DE3247564A1 - Device for the metering of a predetermined volume of pourable material, especially for a packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Product to be metered is conveyed via a feed device, for example vibrating troughs (5, 9), to a measuring bowl (2) which is closed by means of a bottom flap (15). The filling height in the measuring bowl (2) is sensed by means of an infrared probe (3). When the desired filling height is reached, a control unit (26), to which the infrared probe (3) is connected, causes a further product feed to be shut off, for example as a result of the actuation of a closing flap (12). When a following packaging machine (V) requires a product portion, the bottom flap (15) is opened and the product portion contained in the measuring bowl (2) falls into the packaging machine (V). The contactless sensing of the filling level in the measuring bowl (2) avoids mechanical stress on the product. The device is therefore well suited for the volumetric metering of delicate products. <IMAGE>

Description

Description:

The invention relates to a device for dimensioning a specified volume of pourable goods (product), in particular for packaging systems, with a measuring cup and a feeding device for feeding the product to the measuring cup.

The task of dividing bulk goods into smaller portions, exists in particular in packaging technology. The product must often be gentle treated to avoid damaging the same. This applies, for example, to so-called Snack products such as potato chips and the like.

In the past, when there were high demands on product protection, the weighing method was used applied. With this method, it is not the product volume that is measured, but its weight. However, this method is much more time-consuming than volume dosing With known volume dosing, the product is mechanically stressed. When skimming Individual product particles are trapped in a measuring cup and can be damaged in the process will. With volume dosing - by means of a kind Pump will do that Product also used heavily. The same applies to the use of dosing screws.

The invention is based on the output, a device of the opening mentioned type, so to train a device for volume dosing so that the The product is not subjected to more stress than when turning.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the measuring cup a probe which scans the fill level without contact is assigned and that the feed device is a pouring device, the pouring of which is stopped when the probe the Indicates that a desired filling level has been reached in the measuring beaker.

With a device designed in this way, the product is just as gentle treated as in a weighing device, but the dosage can be significantly can be carried out faster than when weighing, as the filling level registration is practical takes place without delay and therefore acted immediately on the feed device can be. In comparison with a weighing device, therefore, the dosing speed greatly increased, so that one downstream at a given cycle time Packaging machine, e.g. B. a Schlau.ch bag machine, only one or a few Measuring cup required.

An infrared probe has proven to be particularly advantageous. One such a probe works smoothly and accurately. It is particularly advantageous that the To provide the probe with a protective device according to claims 3 and 4. Through this dust on the radiating surface is avoided, and this also applies to dosing of extremely dusty product ensures trouble-free operation.

The measuring cup preferably has a flap as the bottom (claim 5).

This enables the I s) cinkt with a simple construction gentle emptying. However, emptying could also take place in other ways, e.g. by tilting the measuring cup.

With a telescopic measuring cup according to claim 6 can the volume to be dosed can be conveniently changed without having to scan the filling level must be manipulated. But you can also arrange the probe height-adjustable. In this case a fixed measuring cup can be used.

By means of a feed device with coarse dosing and fine dosing according to Claim 8, the filling process for the measuring cup is greatly accelerated, so that the Throughput of the device is increased overall.

A pouring device with vibrating chutes is particularly advantageous (Claim 9). Such vibrating chutes are known per se from weighing devices here, but are also well suited in connection with the volume metering according to the invention.

A particularly fast dosing is possible if there is a first vibrating chute used for coarse dosing and a second vibrating chute for fine dosing becomes (claim 10).

A particularly advantageous structural arrangement for this is in Claim 11 stated. It is also useful to use the inflow to the vibrating chute a device according to claim 12 to be monitored. This .monitoring represents a Level control.

Other conveying means than vibratory chutes can also be used e.g. conveyor belts or screw conveyors.

The vibrating chutes can be controlled in such a way that they be switched on and off, as well as by the fact that the vibration speed is changed (claim 13).

The additional device according to claim t4 has the advantage that the supply of product can be stopped quickly and that in the period between the full When the measuring cup is filled and emptied, the product can be collected then quickly dispensed into the measuring cup later. This results in an increase in performance reached, since the time until the renewed complete Filling of the Measuring cup is abbreviated.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dosage is coordinated in several measuring beakers according to claim 15 by a process computer. You can make optimal use of a system with several measuring beakers.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawing shown. They show: FIG. 1 partly in side view, partly in vertical section a volume metering device, Fig. 2 in a perspective, enlarged representation '' an infrared probe Fig. 3 - the side view of a feed device - with vibrating chutes for coarse dosing and fine dosing, Fig. 4 is a top view of the channels accordingly the arrow IV in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 shows a telescopic measuring cup with assigned organs ..

The volume metering device, designated as a whole by D, is connected to a Packaging machine V indicated by dash-dotted lines, e.g. a tubular bag machine.

The volume dosing device has a total of 1 b & -zèichnetez -ühreineinrichtung and a total of 2 marked measuring beaker, which is an infrared probe 3 is assigned.

The product to be filled is located in a storage container 4, the has a lower outlet opening 4a. The outlet opening 4a opens into a discharge belt 5, which is displaced by means of a vibration drive 6 in horizontal oscillations in this way it can be that there is product on the channel 5 in the direction of arrow 7 is promoted.

At the end of the chute 5 there is an element 8 for interrogation the filling level in a subsequent dosing channel 9.

The element 8 can have a capacitance or an electrical resistance can be changed, whereby corresponding adjustment processes are triggered.

A vibration drive 10 is also attached to the dosing channel 9 which the channel 9 is set in horizontal vibrations such a shape that on your current product is promoted in the direction of arrow 11.

At the front end of the metering channel 9 there is a shut-off flap 12, which can be pivoted about an axis 13. A closed position is with pulled out Lines and an opening position drawn with dash-dotted lines. The dosing channel 9 opens into an overhead funnel 14 which opens into the cylindrical measuring cup 2. The measuring cup 2 is closed at the bottom by a bottom flap 15. The flap 15 can be pivoted about an axis 16. The closed position of the flap is pulled out Lines and the opening position are drawn with dash-dotted lines. The lower The end of the measuring cup 2 opens into a funnel 17, which leads to the packaging machine V leads. The product falling out of the measuring beaker arrives from the funnel 17 into a filling tube 18 of the packaging machine.

The infrared probe 3 is to be considered in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2 will. The infrared probe has a probe body 19, at one end of which is a Emission surface 20 is located, from which infrared radiation is emitted. From the rear end of the probe body 19 is a cable 21, which leads to an electronic Control device leads, which-is not shown in the drawing.

A protective sleeve 22 is on the front end of the probe body 19 pushed on, the front edge of '22a a relatively large distance from the' radiating surface 20 has. On the protective sleeve 22 there is a connecting piece 23 for connecting a Compressed air line 24. The connection piece lies in the area between the front edge 22a the protective sleeve 22 and the radiating surface 20.

The device works as follows. From the infrared probe 3 is constantly infrared radiation emitted downwards. These Radiation will reflected from the surface 25a of the product 25, which is a measure of the distance of the radiation area from the product surface 25a. This size will be processed in a control unit 26. The control device acts on a drive device for the shut-off valve 12 and the vibration drive 10. If a 3 desired ivill height is reached, the butterfly valve 12 is in the lines drawn out brought closed position drawn and the vibration drive 10 stopped. When the packaging machine V requests another portion, it opens the bottom flap 15 and the product 25 falls into the filling tube 18 of the packaging machine.

The element 8 scans the filling level in the metering channel 9. if it is found that the product level has dropped to a minimum, the Discharge chute 5 set in motion until the chute 9 is filled to a maximum level is.

While the butterfly valve 12 is closed (in Fig. 1 with the extended Lines shown), the cavity of the flap designed as a cup fills with product that continues to be dispensed from the vibrating chute 9. If after emptying of the measuring cup 2 a new metering process is initiated, the butterfly valve moved to the position shown in dash-dotted lines, with the contents of the butterfly valve 12 is suddenly released into the measuring cup 2, which very quickly up to a certain height is filled. The butterfly valve 12 thus has a double function, namely, once the function of completing the further product feed and so on Preventing the product from trickling down and, on the other hand, the function - the filling process when measuring a new volume.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is assumed that the infrared probe 3 is adjustable in height. If the product volume is to be increased, the probe will adjusted upwards. Instead, a device can also be used as shown in FIG. The measuring cup designated here with 2 'has one Lower part 27 and an upper part 28. The upper part 28 engages telescopically in the Lower part 27 a. The upper part 28 is symbolically indicated by a line 29 on one indicated holding device attached, the height-adjustable is, as indicated by the double arrow 30. At the upper part 28 includes an upper passage funnel 19 'at. An infrared probe 3 is again attached to the transition funnel. she will relative to the upper part 28 of the measuring cup S 2 'not displaced'; their distance to the lower part 27 of the measuring beaker changes with the height adjustment of the upper part of the measuring beaker 28. The measuring cup 2 'is also closed off by means of a bottom flap 15.

The emission surface -20 of the infrared probe 3 is thus free of dust held that air is constantly introduced via the compressed air line 24, the corresponding the arrow 31 emerges from the protective sleeve 22. This creates a.

Maintain pressure that is a little higher than ambient pressure, so that dust cannot enter the sleeve.

In the feed device 1 'according to FIGS., 3 and 4 are instead a channel (Fig. 1), two channels 32 and 33 are used. The channel 32 is used for Coarse dosing and the channel 33 for fine dosing. As Fig. 4 shows, the Channel 32 wider than channel 33. Channel 32 has one over its entire length constant width. The groove 33, however, has a front narrow area 33a, a narrowing area 33b and a rear wide area 33 ', which however is still narrower than the channel 32. This arrangement also has a suction channel 5 and an element 8 for the fill level query. Each channel has a vibration drive 6 or -34 or 35 The supply of product 25 via the discharge chute 5 and the element 8 into the channel 33 takes place in the same way as has already been described. In the rear area 33c of the channel 33, which is also the higher side walls than the transition area 33b and the front area 33a, the product 25 is generally located at a level higher than the level in the front areas of the gutter. There the product falls down in parts over the side walls of the channel, as indicated by arrows 36-. Only a relatively small part of the supplied Product arrives in the narrow channel rich 33a to andas front end. Because of the much larger width of the lower channel 32 falls over the end of which more product into a transition funnel 14 'than from the upper channel 33.

In a first phase of filling a measuring cup, this is mainly filled from the channel 32. When the level approaches the desired level, the coarse metering is turned off by shutting down the channel 32 and only with it Using the channel 33 poured in until the desired level is reached, after which This channel is also shut down via the infrared probe 3.

In the supply device according to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is a shut-off valve at the front end of the grooves 32 and 33 not present. The rubbish from the gutters is terminated by their shutdown. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 can the Abspe-rrklappe 12 also serve as a coarse dosing container in which so much product is accumulated that the desired volume is approximately accumulated and immediately falls into the measuring cup when the flap goes to the open position. The one still missing The remainder is then entered by means of the single metering channel 9. The coarse dosage is thus formed in this case by the flap 12 designed as a container.

Claims (15)

Provision for the dimensions of a given volume of pourable material Good, especially for a packaging system. Claims: Device for measuring a given volume of pourable goods (product), especially for packaging systems, with at least one measuring cup and a supply device for supplying the product to the measuring cup, characterized in that the measuring cup (2; 2 ') has a filling level Contactless scanning probe (3) is assigned and that the feed device (1; 1 ') is a pouring device, the pouring of which is stopped when the Probe (3) indicates that a desired filling level has been reached in the measuring beaker (2; 2 '). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the probe (3) is an infrared probe arranged above the fill level to be reached, emitting radiation Surface (20) (radiation surface) dem the fill level to be achieved is opposite. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the radiation surface (20) the infrared probe (3) is surrounded by a protective sleeve (22) which is open in the direction of transmission is that protrudes beyond the abstraction surface (20) in the transmission direction. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the Protective sleeve (22) a bedding (24) is connected. . Via which a gas, in particular air, in the protective sleeve (22) enclosed space can be introduced with a pressure which iät higher than the ambient pressure. 5. Vorricht.ullg according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the measuring cup (2, 2 ') has a flap (15) or a bottom Has slide which or: which is movable into an open position. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the measuring cup (2 ') has a stationary lower part (27) consisting of Bottom (15) and lower casing part and one telescopic in the lower casing part (27) engaging and relative to this-displaceable upper shell part (28j, on which-the probe. (3.). is attached. 7. Device according to. one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the probe (3) is adjustable in height relative to the bottom (15) of the measuring cup is. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the feed device has two pouring points in a manner known per se, namely a first pouring point for coarse dosing and a second pouring point for Fine dosage. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the pouring device (1; 1 ') at least one vibrating chute (5, 9; 5, 32, 33). 10. Device according to claims.8 and 9, characterized by a first vibrating chute - (32) for coarse dosing and a second vibrating chute (33) for fine dosing. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first vibrating chute (32) is relatively wide and that above this the second vibrating chute (33) is arranged, which is narrower than the first channel (33) and a lateral Has overflow for product to fall into the first channel (32), one Product feed is provided only to the second channel (33). 12. yorrichtung according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that that at the feed point to the vibration chute (9; 33) one of the filling state of the same scanning level interrogation device (8) is arranged, from which a drainage channel is controllable, which withdraws the product from a storage container (4). 13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that that the vibration speed depends on the display of the probe (3) is controlled, the vibration speed when approaching the target level of the measuring cup (2; 2 ') is slowed down. 14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that that at the delivery end of the vibrating chute (9) or the vibrating chutes one as a cup trained movable closure flap (12) is arranged, which in the closed state prevents product from falling into the measuring cup (2) and catches the product and which releases the captured product into the measuring cup (2) when it is opened. 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by several measuring cups, with each measuring cup having a probe and a feed device is assigned and by a process computer, from which each emptying of the correctly filled measuring beaker is controlled.