DE102020107898A1 - Exchangeable adapter, handling unit with exchangeable adapter, method for operating such a handling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to be able to treat the granulate (4) to be processed as raw material, in particular to remove dust, or not to be able to dry it, if necessary, upstream of a consumer (100), for example an injection molding machine, depending on the order, the necessary treatment devices (1, 70, 80) mounted on an interchangeable adapter (50) and can be quickly and easily activated or deactivated by moving it, with the granulate separator (1) always active during operation, only in changing positions.

Description

field of use

The invention relates to the removal of the dust contained in bulk goods, the dust often adhering to the granules by means of electrostatic charging.

Technical background

Especially in plastics technology, but also in pharmacy and food technology, raw materials in the form of bulk goods - for example granulates or coarse powders or the like - often have to be handled. For the purposes of the present application, all bulk goods are referred to with the abbreviated term “granules”.

The transport of these bulk goods in particular often takes place by means of pneumatic conveyance, in particular by means of air conveyance, in which the granulate is conveyed to the desired location by means of air and largely carried along with it through conveying lines.

For further processing, for example for use as a raw material in a plastic injection molding machine, the granulate should be as clean as possible and not be contaminated with impurities, in particular not with dust-like impurities.

Dust or dusty impurities in the context of the present description should preferably have a particle size whose diameter is no more than 1/10, better no more than 1/30, better no more than 1/100, better no more than 1/1000 of the diameter of a granulate grain.

Another, very undesirable, impurity is so-called angel hair, namely up to 10 cm long, very thin, thread-like impurities, which can be formed from dust-like impurities, among other things.

These dust-like impurities can consist of foreign material that was unintentionally added to the granulate during production or transport, or it can also be dust-like particles made of the same material as the granulate itself, which, however, can also be undesirable depending on the subsequent application.

When a plastic granulate is melted in an injection molding machine, dust from the same material as the granulate can already burn and result in black points in the molded part, which is particularly unacceptable for optical products such as injection-molded plastic lenses and leads to high reject rates.

Therefore, the general aim is to separate such granulates from the impurities they contain, in particular the dust content they contain, before use.

One of the problems that arises is the strong adhesion of dust particles and granulate particles to one another, but also the adhesion of dust particles to device parts such as conveyor lines or granulate containers.

This strong adhesion is often caused by electrostatic charging, so that removing the dust with mechanical measures is usually not sufficient.

In principle, different techniques are available for dedusting, from simple sieving to separating the transport air from the granulate and filtering the transport air to fraction separation using a cyc-ion. In practice, air sifting combined with electrostatic discharge is often used.

In particular, the operators of injection molding machines have the additional problem that, depending on the order, a different starting material has to be used for injection, and the various starting materials, i.e. granulates, on the one hand have very different levels of dust and also the dedusting of the granulates to a greater or lesser extent can be difficult.

For example, with some products the granulate used can already be sufficiently dust-free and can be used without dedusting, or despite the low dust content due to long conveying distances from the granulate store - usually a big bag or an octabin - to the injection molding machine due to abrasion from the Granulate grains themselves only receive such a high proportion of dust that they still have to be dedusted, as soon as possible before entering the injection molding machine.

That there is often little space available above the filling opening located in a high area of the injection molding machine, especially at a height, and that the granulate should also be dried before being introduced into the injection molding machine, and granulate for this purpose Dryer, makes the situation even more difficult.

Presentation of the invention

Technical task

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a handling unit for granules that can be arranged directly on the consumer in particular, that contains the required treatment devices and an interchangeable adapter that can be used to activate and deactivate them can be, as well as a method for operating such a handling unit.

Solution of the task

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 10 and 15. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

The core of the handling unit is an interchangeable adapter, with the help of which the treatment devices in the handling unit can be activated and deactivated as required, whereby the granulate separator is always activated during operation, since the granulate is fed by a pneumatic feeder is delivered and has to be separated from the air for further handling.

• - ein Tragteil zum Tragen von wenigstens einem der Behandlungs-Geräte an je einer von mehreren unterschiedlichen Befestigungs-Positionen des Tragteiles,
• - eine erste und eine zweite Granulat-Eingangsöffnung,
• - eine Granulat-Abgabeöffnung und
• - eine Granulat-Entnahmeöffnung aufweist.

With regard to the interchangeable adapter - hereinafter referred to simply as an adapter - this object is achieved in that it

• - A support part for carrying at least one of the treatment devices at one of several different fastening positions of the support part,
• - a first and a second granulate inlet opening,
• - a granulate dispensing opening and
• - Has a granulate removal opening.

• - eine definierte Abgabe-Position (Pab), in der die zweite Granulat-Eingangsöffnung mit der Abgabe-Öffnung, insbesondere direkt, verbunden ist,
• - einer definierten Aufnahme-Position (Pauf), in der die erste Granulat-Eingangsöffnung mit einem, insbesondere darunter angeordneten, Zwischenbehälter verbunden ist, insbesondere direkt verbunden ist, der die Entnahmeöffnung (50c) aufweist.

At mounting positions are available

• - a defined delivery position ( Pab ), in which the second granulate inlet opening is connected to the dispensing opening, in particular directly,
• - a defined recording position ( Pauf ), in which the first granulate inlet opening is connected, in particular directly connected to an intermediate container, in particular arranged underneath, which the removal opening ( 50c ) having.

There is also a, in particular pneumatically operated, transport device available - which does not necessarily have to be part of the interchangeable adapter, but can be - which is able to transfer granules from the removal opening of the intermediate container into the granulate inlet opening of one at the dispensing position ( Pab ) attached treatment device.

A parking position ( Ppark ) which does not have an opening for granulate and in which a device attached there is not fluidically connected to either of the inlet openings or to the dispensing opening or to the removal opening.

• - entweder ohne weitere Behandlung des Granulats, wofür dann der Abscheider direkt mit der Ausgangs-Öffnung des Adapters in Verbindung steht, indem er an einer definierten Abgabe-Position des Tragteils des Adapters montiert ist,
• - oder indem an dieser Ausgangs-Position ein anderes Behandlungs-Gerät, z.B. ein Granulat-Entstauber - im Folgenden nur noch Entstauber genannt - montiert ist, während sich der Abscheider an einer davon entfernten Aufnahme-Position des Tragteiles befindet und mittels der vorhandenen Transportvorrichtung das vom Abscheider abgeschiedene Granulat zunächst dem Entstauber zugeführt wird und erst das entstaubte Granulat durch die Auslauföffnung des Entstaubers und die Abgabe-Öffnung des Adapters an den Verbraucher geht.

With this design of the interchangeable adapter, the granulate can be separated from the conveying air of the feed conveyor by means of the granulate separator - hereinafter referred to as separator - and from there delivered to the consumer through the granulate discharge opening of the adapter, but optionally

• - either without further treatment of the granulate, for which the separator is then directly connected to the outlet opening of the adapter by being mounted at a defined delivery position of the support part of the adapter,
• - Or by another treatment device, for example a granulate dust extractor - hereinafter referred to as dust extractor - is mounted at this starting position, while the separator is located at a receiving position of the supporting part that is remote therefrom and by means of the existing transport device the Granules separated by the separator are first fed to the deduster and only the dedusted granules go through the outlet opening of the deduster and the discharge opening of the adapter to the consumer.

In this context, it must also be made clear that there are also combined treatment devices that act at the same time as, for example, separators and dust extractors.

This transport device preferably also works pneumatically, in particular by means of flight conveyance, such as conveying the granulate to the separator.

If no dedusting is necessary, and therefore the separator is mounted directly at the delivery position, the dust extractor is, for example, attached to a parking position on the interchangeable adapter away from both the receiving position and the delivery position and is inactive, or it can be arranged away from the interchangeable adapter and thus also away from both the receiving position and the delivery position.

Instead of a deduster as the treatment device, it can also be another treatment device such as, for example, a granulate dryer, hereinafter referred to simply as a dryer.

Depending on the height available for arranging the handling unit, for example above the granulate inlet of an injection molding machine, the treatment devices can also be arranged one above the other on the adapter, i.e. a treatment device, for example the Dryer, be arranged below the support part and thus below its granulate outlet opening.

With regard to the dryer within the scope of the present handling unit, it must of course be made clear that, depending on the required granulate throughput, the dryer may be so large that it can no longer be mounted on the interchangeable adapter, but as a separate dryer unit away from the Adapter and the consumer must be arranged.

Since the handling unit, including the treatment devices, is often at a relatively great height and the treatment devices have a considerable weight, the adapter and in particular the fastening device for the devices on the adapter must be designed in such a way that the staff can easily and safe way the shifting of the devices between the individual positions, i.e. delivery position, receiving position and, if necessary, parking position, can be carried out.

The support part is therefore preferably designed as a support rail that continuously connects the three mounting positions for the devices with one another. This allows the devices to be moved along the mounting rail without having to completely remove them from the mounting rail.

The main advantage of the adapter is that it can also be used to combine treatment devices that come from different manufacturers and are not coordinated with one another. For example, an existing separator can continue to be used and, with the help of the adapter, can be combined with a dust extractor and / or dryer purchased from another manufacturer.

The granulate separated by the separator then first falls into an intermediate container, for which it preferably falls from the outlet opening of the separator through a corresponding passage opening of the support part into the intermediate container arranged below, from which the transport device - and thus also independent of the mostly batch-wise operation of the Separator - always has a reservoir of granulate available from which it supplies the treatment device, such as the deduster, mounted on the exit opening, i.e. the delivery position, with granulate.

The granulate is removed from the intermediate container by means of flight conveyance and, for this purpose, a suction lance is preferably inserted obliquely from above into the intermediate container, for which purpose the latter has a removal tube that rises obliquely upwards from its lower area, in particular the lower third of its height , into the free end of which this suction lance can be inserted so that its lower suction opening extends into the intermediate container and can suck in any granules that are present there. This suction lance therefore preferably extends to close to the bottom of the intermediate container, in particular to less than 2 cm, and better to less than 1 cm, to the bottom of the intermediate container.

The necessary conveying air is sucked in by the suction lance in that there is a radial distance between the suction lance and the inner circumference of the extraction tube.

The inclined position, in particular inclined at an angle between 30 and 60 ° to the horizontal, has proven to be particularly advantageous in order to avoid clogging of the suction opening of the suction lance.

Especially with slightly clumping granules, it may still be necessary to loosen the granules present in the intermediate container before sucking in through the suction lance, which is why the intermediate container, preferably also in the lower area, and in particular its lower third, has a compressed air inlet through which compressed air is injected can be used to separate granules that have lumped together due to bridging.

The material sucked in via the suction lance is introduced into this via a flexible connection hose connected to the suction lance, which is connected to the granulate inlet opening of the next treatment device or treatment device.

The connecting hose should be of such a length that this device can be adjusted between the delivery position and the parking position without hindrance when the connecting hose is attached to it.

In addition, the intermediate container comprises in its lower area, in particular in the lower third, in particular in its bottom, an inspection opening which is closed by an inspection cover during normal operation and only provides access to the intermediate container from below This is used, for example, with granules that are so stuck together that they can no longer be separated simply by injecting compressed air, or because the device installed at the dispensing position does not need to feed any more granules of the old type due to a change in material .

Preferably, the upper end of the extraction tube does not extend to the level of the upper edge of the support part, but ends below, so that devices can be mounted on the support part regardless of the size of their lateral overhang.

The granulate inlet opening and the granulate outlet opening of the adapter are preferably through openings from top to bottom through the support part, in particular the support rail, so that a device mounted above one of these openings moves its granulate downward due to gravity and thus also the adapter through the material downward due to gravity can release the exit opening.

For this purpose, the devices have a sliding shoe on the side with which they are to be attached to the support part, in particular the support rail, i.e. usually on their underside, which engages around the support part, in particular the support rail, laterally and below or above so that there is a positive connection between the sliding shoe and thus the device on the one hand and the support part on the other hand, which only allows mobility in the direction of extent of the support part, in particular the support rail.

To fix it at a certain assembly position, the device or in particular its sliding shoe can be locked there or manually positioned and fixed there with the aid of appropriate markings, preferably by means of clamping.

A corresponding fastening device, in particular a clamping device, is present either on each of the devices, in particular on its sliding shoe, or on the support rail, in particular in each of the three mounting positions.

For an even easier adjustment, two or more treatment devices, for example the separator and the dust extractor, can be mounted on a common sliding carriage at a distance corresponding to the distance between the receiving position and the delivery position of the adapter and the sliding carriage as a previously described single sliding shoe can be moved and fixed along the mounting rail.

In the case of very tight spaces, it can also be useful to make the support rail adjustable in length, in particular telescopic, in order to be able to retract unneeded length areas of the support rail - for example the area in which the parking position is located - when not required.

Depending on the available height, a fastening device for attaching a device, for example a dryer, can be provided on the support part also on its underside, whereby the corresponding treatment device does not have to be mounted exactly below the support part when viewed from above especially when there is a functional opening in the top of the device through which it must be possible to supply or discharge during operation. In this case, such a device is mounted from the height below the support part, in particular the support rail, when viewed from above, but offset laterally with such an upper functional opening.

With regard to the entire handling unit, that is to say the adapter with the treatment devices attached to it, this object is first of all achieved in that the adapter corresponds to the embodiment described above.

The treatment devices used here always include a granulate separator and, as a further treatment device, a granulate deduster and / or a granulate dryer - when the granulate is conveyed by means of conveying air, i.e. by means of flight conveyance

The dust content is removed from the granulate by means of the deduster and the moisture content of the granulate is reduced by means of the dryer.

1. A) Falls das Granulat nach dem Abscheiden aus der Förderluft ohne weitere Vorbehandlung durch die Ausgangs-Öffnung des Adapters dem nachgeordneten Verbraucher zugeführt werden kann, wird
   • - der Granulat-Abscheider an der Abgabe-Position angeordnet und mit einer Zuförder-Vorrichtung für Granulat verbunden, sowie
   • - ein an der Abgabe-Position bereits eventuell vorhandenes weiteres Gerät, insbesondere ein Granulat-Entstauber, in einer Park-Position angeordnet,
2. B) Falls das Granulat vor der Abgabe an den Verbraucher noch entstaubt werden soll, wird
   • - der Granulat-Entstauber an der Abgabe-Position angeordnet und mit der Transportvorrichtung verbunden, sowie
   • - der mit der Zuförder-Vorrichtung für Granulat verbundene Granulat-Abscheider an der Aufnahme-Position angeordnet.
3. C) Falls die Abgabe-Öffnung des Adapters und eine eventuell damit in Verbindung stehende Durchgangsöffnung oder ein Durchgangskanal gereinigt werden muss, wird
   • - das an der Abgabe-Position befindliche Gerät von diesem entfernt, damit die Abgabe-Öffnung für das Reinigen zugänglich ist.
4. D) Falls die Eingangs-Öffnung des Adapters und eine eventuell damit in Verbindung stehende Durchgangsöffnung oder ein Kanal gereinigt werden muss, wird
   • - das an der entsprechenden Position befindliche Gerät von dieser entfernt, damit die Eingangs-Öffnung für das Reinigen zugänglich ist.
5. E) Falls das Granulat vor der Abgabe durch die Abgabe-Öffnung noch getrocknet werden soll, wird
   • - der Granulat-Trockner an der Abgabe-Position so unter der Abgabe-Öffnung montiert, dass das aus der Abgabe-Öffnung fallende Granulat schwerkraftbedingt in den Granulat-Trockner gelangt,
   • - falls dabei ein vorheriges Entstauben des Granulats nicht notwendig ist, kann der Trockner auch an der Abgabe-Position auf der Oberseite des Tragteiles, insbesondere der Tragschiene, montiert werden.

With regard to the method for operating such a handling unit, the different requirements that arise are each solved by adjusting the devices with regard to their mounting position on the adapter and, in particular, activating and deactivating the devices that may be associated therewith:

1. A) If, after separation from the conveying air, the granulate can be fed to the downstream consumer through the outlet opening of the adapter without further pretreatment
   • - The granulate separator is arranged at the delivery position and connected to a feed device for granulate, as well
   • - another device that may already be present at the delivery position, in particular a granulate deduster, is arranged in a park position,
2. B) If the granulate is to be dedusted before it is delivered to the consumer, will
   • - The granulate deduster is arranged at the delivery position and connected to the transport device, as well as
   • - The granulate separator connected to the feed device for granules is arranged at the receiving position.
3. C) If the dispensing opening of the adapter and any passage opening or passage channel connected to it must be cleaned
   • - The device located at the dispensing position is removed therefrom so that the dispensing opening is accessible for cleaning.
4. D) If the inlet opening of the adapter and a possibly connected through opening or a channel have to be cleaned, will
   • - Removed the device located in the corresponding position from this, so that the inlet opening is accessible for cleaning.
5. E) If the granules are to be dried before they are dispensed through the dispensing opening
   • - The granulate dryer is mounted at the dispensing position under the dispensing opening in such a way that the granulate falling from the dispensing opening reaches the granulate dryer due to gravity,
   • - If it is not necessary to remove dust from the granulate beforehand, the dryer can also be mounted at the delivery position on the upper side of the support part, in particular the support rail.

Embodiments

• 1a - c: den Wechsel-Adapter mit nur einem an dessen Abgabe-Position angeordneten kombinierten Abscheider-Entstauber, in Frontansicht, Seitenansicht und der Aufsicht,
• 2a - c: den Wechsel-Adapter mit einem Granulat-Entstauber an der Abgabe-Position angeordneten und einem Granulat-Abscheider an der Aufnahme-Position, in Frontansicht, Seitenansicht und der Aufsicht,
• 3a - c: den Wechsel-Adapter mit einem anderen kombinierten Abscheider und Entstauber an der Abgabe-Position und einem Granulat-Trockner an der Park-Position des Wechsel-Adapters in Frontansicht, Seitenansicht und der Aufsicht.
• 4a, b: eine Granulat-Versorgungs-Einheit in 2 verschiedenen Betriebszuständen für einen Granulat-Verbraucher.

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. Show it:

• 1a - c : the interchangeable adapter with only one combined separator-deduster arranged at its delivery position, in front view, side view and top view,
• 2a - c : the interchangeable adapter with a granulate deduster arranged at the delivery position and a granulate separator at the receiving position, in front view, side view and top view,
• 3a - c : the interchangeable adapter with another combined separator and deduster at the delivery position and a granulate dryer at the park position of the interchangeable adapter in front view, side view and top view.
• 4a, b : a granulate supply unit in 2 different operating states for a granulate consumer.

In the 1a, b , c is first of all the interchangeable adapter according to the invention 50 to recognize the one supporting part 51 in the form of a mounting rail 51 having.

This mounting rail 51 with their greatest extent in their so-called direction of extent 51 ' extends essentially horizontally and with its rectangular cross-section - as in 1b easy to see - lying, i.e. running horizontally with the greater extent of its cross-section and the smaller extent, the thickness, of its cross-section running vertically.

At a first longitudinal position in the direction of extension 51 ' owns the mounting rail 51 a through opening, the top of which is the first granulate inlet opening 50a1 of the interchangeable adapter 50 is.

An intermediate container closes at this passage opening at the bottom 52 in the form of a vertically downwardly extending inspection cover that can be dismantled at the bottom 59 sealed, first piece of pipe 52.1 and a second pipe section extending obliquely upward from its lower region 52.2 that are tightly connected with one another in terms of their interiors.

The freely upwardly protruding end of the second pipe section 52.2 of the intermediate container 52 is as a removal tube 55 formed or such a removal tube 55 connects to the second piece of pipe 52.2 on, which has such a diameter that a suction lance 54 with matching dimensions can be inserted into its free open end, as in the 2a , b, c, and the suction lance 54 through the second straight piece of pipe 52.2 and the extraction pipe that is aligned with it 55 when inserting into the removal tube 55 , especially up to one on the suction lance 54 existing stop, down to the deepest area of the intermediate container 52 , namely the transition between the interiors of the first pipe section 52.1 and the second piece of pipe 52.2 enough and granules stored there 4th can suction.

The inspection cover 59 serves to provide access to the interior of the intermediate container 52 , for example for cleaning purposes, since it contains, for example, clumped granules 4th can fix.

For the same reason, the intermediate container has 52 A compressed air connection, preferably in the lower area 58 , via the compressed air into the intermediate container 52 can be shot to remove clumped granules located therein 4th to isolate again.

Of these in the direction of extension 51 ' is located at a second longitudinal position, the delivery position Pab , a second granulate inlet opening 50a2, again in the form of the top of a running through the support rail 51 vertically extending through opening.

Here, too, the through opening is followed by a pipe socket surrounding the through opening at the bottom 53 as a chute, the lower end of which is open, however, and as a granulate dispensing opening 50b of the interchangeable adapter 50 serves, since granules falling into this second granule inlet opening 50a2 through the pipe socket 53 falls through and through its lower opening, the granulate dispensing opening 50b , in the consumer mostly arranged underneath 100 falls.

The granules 4th enters the second granulate inlet opening 50a2 from the lower granulate outlet opening of a combined granulate separator mounted above it 1 and granulate deduster 70 .

How best 1b shows, owns this combined device 1 +70 a connection piece through which conveying air 3 with the granulate conveyed therein by means of flight conveyance 4th is supplied, which the control housed in a box 70b of the device that can open and close this line. From the controller 70b leads the line for the conveying air 3 continues and ends in the upper area of the separation area for the granulate 4th , where the granulate falls down in its upright cylindrical part and the conveying air is discharged upwards through a sieve (not shown).

Meanwhile, the granules 4th at the same time dedusted, so that the conveying air discharged upwards 3 also carries away the dust content.

For the dedusting, ionized air is used, which is in an ionizer 70a generated and in the dust collector of the combined device 1 +70 is introduced, as well as in this case also in the buffer tank 9 , which connects to the dedusting container in the lower area and its lower outlet opening with the granulate inlet opening 50a2 of the interchangeable adapter 50 communicates.

The connection can be opened and closed with the help of a slide 70c at the lower granulate outlet opening of the combined device 1 +70.

The slider 70c can release the connection by pulling it out and close it by pushing it in or vice versa and is preferably in a sliding shoe 57 out on the top of the mounting rail 51 can be placed, but this on the sides and the outer areas of the underside of the mounting rail 51 encompasses and with it the combined device 1 +70 positive fit in all directions except the direction of extension 51 ' on the mounting rail 51 leads.

The combined device 1 +70 can therefore be achieved by moving the sliding shoe 57 in the direction of extent 51 ' along the mounting rail 51 be moved, and additionally by a clamping device 60 as a fastening device 60 of the sliding shoe 57 at a certain longitudinal position of the mounting rail 51 be fixed.

By means of this constellation, it is possible by means of flight promotion in the combined device 1 +70 incoming granules 4th from the conveying air 3 deposited, dusted and via the interchangeable adapter 50 and its at the drop-off position Pab lower granulate dispensing opening 50b a consumer 100 be supplied, which is sufficient if the granules 4th no further treatment, in particular no drying, is required.

the 2a, b , c show a solution with separate devices, i.e. a granulate separator 1 who is at the recording position Pauf , i.e. above the first granulate inlet opening 50a1 , is mounted and a granulate deduster 70 at the drop-off position Pab is mounted above the second granulate inlet opening 50a2.

That by means of conveying air 3 granules carried along therein in the form of flight conveyance 4th in this case becomes the granulate separator 1 fed to the granules 4th separates from the conveying air, so that the granulate 4th into the first granulate inlet opening 50a1 and thus in the intermediate container 52 falls.

From there it will be - as based on the 2a, b , c - by means of one in the extraction tube 55 inserted suction lance 54 and connecting hose attached to it 56 sucked out of this and the granulate inlet of the deduster mounted next to it on the second granulate inlet opening 50a2 70 fed in its upper area.

The granules that were dusted there 4th then falls out of this granulate deduster 70 downwards out into the second granulate inlet opening 50a2 the pipe socket below 53 and from its lower end as a granulate dispensing opening 50b into a consumer arranged below 100 for the granulate 4th .

This constellation is used when separate devices, i.e. granulate separators 1 on the one hand and granulate dust extractor 70 on the other hand, can be used, for example because the user already has one of the two devices and only buys and uses the other one because of the need for dedusting.

the 3a, b , c essentially show a constellation according to FIG 1a, b , c , namely with one in the parking position Pab mounted combined granulate separator and dust extractor 1 +70, which, however, has a different design than the one in the 1a, b , c is the device shown.

In addition, the 3a, b , c the mounting rail 51 lengthened so that not only the two granulate inlet openings located at a sufficient distance - for the installation of the devices to be installed above - are located 50a1 and 50a2 connects to one another, but is also extended, in this case on the side of the second granulate inlet opening 50a2, that is to say the dispensing position Pab , to the extent that in the free end area of the mounting rail there 51 as a parking position Ppark another device, in this case a granulate dryer 80 , can be held by fastening, preferably by means of a sliding shoe 57 and in particular its fastening device 60 , on the mounting rail 51 .

Because the park position Ppark the mounting rail only offers a fastening for a device to be provided 51 there is no through opening.

The extension of the mounting rail 51 could just as well and / or additionally also on the part of the recording position Pauf , i.e. about the recording position Pauf out in the direction facing away from the delivery position.

The mounting rail 51 could provide a parking position Ppark also be designed to be variable in length, in particular telescopic.

the 4a, b show the integration of the interchangeable adapter according to the invention 50 into a granulate supply unit for a consumer 100 , typically an injection molding machine. A combined granulate separator and dust extractor 1 + 70 is shown as the treatment device.

The separation and dedusting of the granulate 4th usually takes place in batches in a treatment container 9 .

First, according to 4a the treatment tank 9 with a batch 4 'of granules 4th filled, the one under the treatment container 9 and its lower one, as the outlet cone 28 designed, granulate outlet opening 25th arranged buffer tank 14th either closed at the top, or the buffer container open at the top 14th up to the granulate outlet opening 25th is filled so that the new ones are in the treatment container 9 introduced batch 4 'on top of the bed of the intermediate container 14th made of granules 4th can deposit and is supported by this.

For this purpose there is a suction lance 16 in a supply of granules 4th that is in a storage container 7th is located. About the to the suction lance 16 connected delivery line 15th that have their other end in an inlet port 24 ends whose free open end, the granulate inlet opening 8th in the treatment container 9 the granulate is removed from the storage container 7th by means of the in the direction of flow 10 flowing conveying air 3 , which are the granules-grains 4th carried away, to the treatment container 9 promoted, up to the height position of the level sensor 19a who switched off the delivery of granules 4th triggers.

Then, the compressed air supply to the ejector compressed air nozzle 21a in the suction lance 16 that terminates the negative pressure in the delivery line 15th causes.

The conveying air leaves during the filling process 3 the treatment tank 9 via its air outlet opening 18th that is in the lid 27 of the treatment tank 9 is arranged and by a sieve 5 can be overstretched, which although from the conveying air 3 and any dust it may contain 11 can be flowed through, but not by granules 4th .

The conveying air flows from there 3 , now exhaust air 6th , in the direction of flow 10 along a dust pipe 20th to a dust collector 12th and through an exhaust air filter 2 , which is preferably in an outlet opening in the lid of the dust collecting container 12th is arranged, and the one for the dust 11 is not permeable.

The treatment container 9 is an upright, essentially cylindrical container with its open bottom on the cone 28 sits, in which the inner conical surface 28 'is formed, in the whirling nozzles 31 open through the compressed air into the interior of the treatment tank 9 can be shot in, as in 4b shown, for whirling up the inside Granules 4th which, like electrical control signals and electrical current, are sent to the individual components by a controller 22nd is made available.

• Zu diesem Zweck wird optional zunächst in der Staubleitung 20 ein Unterdruck erzeugt.

The ones in the granulate treatment container 9 The batch is then dedusted, as in 4b shown:

• For this purpose, it is optionally first in the dust pipe 20th a negative pressure is generated.

Ionized air is introduced into the treatment container via a gas inlet opening 36 9 introduced, which the static charge of the dust particles 11 as well as the granulate grains 4th should neutralize. In order for this to work well, the whirling nozzles are used 31 Compressed air is injected into the interior of the treatment container 9 from the cone walls 28 ′.

Below the granulate outlet opening 25th and thus below the treatment tank 9 is the buffer tank 14th which is also mostly essentially an upright cylinder.

This buffer tank 14th is on the top of the interchangeable adapter according to the invention 50 Arranged over its second granulate inlet opening 50a2, from where the granulate 4th through the pipe socket 53 and the lower dispensing opening 50b of the interchangeable adapter 50 into the feed opening of a consumer 100 , for example an injection molding machine, for which the buffer container 14th serves as a buffer.

After this dedusting of the granules has been carried out for a sufficient period of time, it is stopped so that according to 4th the now dedusted granulate batch 4 'again in the lower area of the treatment container 9 , especially in the area of the outlet cone 28 , accumulates.

As soon as due to a consumption of granules 4th by the consumer 100 the level in the intermediate container 14th has lowered so far that the top of the bed, for example, the lower granulate outlet opening 25th has reached another batch of 4 'of granulate 4th into the treatment tank 9 brought in and dedusted.

In the respective compressed air line 26th from the controller 22nd a pressure regulating valve can be connected to the respective air inlet opening 36 29 to be available.

• Diese versorgt über Druckluftleitungen 26 gesteuert hinsichtlich Druck und/oder Menge und/oder Zeit mit Druckluft
  • - die wenigstens eine Ejektor-Druckluftdüse 21a in der wenigstens einen Sauglanze 16,
  • - die Luft-Zufuhröffnung 36,
  • - die optional vorhandene wenigstens eine Ejektor-Druckluftdüse 21b zwecks Erzeugung von Unterdruck in der Staubleitung 20.

All of the processes described are handled by a central controller 22nd controlled:

• This is supplied via compressed air lines 26th controlled with regard to pressure and / or amount and / or time with compressed air
  • - The at least one ejector compressed air nozzle 21a in the at least one suction lance 16 ,
  • - the air supply opening 36,
  • - The optionally available at least one ejector compressed air nozzle 21b for the purpose of generating negative pressure in the dust line 20th .

In addition, the ionizer 37 is controlled by the controller 22nd also supplied and controlled with electrical power.

List of reference symbols

1

Granulate separator

2

Exhaust air filter

3

Conveying air

4th

Granules, Granules Accumulation, Granules-Grain

5

Sieve

6th

Closing flap

7th

Storage container

8th

Granulate inlet opening

9

Treatment tank,

10

Direction of flow

11

dust

12th

Dust collection container

13th

Supply air filter

14th

Granulate buffer container

15th

Delivery line

16

Suction lance

17th

Compressed air source

18th

Air outlet opening

19a, b

Level sensor

20th

Dust pipe

21

Ejector compressed air nozzle

22nd

steering

23

Pneumatic cylinder

24

Inlet port

25th

Granulate outlet opening

26th

Compressed air line

27

lid

28

cone

29

Pressure regulating valve

30th

Reversal area

31

Ambient air

32

Air flow

33

Air inlet opening

34

ionized gas

35

Check valve, pinch valve

36a, b

Gas supply port

37a, b

Ionizer

50

Interchangeable adapter

50a1, 2

Granulate inlet opening

50b

Granulate dispensing opening

50c

Granulate removal opening

51

Support part

51 '

Extension direction

52

Intermediate container

52.1, 52.2

Pipe section

53

Pipe socket

54

Suction lance

55

Extraction tube

56

Connecting hose

57

Shifting shoe

58

Compressed air connection

59

Revision cover

60

Fastening device

61

Transport device

70

Granulate dust extractor

70a

Ionizer

70b

steering

70c

Lock slide

80

Granulate dryer

100

consumer

Pab

Delivery position

Pauf

Recording position

Ppark

Park position

Claims (17)

Interchangeable adapter (50) for different positioning and attachment of treatment devices (1, 70, 80) for granules (4) to a granule consumer (100) - a first and a second granulate inlet opening (50a1, 50a2), - a granulate dispensing opening (50b), - a granulate removal opening (50c), - At least one support part (51) for carrying at least one of the treatment devices (1, 70, 80) at one of several different fastening positions of the support part (51), in particular on its upper side and with the granulate outlet opening of the device above the respective granulate inlet opening (50a1, 50a2), namely - a defined dispensing position (Pab), in which the second granulate inlet opening (50a2), in particular through a chute, is connected to the dispensing opening (50b), in particular directly, - a defined receiving position (Pauf) in which the first granulate inlet opening (50a1) is connected, in particular directly connected to an intermediate container (52), in particular arranged underneath, which has the removal opening (50c), - a, in particular pneumatically operated, transport device (61) which is able to move granulate (4) from the removal opening (50c) of the intermediate container (52) into the granulate inlet opening of a device attached to the dispensing position (Pab) ( 70, 80). Adapter after Claim 1 , characterized in that as a further fastening position of the support part (51), in particular on its upper side, - a park position (Ppark) is present, which has no opening for granules and in which a device fastened there neither with one of the input openings (50a1, 50a2) is still in fluid communication with the discharge opening (50b), in particular not with the removal opening (50c) either. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the transport device (61) works by means of flight conveyance of the granulate (4), - in particular the transport device (53) - a suction conveyor, in particular a suction lance (54), in particular with a compressed air Ejector nozzle, comprises or - comprises a blow conveyor or - comprises a mechanical conveyor, for example a screw conveyor. (Intermediate container :) Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - in the lower area, in particular in the lower third of the height, of the intermediate container (52), an obliquely upwardly rising removal tube (55) is attached, in particular tightly, - in particular can be inserted into a pipe section (52.2) of the intermediate container (52) that rises obliquely upwards and, in particular, can be fixed in positions that have been pushed in at different distances - into which, in particular, a suction lance (54) can be inserted, which - with its lower suction opening up to approximately Can reach the bottom of the intermediate container (52), - is tightly connected with its upper opening with a connecting element, in particular a flexible connecting hose (56), which can be connected to the granulate inlet opening of a treatment device arranged in the dispensing position (Pab), - Is operatively connected to a transport device (61), in particular a vacuum generator (61), which is able to suck in granules (4) present in the intermediate container (52) and to transport them away by means of flight conveyance through the suction lance (54) . Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the supply air opening for the conveying air of the transport device (61) at a radial distance between the inner circumference of the removal tube (55) and the suction lance (54) inserted therein or between the inner circumference the removal pipe (55) and the pipe section (52.2) into which it is inserted, and / or - the intermediate container (52) in the lower area, in particular in the lower third of the height of the intermediate container (52), one in operation has an inspection opening closed by an inspection cover (59), and / or - the upper end of the removal tube (55) ends below the level of the upper edge of the support part (51). (Compressed air inlet :) Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate container (52) has a compressed air connection (58), in particular in the lower area, in particular in the lower third of the height of the intermediate container (52), for connecting to a compressed air source. (Mounting rail :) Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the support part (51) is designed as a part connecting the two or, in particular, three positions (Pab, Pauf, Ppark), in particular as a support rail (51), and / or - the The granulate inlet opening and the granulate discharge opening are connected to one another by a through opening penetrating the support part (51), in particular the support rail (51), from top to bottom. (telescopic support rail :) Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (51), in particular the support rail (51), is designed to be adjustable in length, in particular telescopic, in the adjustment direction, in particular the direction in which the support rail (51) extends. (Device under support part :) Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support part (51) has at least one fastening device for fastening a device (1, 70, 80) under the support part (51), in particular under the dispensing opening (50b) of the support part (51), having. Handling unit for granules (4) with an interchangeable adapter (50) and at least one treatment device (1, 70, 80), characterized in that the interchangeable adapter (50) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. Handling unit according to Claim 10 , characterized in that the handling unit comprises as a treatment device - a granulate separator (1) and / or - a granulate deduster (70) and / or - a granulate dryer (80). (Fastening device :) Handling unit according to one of the Claims 10 or 11 , characterized in that - a sliding shoe (57) is arranged on the treatment device, in particular at its lower end, - in particular the sliding shoe (57), the support part (51), in particular the support rail (51), so encompasses that the sliding shoe (57) and thus the treatment device can only be displaced in the adjustment direction (51 '), in particular the direction in which the mounting rail (51) extends, in relation to the latter - in particular on the sliding shoe (57) a marking is arranged in each case and a counter-marking is arranged on the support rail (51) at each of the positions. Handling unit according to one of the Claims 10 until 12th , characterized in that - the fastening device (60) is arranged in the lower area on each treatment device or on the support part (51) at the two or three positions, - the fastening device (60) is a clamping device (60 ) and / or a latching device (60), - in particular the fastening device (60), in particular the clamping device (60), is arranged on the sliding shoe (57). (Sleds:) Handling unit according to Claim 12 or 13th , characterized in that the sliding Shoes (57) are connected to one another to form a sliding carriage. Method for operating the handling unit according to one of the Claims 10 until 14th by, for dispensing the granulate (4), in particular to a consumer (100), a) without pretreatment: the granulate separator (1) is arranged at the dispensing position (Pab) and with a feed device for granulate and - a possibly existing further treatment device, in particular a granulate deduster (70), is preferably arranged in a park position (Ppark), b) on the other hand with dedusting: - the granulate deduster (70) on the Dispensing position (Pab) is arranged and connected to one end of the transport device (61), and - the granulate separator (1) is arranged at the receiving position (Pauf) and connected to the other end of the transport device (61) will. Procedure according to Claim 15 , characterized in that c) for cleaning the dispensing opening (50b) and / or the second inlet opening (50a2): - the treatment device located at the dispensing position (Pab) is removed therefrom, so that the dispensing opening (50b) and / or the inlet opening (50a2) is accessible for cleaning, d) for cleaning the first inlet opening (50a1) and / or the removal opening (50c): the treatment located at the receiving position (Pauf) -Device and in particular the revision cover (57) is removed so that the first inlet opening (50a1) and / or the removal opening (50c) is accessible for cleaning. Procedure according to Claim 15 or 16 , characterized in that e) with drying: - the granulate dryer (80) is mounted at the dispensing position (Pab) under the dispensing opening (50b) so that the granulate falling out of the dispensing opening (50b) falls into the granulate dryer (80) due to gravity.

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