 3 is formed to be capable of horizontal transfer and vertical lifting transfer with respect to the upper module 2.

The first aligning portion 512 is configured to align the container 10 by being coupled to a second aligning portion 351 provided in the lower module 3 when the lower module 3 is transferred in the horizontal direction.

The second alignment portion 351 may be formed of an alignment pin 351 having a length in the horizontal direction protruding from an alignment block 350 of the lower module 3, which will be described later, in the X-axis direction, which is a direction facing the alignment pin insertion groove 512.

The alignment of the container 10 is achieved by the alignment pins 351 being inserted into the alignment pin insertion grooves 512.

Although the embodiment shows the case where the first aligning portion 512 is configured as an alignment pin insertion groove and the second aligning portion 351 is configured as an alignment pin, the first aligning portion may be configured as an alignment pin and the second aligning portion may be configured as an alignment pin insertion groove.

Further, although the present embodiment shows a case where the alignment pin is inserted into the alignment pin insertion groove, the present invention is not limited to this, and a case where the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion are fastened or joined may be configured. The manner in which the first and second alignment portions are inserted, fastened, and joined is collectively referred to as "joining".

In the first fixing block 510, a first coupling portion 511 is provided at a position adjacent to the first alignment portion 512, and a second coupling portion 352 is provided at the alignment block 350 of the lower module 3 to be coupled to the first coupling portion 511.

The first coupling portion 511 may be formed of a fixing groove 511 formed by recessing the same surface of the first fixing block 510 as the surface on which the first alignment portion 512 is formed in the X-axis direction.

The second coupling portion 352 may be formed of a fixing block coupling part 352 protruding toward the first coupling portion 511 from the alignment block 350 at a position adjacent to the second alignment portion 351.

A plurality of protrusions 352a are provided at an outer side surface of the fixed block coupling part 352, and the plurality of protrusions 352a are elastically supported by a spring (not shown) provided inside. A projection insertion groove (not shown) into which the projection 352a is inserted is formed inside the fixing groove 511. If the fixing block coupling part 352 is inserted into the fixing groove 511, the protrusion 352a is inserted into the protrusion insertion groove, so that the fixing block coupling part 352 may be prevented from being separated from the fixing groove 511, thereby maintaining the state in which the lower module 3 is coupled to the first fixing block 510.

In the case of pulling out the fixing block coupling part 352 from the fixing groove 511, if the protrusion 352a is moved inward from the surface of the fixing block coupling part 352 against the elastic force of the spring by supplying air (air), the protrusion 352a is disengaged from the protrusion insertion groove. Accordingly, the fixing block coupling part 352 can be disengaged from the fixing groove 511.

A transfer guide (not shown) may be provided at the upper module 2 to be able to transfer the lower module 3 in X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions, respectively. If the operator grips the lower module 3 by hand and applies a force in the axial direction, the lower module 3 can be transferred in any one of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. Also, the combination of the first and second aligning portions 512 and 351, by which the alignment of the container 10 can be achieved, can be achieved by the transfer of the lower module 3.

The lower module 3 is provided with: a plurality of housings 311, 312, 313, 314; a lid separation portion 320; a connector fastening part 330, a sub-module transfer mechanism 340, an alignment block 350, a plug module 360, a gasket supply part 370, and a gasket transfer part 380.

The plurality of housings 311, 312, 313, 314 include: an upper case 311 provided in a plate shape on the upper portion of the lower module 3; a first side case 312 and a second side case 313 coupled to both sides of the upper case 311 in the Y-axis direction; and a lower case 314 spaced downward from the upper case 311, both sides of which are coupled to the first side case 312 and the second side case 313.

The upper case 311 and the first side case 312, the second side case 313, and the lower case 314 are provided to surround the upper and lower portions and both side portions of the lower module 3 except in the front-rear direction.

The cover body separating portion 320 separates the cover body 31 covering the valve connector 30 from the valve connector 30, in which the valve connector 30 is equipped.

The cover body separating portion 320 is formed with a groove so that the cover body 31 is inserted therein, and if a rotating mechanism (not shown) is driven to rotate the cover body separating portion 320 in a state where the cover body 31 is inserted into the groove of the cover body separating portion 320, the cover body 31 is separated from the valve connector 30. In contrast, the rotating mechanism may be driven to couple the cover 31 separated from the cover separating portion 320 to the valve connector 30.

The connector fastening part 330 includes: a connection piping connector 331 connected to a gas demand place; a connecting tubing connector housing 332 (fig. 7) surrounds the outside of the connecting tubing connector 331. The connector fastening portion 330 is provided to be able to connect the connection piping connector 331 to the valve connector 30. If the handle 50 is rotated to open the valve in a state where the connector fastening part 330 and the valve connector 30 are connected, the gas inside the container 10 is supplied to the gas demand place through the valve connector 30 and the connection pipe connector 331. The connection tubing connector 331 and the connection tubing connector housing 332 are rotated together by the driving of the rotating mechanism.

The sub-module transfer mechanism 340 integrally transfers the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) and the front-back direction (X-axis direction). The sub-module transfer mechanism 340 may be configured to include: a first transfer mechanism 340a for integrally transferring the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 in the front-rear direction; and a second transfer mechanism 340b for integrally transferring the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 in the left-right direction.

The first transfer mechanism 340a may be configured by a transfer guide for transferring in a front-rear direction and a cylinder for applying a transfer force by supplying air (air). The second transfer mechanism 340b may be configured by a transfer guide for transferring in the left-right direction and a cylinder for applying a transfer force by supplying air (air).

The rotating mechanism rotates the cover separating part 320 and the connector fastening part 330. The rotation mechanism includes a motor and a decelerator generating a rotation force, and includes a rotation transmission member for transmitting the rotation force to the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330.

The rotation transmitting member transmits the rotational force to the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330, respectively, and if the motor is driven, the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 are simultaneously rotated. In contrast, the rotating mechanism may be configured to be equipped with two motors, and the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 may be rotated by the two motors, respectively.

An inner case 315 opened in front and rear and surrounding left and right and up and down may be provided to enable the cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 to be provided. The inner case 315 can be combined with an upper portion of the lower case 314.

The alignment block 350 is coupled to protrude from a front end of the inner housing 315, and is formed in a substantially polyhedral shape. An alignment pin 351 as a second alignment portion 351 is formed in a shape protruding toward the valve portion on a front surface of the alignment block 350, and a fixed block coupling member 352 as the second coupling portion 352 is formed in a shape protruding toward the valve portion on a side portion of the alignment pin 351.

The plug module 360 is described with reference to fig. 3 and 4.

The plug module 360 includes: a plug 361 coupled to the connector fastening part 330 in order to prevent foreign substances from entering the inside of the connector fastening part 330 in a state where the valve connector 30 and the connector fastening part 330 are not fastened; a plug support member 362 for supporting an end of the plug 361; a plug support housing 363 to which the plug support member 362 is integrally supported; a plug transfer guide 364 that functions as a guide to integrally transfer the plug 361, the plug support member 362, and the plug support case 363 in the front-rear direction; the plug transfer driving unit 365 provides a driving force for integrally transferring the plug 361, the plug support member 362, and the plug support case 363 in the front-rear direction.

The gasket supply portion 370 is explained with reference to fig. 3 and 5.

The packing supply part 370 is a part for supplying a new packing (gasket) to be installed between the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30 when the container 10 is replaced, and includes: a housing section 372 housing the plurality of gaskets 371 a; and a gasket housing section transfer mechanism 373 for transferring the gasket housing section 372 in the front-rear direction.

The gasket housing section transfer mechanism 373 may include: a transfer guide guiding transfer in a front-rear direction; a driving part providing a driving force to be transferred along with the transfer guide.

The gasket housing 372 is provided with a plurality of gaskets 371a in an upright state, and is configured so that a gasket holder 381, which will be described later, can be detached from the gasket discharge portion 372a, which is an opening formed in the gasket housing 372, after the gasket holder 381 holds the gasket positioned at one side edge.

The gasket transfer section 380 will be described with reference to fig. 3 and 6.

The gasket transfer section 380 includes: a gasket holder 381 configured by a pair of gasket holder members 381a, 381b for holding a gasket; a mat seal holder operating mechanism 382 for operating the pair of mat seal holder parts 381a, 381b in such a manner as to be close to or away from each other; a first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383 for integrally transferring the gasket holder 381 and the gasket holder operation mechanism 382 in the front-rear direction; and a second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 for integrally transferring the gasket holder 381, the gasket holder operating mechanism 382, and the first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383 in the left-right direction.

The first and second mat holder transfer mechanisms 383 and 384 may be configured by a transfer guide for guiding transfer in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and a driving portion that provides a driving force so as to be transferred along with the transfer guide.

The connecting pipe connector transfer mechanism 335 is explained with reference to fig. 7.

The cover separating portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 may be linearly transferred forward and backward by the first transfer mechanism 340 a. Although the first transfer mechanism 340a may be driven to couple the connection pipe connector 331 to the valve connector 30, the entire components including the separation portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 for rotating the cover separation portion 320 and the connector fastening portion 330 are transferred together by the driving of the first transfer mechanism 340a, and thus, an impact may be generated when the connection pipe connector 331 is coupled to the valve connector 30 due to the weight thereof.

In order to prevent such a problem, the connection tubing connector transfer mechanism 335 may be provided separately from the first transfer mechanism 340a, so that in the case of coupling the connection tubing connector 331 to the valve connector 30, the first transfer mechanism 340a is not driven, but the connection tubing connector transfer mechanism 335 is driven to transfer only the connection tubing connector 331 in the front-rear direction.

The connecting tubing connector transfer mechanism 335 may include: a connector catching part 335-1 of which a lower portion is inserted into a groove (not shown) formed at an end of the connection tubing connector 331 so as to be caught with the connection tubing connector 331; a clamping shaft 335-2 clamped to an upper portion of the connector clamping member 335-1 and equipped to be linearly transferred in a front-rear direction; a driving part (not shown) providing a driving force to enable the chucking shaft 335-2 to be linearly transferred in a front-rear direction; the guide shaft 335-3 serves a guide function in a state where the chucking shaft 335-2 is linearly transferred.

In a state where the valve connector 30 and the connecting piping connector 331 are arranged adjacent to each other, if the driving part of the connecting piping connector transfer mechanism 335 is driven, the catching shaft 335-2, the connector catching member 335-1 caught in the catching shaft 335-2, and the connector 331 caught in the connector catching member 335-1 are integrally transferred to the rear, thereby coupling the connecting piping connector 331 to the valve connector 30.

In this case, the connection piping connector 331 may be simultaneously rotated by the driving of the rotating mechanism when coupled to the valve connector 30. Further, since the components of the cover separating portion 320, the rotating cover separating portion 320, and the connector fastening portion 330 are not transferred together with the connection pipe connector 331, it is possible to minimize an impact when the connection pipe connector 331 is coupled to the valve connector 30.

Further, a control section is provided for controlling the sub-module transfer mechanism 340, the rotation mechanism, the plug transfer driving section 365, the gasket housing section transfer mechanism 373, the first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383, and the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384, thereby controlling the gas supply apparatus of the present invention. And, a gasket recovery part 390 for separating and recovering the second gasket installed between the valve connector 30 and the connection pipe connector 331 is provided.

A gasket replacement method performed when replacing the container 10 will be described with reference to fig. 8 to 17.

Fig. 8 to 13 show a process of installing a new packing (first packing) between the valve connector 30 and the connection pipe connector 331 of the container 10, and fig. 14 to 17 show a process of separating and removing a packing (second packing) installed in the container 10.

Fig. 8 shows an initial state for replacing the gasket. Although not shown in fig. 8, it is a state in which the first and second alignment portions 512 and 351 have been combined to achieve alignment of the container 10. The gasket holder 381 is spaced apart from the gasket supply portion 370, and is also spaced apart from the connector fastening portion 330. The position of each member at this time is referred to as an "initial position".

Referring to fig. 9, the gasket housing section transfer mechanism 373 is driven in the state of fig. 8 to transfer the gasket housing section 372 to the rear side to the position of the gasket holder 381. In this state, when the gasket operating mechanism 382 is driven to bring the pair of gasket sandwiching members 381a, 381b closer to each other, the rearmost one of the first gaskets 371a in the gasket housing 372 is sandwiched between the pair of gasket sandwiching members 381a, 381 b.

Referring to fig. 10, the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 is driven to transfer the gasket holder 381 holding the first gasket 371a to the right side in the state of fig. 9, and the first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383 is driven again to transfer the gasket holder 381 to the rear, thereby coupling the first gasket 371a to the front end portion of the connection tubing connector 331.

In the state of fig. 10, as shown in fig. 11, a hole is formed in the center of the first gasket 371a, a cylindrical protrusion 331a is formed at the front end of the connection tubing connector 331, and the first gasket 371a is coupled to the connection tubing connector 331 such that the protrusion 331a is inserted into the hole of the first gasket 371 a.

Referring to fig. 12, in the state of fig. 10, the second transfer mechanism 340b and the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 are simultaneously driven to transfer the connector fastening portion 330 and the gasket holder 381 holding the first gasket 371a to the right for the first time, and then the first gasket transfer mechanism 383 and the first transfer mechanism 340a are simultaneously driven to transfer the connector fastening portion 330 and the gasket holder 381 holding the first gasket 371a to the front for the second time, so that the connection pipe connector 331 is disposed with the first gasket 371a therebetween at a position close to the rear of the valve connector 30. In this case, the gasket housing section transfer mechanism 373 is driven to transfer the gasket housing section 372 forward again so as to return to the initial position.

Since the gasket is conventionally inserted into the protrusion 331a of the connection pipe connector 331 and transferred in a state where the connection pipe connector 331 is coupled to the gasket, there is a problem in that the gasket is separated from the protrusion 331a of the connection pipe connector 331, but in the present invention, when the connection pipe connector 331 is transferred as described above, the gasket holder 381 is transferred together with the connection pipe connector 331 in a state where the first gasket 371a is held, and thus the first gasket 371a is prevented from being separated from the connection pipe connector 331.

Referring to fig. 13, the gasket holder operating mechanism 382 is driven to move the pair of gasket holding members 381a, 381b away from each other in the state of fig. 12, thereby releasing the held state of the first gasket 371a, and the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 is driven to transfer it to the left side. In this case, the first sealing gasket 371a will maintain the state of being inserted into the protrusion 331a of the connection pipe connector 331. Then, the connection tube connector transfer mechanism 335 is driven to transfer the connection tube connector 331 to the front while the rotation mechanism is driven to rotate the connector fastening portion 330, thereby coupling the connection tube connector 331 and the valve connector 30.

The coupling of the connector fastening part 330 and the valve connector 30 is achieved in a state where the first packing 371a is interposed between the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30 through the process as described above. If the coupling of the connector fastening part 330 and the valve connector 30 is achieved, the valve opening and closing module 4 rotates the handle 50 to open the valve, so that the gas of the container 10 is supplied to the gas demand place through the connection pipe connector 331.

The process of separating and removing the second sealing gasket 371b mounted on the container 10 will be described with reference to fig. 14 to 17.

Referring to fig. 14, the connection pipe connector transfer mechanism 335 is driven to release the connection pipe connector 331 from the valve connector 30, and the first and second gasket transfer mechanisms 383 and 384 and the gasket holder operating mechanism 382 are driven to transfer the gasket holder 381 from the initial position, and the gasket holder 381 holds the second gasket 371b positioned between the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30.

Referring to fig. 15, in the state of fig. 14, the first transfer mechanism 340a, the connecting pipe connector transfer mechanism 335, and the first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383 are driven to transfer the gasket holder 381 to the rear side in a state of holding the second gasket 371b for the first time, and the second transfer mechanism 340b and the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 are driven to transfer the gasket holder 381 to the left side together with the connector fastening portion 330 for the second time in a state of holding the second gasket 371 b.

In the conventional gas supply apparatus, when the connection pipe connector 331 is separated from the valve connector 30, the second gasket 371b may remain in the valve connector 30 without being separated together with the connection pipe connector 331. That is, if a predetermined time passes in a state where the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30 are coupled with the second sealing gasket 371b interposed therebetween, a surface of the second sealing gasket 371b contacting the valve connector 30 is pressed. In this state, if the connection tubing connector 331 is separated from the valve connector 30, the second sealing gasket 371b may be stuck to the contact surface of the valve connector 30, so that the second sealing gasket 371b remains on the valve connector 30 without being separated together with the connection tubing connector 331. If a new first sealing gasket is installed between the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30 in this state, the second sealing gasket remaining without being removed and the new first sealing gasket are doubly installed, thereby having a risk of gas leakage.

In the present invention, since the gasket holder 381 separates the second gasket 371b from the valve connector 30 in a state of holding the second gasket 371b, it is possible to prevent a situation where the second gasket 371b sticks to the valve connector 30 of the container 10 to be doubly installed with the first gasket 371a between the connection pipe connector 331 and the valve connector 30.

Referring to fig. 16, in the state of fig. 15, the first gasket holder transfer mechanism 383 is driven to transfer the gasket holder 381, which has held the second gasket 371b, forward, and then the gasket holder operation mechanism 382 is driven to release the clamped state of the gasket holder 381. By releasing the clamped state of the gasket holder 381, the second gasket 371b is recovered in the gasket recovery section 390.

Referring to fig. 17, in the state of fig. 16, the second gasket holder transfer mechanism 384 is driven, thereby transferring the gasket holder 381 to the left side to return to the initial position.

Although the above description has been given by taking as an example a configuration in which the gas supply device is constituted by the upper module 2 and the lower module 3, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various configurations.

Further, although the gas supply device that manually aligns the container 10 has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a gas supply device that automatically aligns the container 10.

As described above, although the present invention has been described in detail by taking the preferred embodiment as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be carried out by being variously modified within the scope of the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the drawings, and these also belong to the present invention.