Endoscopic Insertion Portion and Manufacturing Method Thereof

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion with high manufacturing efficiency is provided. The method of manufacturing the endoscopic insertion portion which includes a plurality of bending parts provided side by side with each other, a protruding portion provided in one of the adjacent two bending parts, and a receiving portion which are provided in the other of the two bending parts and into which the protruding portion is inserted rotatably so that the two bending parts swing with respect to each other, the method comprising forming, in one plate material ( 24 ) or a plurality of plate materials, a first bending part preparation portion ( 56 a ) for the formation of the one bending part and a second bending part preparation portion ( 56 b ) for the formation of the other bending part, connecting the first bending part preparation portion ( 56 a ) and the second bending part preparation portion ( 56 b ) by press processing, and forming the first and second bending part preparation portions ( 56 a , 56 b ) into a cylindrical shape by press processing.

1 . A method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion which includes a plurality of bending parts provided side by side with each other, wherein a protruding portion is provided in one of each two adjacent ones of the bending parts, and a receiving portion is provided in the other of each two adjacent ones of the bending parts and into which the protruding portion is inserted rotatably so that each two adjacent ones of the bending parts swing with respect to each other, the method comprising:
 forming, in at least one plate material, a first bending part preparation portion for the formation of the one bending part and a second bending part preparation portion for the formation of the other bending part;   connecting the first bending part preparation portion and the second bending part preparation portion by press processing; and   forming the first and second bending part preparation portion into a cylindrical shape by press processing.   
   
   
       2 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 1 , wherein the forming of the first bending part preparation portion and the second bending part preparation portion includes:
 forming a protruding portion preparation portion for the formation of the protruding portion in the plate material by press processing;   forming a receiving portion preparation portion for the formation of the receiving portion in the plate material by press processing;   forming the first bending part preparation portion having the protruding portion preparation portion in the plate material by punching processing; and   forming the second bending part preparation portion having the receiving portion preparation portion in the plate material by punching processing,   wherein the connecting the first bending part preparation portion and the second bending part preparation portion by press processing includes:   aligning the protruding portion preparation portion with the receiving portion preparation portion in a direction vertical to the plate material by moving one of the first and second bending part preparation portion by Z-shape bending processing; and   inserting the protruding portion preparation portion into the receiving portion preparation portion rotatably by subjecting one of the first and second bending part preparation portion to dropping processing, and   wherein the forming the first and second bending part preparation portion into the cylindrical shape by press processing includes:   subjecting the first and second bending part preparation portion to U-shape bending processing at least one time to form the first and second bending part preparation portion into the cylindrical shape; and   subjecting the first and second bending part preparation portion which have undergone the U-shape bending processing to O-shape bending processing to form the first and second bending part preparation portion into the cylindrical shape.   
   
   
       3 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 2 , wherein in order to simultaneously process the first and second bending part preparation portion at processing positions for the implementation of the above steps, the plate material is passed on to the processing positions for the implementation of the steps in the order of:
 the forming the protruding portion preparation portion by press processing;   the forming the receiving portion preparation portion by press processing;   the forming the first bending part preparation portion by punching processing;   the forming the second bending part preparation portion by punching processing;   the aligning;   the inserting;   the subjecting to the U-shape bending processing; and   the subjecting to the O-shape bending processing.   
   
   
       4 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 joining both ends of the first and second bending part preparation portion which abut against each other due to the O-shape bending processing.   
   
   
       5 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 2 , wherein the bending part has a wire receiving portion through which a wire is inserted, and the manufacturing method further comprises:
 forming a wire receiving portion preparation portion for the formation of the wire receiving portion by slit processing and bending processing for the plate material.   
   
   
       6 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 2 , wherein the bending part has a wire receiving portion through which a wire is inserted, and the manufacturing method further comprises:
 forming a wire receiving portion preparation portion for the formation of the wire receiving portion by punching processing and folding processing for the plate material.   
   
   
       7 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion includes a through hole through which the protruding portion is inserted, and:
 wherein the forming the first bending part preparation portion and the second bending part preparation portion includes:   forming a protruding portion preparation portion for the formation of the protruding portion in a first plate-shaped portion by press processing;   forming, in the protruding portion preparation portion by press processing, an insertion hole preparation portion for the formation of an insertion hole through which an operation wire for a bending operation of the endoscopic insertion portion is inserted;   forming a through hole preparation portion for the formation of the through hole in a second plate-shaped portion by press processing;   forming the first bending part preparation portion having the protruding portion preparation portion in the first plate-shaped portion by punching processing; and   forming the second bending part preparation portion having the through hole preparation portion in the second plate-shaped portion by punching processing,   wherein the connecting the first bending part preparation portion and the second bending part preparation portion by press processing includes:   aligning the protruding portion preparation portion with the through hole preparation portion by relatively moving the first and second bending part preparation portion; and   connecting the first and second bending part preparation portion to each other by inserting the protruding portion preparation portion into the through hole preparation portion rotatably, and   wherein the forming the first and second bending part preparation portion into the cylindrical shape by press processing includes:   subjecting the first and second bending part preparation portion to U-shape bending processing at least one time to form the first and second bending part preparation portion connected to each other into the cylindrical shape; and   subjecting the first and second bending part preparation portion which have undergone the U-shape bending processing to O-shape bending processing to form the first and second bending part preparation portion connected to each other into the cylindrical shape.   
   
   
       8 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are parts of the same plate material;   the aligning includes aligning the protruding portion preparation portion with the through hole preparation portion in a direction vertical to the plate material by moving one of the first and second bending part preparation portion by Z-shape bending processing; and   the connecting by the inserting includes connecting the first and second bending part preparation portion to each other by subjecting one of the first and second bending part preparation portion to dropping processing to insert the protruding portion preparation portion into the through hole preparation portion rotatably.   
   
   
       9 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 8 , wherein in order to simultaneously process the first and second bending part preparation portion at processing positions for the implementation of the above steps, the plate material is passed on to the processing positions for the implementation of the steps in the order of:
 the forming the protruding portion preparation portion by press processing;   the forming the insertion hole preparation portion by press processing;   the forming the through hole preparation portion by press processing;   the forming the first bending part preparation portion by punching processing;   the forming the second bending part preparation portion by punching processing;   the aligning;   the connecting by the inserting;   the subjecting to the U-shape bending processing; and   the subjecting to the O-shape bending processing.   
   
   
       10 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion are a part of a first plate material and a part of a second plate material, respectively, and   the connecting includes connecting one of the first and second bending part preparation portion of one of the first and second plate materials to the other of the first and second bending part preparation portion of the other of the first and second plate materials by separating the one of the first and second bending part preparation portion from the one of the first and second plate materials and then inserting the protruding portion preparation portion into the through hole preparation portion rotatably.   
   
   
       11 . The method of manufacturing an endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first plate material is continuously processed by being passed on to the processing positions for the implementation of the steps in the order of:   the forming the protruding portion preparation portion by press processing; and   the forming the first bending part preparation portion by punching processing,   wherein the second plate material is continuously processed by being passed on to the processing positions for the implementation of the steps in the order of:   the forming the through hole preparation portion by press processing; and   the forming the second bending part preparation portion by punching processing, and   wherein the first or second plate material is continuously processed by being passed on to the processing positions for the implementation of the steps in the order of:   the subjecting to the U-shape bending processing; and   the subjecting to the O-shape bending processing.   
   
   
       12 . An endoscopic insertion portion comprising:
 a plurality of bending parts provided side by side with each other;   a protruding portion integrally provided in one of each two adjacent ones of the bending parts, said protruding portion protruding in a diametrical direction outwardly or inwardly; and   a receiving portion integrally provided in the other of each two adjacent ones of the bending parts and into which the protruding portion is inserted rotatably so that each two adjacent ones of the bending parts swing with respect to each other,   wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion are formed in the following manner:   forming from a plate material, by press processing, a first bending part preparation portion for the formation of the one bending part provided with the protruding portion in a vertical direction and a second bending part preparation portion for the formation of the other bending part provided with the receiving portion, connecting the first bending part preparation portion to the second bending part preparation portion by inserting the protruding portion into the receiving portion in a vertical direction of the plate material, and forming the first and second bending part preparation portion into a cylindrical shape.   
   
   
       13 . The endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 12 , wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion are formed by a single plate material. 
   
   
       14 . The endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 13 , wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion form a bending tube forming a bending portion which is operated to bend and a flexible insertion tube. 
   
   
       15 . The endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the receiving portion includes a through hole through which the protruding portion is inserted, and   the protruding portion is integrally provided in the one bending part by press processing, and has an insertion hole through which an operation wire for a bending operation of the endoscopic insertion portion is inserted.   
   
   
       16 . The endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of bending parts are bending parts of one kind, and   a certain bending part has a protruding portion for the through hole of the bending part provided side by side on one side of the certain bending part, and a through hole for the protruding portion of the bending part provided side by side on the other side thereof.   
   
   
       17 . The endoscopic insertion portion according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of bending parts are bending parts of two kinds,   a certain bending part has protruding portions for the through holes of two bending parts provided side by side on both sides of the certain bending part, and a bending part provided side by side with the certain bending part has through holes for the protruding portion of two bending parts provided side by side on one and the other sides of the bending part provided side by side with the certain bending part.   
   
   
       18 . An endoscope comprising an endoscopic insertion, said endoscopic insertion portion comprising:
 a plurality of bending parts provided side by side with each other;   a protruding portion integrally provided in one of each two adjacent ones of the bending parts, said protruding portion protruding in a diametrical direction outwardly or inwardly; and   a receiving portion which is integrally provided in the other of the each two adjacent ones of the bending parts and into which the protruding portion is inserted rotatable so that each two adjacent ones of the bending parts swing with respect to each other,   wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion are formed by forming from a plate material, by press processing, a first bending part preparation portion for the formation of the one bending part provided with the protruding portion in a vertical direction and a second bending part preparation portion for the formation of the other bending part provided with the receiving portion, connecting the first bending part preparation portion to the second bending part preparation portion by inserting the protruding portion into the receiving portion in a vertical direction of the plate material, and forming the first and second bending part preparation portion into a cylindrical shape.   
   
   
       19 . The endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion are formed by a single plate material. 
   
   
       20 . The endoscope according to  claim 19 , wherein the bending parts, the protruding portion and the receiving portion form a bending tube forming a bending portion which is operated to bend and a flexible insertion tube. 
   
   
       21 . The endoscope according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the receiving portion includes a through hole through which the protruding portion is inserted, and   the protruding portion is integrally provided in the one bending part by press processing, and has an insertion hole through which an operation wire for a bending operation of the endoscopic insertion portion is inserted.   
   
   
       22 . The endoscope according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of bending parts are bending parts of one kind, and
 a certain bending part has a protruding portion for the through hole of the bending part provided side by side on one side of the certain bending part, and a through hole for the protruding portion of the bending part provided side by side on the other side thereof.   
   
   
       23 . The endoscope according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the plurality of bending parts are bending parts of two kinds,   a certain bending part has protruding portions for the through holes of two bending parts provided side by side on both sides of the certain bending part, and   a bending part provided side by side with the certain bending part has through holes for the protruding portion of two bending parts provided side by side on one and the other sides of the bending part provided side by side with the certain bending part.