DK173298B1 - Apparatus and method for opening and emptying a container - Google Patents

Description

in DK 173298 B1

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for opening and emptying a container, the container comprising a stud sealed with a permeable membrane.

5

It is known in the art in the field of photographic development systems, which includes an apparatus for automatically opening and emptying a container having a reduced cross-sectional neck that ends in a studs sealed with a permeable membrane. which apparatus includes a socket holding the container as well as a cutting member formed as part of a cylinder with a jagged upper edge, and which cutting member is pressed through the diaphragm to form a groove extending around the inner edge of the stud 15 leaving an unbroken piece, so that the free-cutting area of the membrane forms a flap which bends downward. The cutting means is moved by oscillation about a horizontal axis, and it performs several percussive movements to effect the opening.

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The known apparatus is mechanically very complicated and forms a cut in the membrane, leaving a relatively wide unbroken area along the inner edge of the stud, which may tend to retain powdery contents so that complete emptying of the container is not achieved. The impact-like movement requires a strong holding of the container and furthermore, a container of highly flexible material may be prone to collapse in an irregular manner which inhibits the flow of the container contents.

in

The use of the known containers and the known apparatus for powdery photographic chemicals can cause problems, partly because of the shape of the neck and partly when there is! «DK 173298 B1 2 refers to chemicals that are prone to clumping, in both cases resulting in inaccurate dosing. Thus, non-discharged contents represent a dosing error and, moreover, in the case of chemicals, the empty 5 container must be treated as chemical waste.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

10

The socket controls the socket and may optionally retain it, or the socket may be retained at the container's weight. The cutting device preferably comprises a tip which can puncture the diaphragm and a knife wall. The cutting device is arranged so that the units are automatically moved towards each other, so that the container can be placed in the socket without piercing the membrane, whereupon the cutting device and the socket are moved towards each other for piercing the membrane. With this apparatus, gentle handling of the container with minimal shaking is achieved, and an opening is obtained which provides the optimum possibility for the contents of the container to flow out. The gentle handling is a major advantage of containers which include soft flexible bags which may be prone to folding 25 in an irregular manner if shaken during emptying.

A container suitable for handling in the apparatus of the invention is disclosed in applicant's co-filed Danish Patent Application No. 0590/97.

According to a suitable embodiment, the cutting movement is carried out in such a way that the section extends along a sub-circle. This can be achieved in several ways. Eg.

A knife can pierce the diaphragm and perform a circular motion which is stopped a little before it has turned 360 ° or, there may be means which alternately guide the knife to pierce the diaphragm in a circular motion 5 over somewhat during one full revolution. and away from the plane of the diaphragm again in synchrony with a rotational movement carried out over at least one rotation, possibly over several whole turns.

According to a suitable embodiment, the apparatus is arranged so that the cutting device moves both along and oscillating across the plane of the membrane during the cutting movement. Hereby, the wear is distributed on the cutting device, which achieves a certain tear-off effect and a slight shaking motion can be obtained which promotes the emptying of the container.

According to a suitable embodiment, the cutting motion is obtained in that either the socket or cutting device is rotated about a vertical axis. This allows the function to be realized by simple mechanical means.

According to a convenient embodiment, the apparatus 25 comprises a cleaning nozzle arranged to blow gas or liquid through the opening of the membrane to clean the interior of the container.

This makes it possible to obtain a more complete emptying, and so that it is possible to avoid having to treat the emptied container as chemical waste.

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According to a suitable embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to hold the plug by a bayonet engagement.

This ensures a secure holding of the container.

DK 173298 B1 4

The invention further provides a method as claimed in claim 7. Hereby advantages are obtained corresponding to the above-mentioned.

Suitable embodiments thereof are set forth in subclaims.

The invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a vertical axial section through an apparatus according to the invention while emptying a container;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a portion of the container with the incision of the section in the diaphragm.

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All figures are schematic and not necessarily purposeful, and show only details which are essential to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention, while other details are omitted for the sake of clarity. In all figures, the same reference numerals for identical or similar parts are used.

Referring first to Fig. 1, an emptying device 1 which includes a fixed support bracket 6 and a support bracket 2 supported in the support bracket 6 is shown here. The support rim forms a socket 3 which comprises a substantially cylindrical bore with two opposite recesses 4 (cf. Fig. 2).

DK 173298 B1 5

A container 17 with studs 19 is positioned downwardly and inserted into the socket 3, thereby holding and controlling the container.

5 As can be seen in Figure 2, the bounce 19 is substantially circular with outwardly projecting bayonet projections 20 which are received in corresponding bayonet recesses 4 in the socket 3.

This supports the plug so that it cannot rotate in the support ring 2.

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The support ring itself is rotatably mounted in a cylinder recess 7 in the support bracket 6. The support ring 2 has on the outside a worm gear 5 in engagement with a worm wheel 8 on a drive shaft 9 which is pulled by a drive motor 10. The drive motor 15 10 is arranged with suitable control means which capable of performing the rotation of the socket over a predetermined limited angle.

Referring again in particular to Figure 1, an upwardly directed blade blade 11 is seen here, which sits on a blade holder 12 anchored in the support bracket 6. The blade of the blade comprises an upwardly directed tip and a tangentially directed knife edge.

Below the knife blade is seen a slit 13 which collects and directs material flowing out of the opened container. In connection with the slide, a flushing nozzle 14 is arranged facing the center of the socket and connected to a pipe connection 15, so that it is possible to flush or clean the interior of the container 30 by supplying a suitable flushing medium.

To empty a container closed with a diaphragm 21, the latter is placed with the plug in the socket as shown in Figure 1. During the insertion movement, the diaphragm 21, which sits above the opening of the stud, is pierced by the knife blade. Next, the drive motor 10 rotates the support ring. The stud 19, and thus the entire container, is rotated thanks to the engagement between the bayonet projections and the bayonet recesses. In this turn, which is preferably carried out by a suitable control of the drive motor over part of a circle, a cutting groove 16 is indicated, which is indicated by a dotted line in figure 3. This cutting groove defines a flap 18 which swings downwards under its own weight or optionally under the weight of the 10 contents flowing out of the container.

While the socket in the illustrated embodiment is arranged so that the container is simply lowered from above, another (not shown) embodiment comprises retaining projections which retain the socket at the bayonet projections so that the socket cannot be pulled up after it has been lowered and rotated. small piece. This ensures a more secure holding of the container.

While the embodiment shown comprises a non-rotatable knife and a rotatable socket for the container, another embodiment (not shown) comprises a non-rotatable socket and a rotatable knife holder connected to drives so that it can be rotated in a controllable manner to realize a opening cut in the 25 membrane.

Although FIG. 1 merely schematically shows a knife held on a holder, special means are provided for moving the knife and the socket relative to each other in a direction across the plane of the diaphragm and synchronized with the rotational movement. These may be minor perturbing movements, which are intended to distribute the wear on the knife wall, to facilitate cutting and to shake the container to promote the flow of the powder, and partly to movements which completely extend the knife wall. of the diaphragm plane for the purpose of realizing the sub-circle section. If the knife wall is completely extended out of the plane of the diaphragm on a particular stretch during rotation, it becomes possible to arrange the motor control so that it rotates over several whole turns, where the knife is simply lifted free of the diaphragm on a certain stretch, leaving an area where the flap hangs. The control of movement across the diaphragm plane is realized in a preferred embodiment simply by means of a curve path.

In this embodiment, means are arranged which stop the rotational movement in a position where the knife is free from the plane of the diaphragm. In this position, the container can be fitted and removed without puncturing the membrane. The diaphragm is only pierced as soon as the rotation is initiated and the curve path brings the knife and diaphragm together.

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Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, this description is for exemplary purposes only and not for limiting the manner in which the invention may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

An apparatus for dispensing powdered chemicals in a photographic bath through the opening of a container, which container comprises a studs sealed with a permeable membrane, comprising: - a socket adapted to control the plug and support the container, and a cutter device arranged for piercing the diaphragm and cutting a section thereof, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a means for moving the socket relative to the cutting device in such a way that the diaphragm is pierced, and means for moving the socket while retaining the cutting device on in such a way that a cut is cut in the diaphragm which extends in the immediate vicinity of the inner edge of the stud and exposes substantially all of the luminaire in the socket. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said means are arranged for effecting a movement in which the section extends along a sub-circle. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means are arranged to move the socket relative to the cutting device in a direction transverse to the plane of the membrane. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said means are arranged to rotate the socket about a vertical axis. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the socket is arranged to hold the plug by a bayonet engagement. DK 173298 B1 9 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cleaning nozzle arranged to blow gas or liquid through the opening of the membrane to clean the interior of the container. A method of dispensing powdered chemicals in a photographic bath by opening and emptying a container, comprising a sealing plug 10 with a permeable membrane, characterized in that it comprises the following measures: a socket which controls the bounce and supports the container; - the diaphragm is pierced; and 15. an incision is cut in the diaphragm in the immediate vicinity of the inner edge of the bounce in such a way as to expose substantially all the illumination in the bounce. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the section is performed along part of a circle. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the cutting movement is provided by rotating the socket about a vertical axis. 25 Method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that fluid is blown in through the opening of the stud to clean the inner surfaces of the container.