EP3044160B1 - Withdrawal system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement with a removal system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a removal system is from the EP 0 977 702 B1 known. This is used for filling and emptying of containers, especially barrels filled with liquid chemicals. The removal system described there has a container closure. The container closure is generally used in a container head receiving receiving opening. The container closure itself has a dip tube connectable to the bung head, via which liquids stored in the container can be removed and via which liquids can be supplied to the container. Furthermore, the container closure has a removal connection element, which is typically designed in the form of a removal head, and which can be connected to the bung head.

About the removal connection element then takes a removal of liquid from the container or optionally also a supply of liquid. For this purpose, a pump is connected via the extraction connection element in order to carry out the removal or supply of liquid.

The liquids stored in the containers are typically liquid specialty chemicals. Already for safety reasons, it is necessary to perform the removal of liquids from the containers as well as a liquid supply confusion. Furthermore, such a confusion-safe removal is also necessary for reasons of minimization of contamination, since a connection of a wrong extraction connection element that already uses for other chemicals
was to lead to contamination of the chemicals in the container to which the extraction connection element is to be connected.

In order to achieve such a likelihood of confusion, is in the EP 0 977 702 B1 proposed to provide Codierausnehmungen in the bung head of the respective container. The removal connection element associated with the container is associated with an annular disk with coding pins in that the annular disk is mounted in a throw-over plug, which is screwed onto the removal connection element for fixing it to the bung head.

The coding pins of the annular disc form a unique individual coding such that the coding pins fit only to the coding recesses of the matching container. As a result, a mix-proof connection of the extraction connection element to the associated container is ensured.

The disadvantage here, however, is that to achieve the confusion security with the coding pins and Codierausnehmungen mechanical additional parts are needed, which significantly increase the design complexity of the container closure. In particular, it is disadvantageous that the coding pins are arranged on an annular disc, which must be fitted as a separate additional part in the construction of the container closure, whereby the container closure has a structurally complex structure. Another disadvantage is that the mechanical coding can be manipulated by removing all the pins on the removal head.

The US 2004/0172160 A1 relates to a container having a removal opening to which a connection element of an external unit can be connected in order to gain access to a material stored in the container. In the connecting element, a transponder is stored, are stored in the information about the existing material in the container. A reading unit is connected to a control unit via a connecting cable. With the reading unit, the information stored in the transponder information can be read.

The invention has for its object to provide an arrangement with a removal system of the type mentioned, which ensures a confusion safe connection of containers with little design effort.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The invention relates to an arrangement with a removal system and with containers. The sampling system is for filling and emptying the containers, each having a container opening and a pick-up head received therein, and container closures, wherein a container closure is inserted into the container receiving the bung head opening of a container. Each container closure has a dip tube connected to the bung head and an extraction connection element connected to the dip tube or the bung head. Transponder signals generating transponder are provided. Each transponder has a transmitter, which is fixedly connected to a container, and a receiver associated with the transmitter, wherein in the transmitter of a transponder a the container and / or stored in the container liquid coding is stored. The receiver or an antenna of the receiver is connected to a removal connector. The receiver stores a code identifying the extraction connection element. By comparing this coding, the monitoring signal is generated with the coding stored in the transmitter, which indicates whether there is a permissible connection of the removal connection element to the respective container. A control unit is provided which controls the supply of liquid to a container and / or the removal of liquid from the container in response to the monitoring signal. The control unit controls a robot which is designed to connect a removal connection element to a dip tube. The robot is only enabled by the control unit for this connection if the control unit receives a monitoring signal from the transponder, which signals the connection of a permissible removal connection element to the container.

The basic idea of the invention therefore consists in ensuring a connection of a container closure to a container via electrical signals of a transponder, which is secure against confusion, in order to ensure a removal system operating without errors.

A first significant advantage of the invention is that the transponder used to prevent the risk of confusion without significant constructive adjustments to the container closure or the dip tube can be installed. As a result, there is also a simplified installation of the container closure, since no mechanical parts for the implementation of coding must be additionally attached to the container closure.

A further advantage of the transponder used according to the invention is that a large number of data can be stored therein. In particular, a multiplicity of different transponder signals for generating monitoring signals can thus be generated, which results in a significantly increased number of coding possibilities compared with mechanical coding systems, by means of which a large number of liquids, in particular chemicals stored in different containers, can be reliably distinguished. Finally, it is advantageous that with the data stored in the transponder a tamper-proof labeling of the container can be done.

Thus, with the transponder system according to the invention, a confusion-proof connection of container closures to containers can also be realized in complex systems with a large number of containers receiving different liquids.

According to the invention, the removal system has a control unit which controls the supply of liquid to the container and / or the removal of liquid from the container as a function of the monitoring signal.

The automated control realized with the control unit takes place in such a way that only a liquid is withdrawn from a container or liquid is filled into it when an allowable connection of the removal connection element to the respective container is reported with the monitoring signal, so that misallocations are reliably avoided.

The control unit controls a pump for filling and emptying the container, wherein the pump is activated by the control unit only when the control unit receives a monitoring signal from the transponder, which signals the connection of a permissible extraction connection element to the container.

By generated in response to the transponder signal of the transponder signal, a further automation of the entire sampling system is possible. According to the invention, the control unit controls a robot which is designed to connect the removal connection element to the immersion tube. The robot is only enabled by the control unit for this connection if the control unit receives a monitoring signal from the transponder, which signals the connection of a permissible removal connection element to the container.

Further advantageously, a warning signal generator is triggered by means of the monitoring signal, which emits a warning signal when the connection of an inadmissible removal connection element is reported with the monitoring signal.

The warning signal generator can be designed in the form of a lamp for emitting optical warning signals or in the form of a horn for emitting acoustic warning signals.

Finally, the functionality of the sampling system can be extended by storing information relating to the container closure or materials contained in the container in the transponder.

Thus, the large storage capacity in the transponder is used to accurately describe and document additional data concerning the container and the liquid contained therein. Such data may be, for example, the date of manufacture of the container or container closure or materials used therefor. Customer information can also be stored in the transponder.

Advantageously, the information stored in the transponder can be read out into the control unit.

There, these data can be evaluated or stored for purposes of documentation and traceability.

The transponder used according to the invention in the removal system has a transmitter and a receiver in a known manner, wherein data stored in the transmitter can be read into the receiver without contact in the form of transponder signals.

In the transmitter, the respective container and the liquid contained there are clearly characterizing data, in particular a coding that uniquely identifies the liquid stored.

In order to obtain a fixed, unambiguous assignment of the transmitter to this container, the transmitter of the transponder is firmly connected to the container.

Advantageously, the transmitter of the transponder is integrated in the dip tube. Alternatively, the transponder is located at a suitable location on the container.

The coding stored in the transmitter is read out into the receiver and the monitoring signal is generated as a function of the coding.

According to a first variant of the invention, the receiver or an antenna of the receiver is connected to the removal connection element. In the receiver, a coding identifying the extraction connection element is stored and the monitoring signal is generated by a comparison of this coding with the coding stored in the transmitter.

In this variant, the receiver of the transponder is permanently assigned to the or each extraction connection element. Due to the existing coding in the receiver, the receiver is uniquely identified and thus clearly distinguishable from the receivers of other transponders.

Thus, by comparing the coding of the transmitter with the coding of the receiver, both the container with the liquid contained therein and the extraction connector element are uniquely identified. By comparing the coding then a confusion-safe assignment of the extraction connection element is ensured to the container.

The comparison of the codes for generating the monitoring signal can be carried out in the receiver itself or in the control unit to which the receiver is connected. In any case, the monitoring signal is available in the control unit, so that the control unit can make a liquid extraction or supply for the container in response to the monitoring signal. In a variant not according to the invention, the receiver is spatially separated from the extraction connection element and the extraction connection element is identified by the control unit.

Here, the monitoring signal is generated solely as a function of the code read out by the transmitter of the transponder.

In this case, there is no coding in the receiver that identifies the pickup terminal element because there is a lack of a fixed spatial association of the receiver with the pickup terminal element and that such coding in the receiver would not uniquely identify the pickup terminal element.

In this case, the extraction connection element of a container closure is identified by the control unit itself. For example, in a room in which, although several containers may be present, only one removal connection element is present, so that the removal connection element in the control unit is known by this spatial allocation.

In this case, the monitoring signal can then be generated solely on the basis of the coding stored in the respective transponder of a container and can thus be determined as to whether there is a permissible connection of the removal connection element to this container.

Figur 1:

Erstes Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Entnahmesystems.

Figur 2:

Ein nicht-erfindungsgemäßes Entnahmesystem.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

First embodiment of the removal system according to the invention.

FIG. 2:

A non-inventive sampling system.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the removal system according to the invention 1. It shows FIG. 1 as an essential component of the removal system 1 a container closure 2 for a transportable container, not shown, which is formed in particular by a barrel or the like. In the container, a liquid is stored. When stored in such containers liquids are in particular liquid specialty chemicals.

The container closure 2 comprises a removal connection element in the form of a removal head 3 and a dip tube 4. The dip tube 4 is mounted in a bung head, not shown, which sits in a container opening of the container, and so firmly connected to the container. For this purpose, the dip tube 4 at its upper end a relative to the hollow cylindrical tube body 4a of the dip tube 4 widened head part 4b. The tubular body 4 a of the dip tube 4 protrudes into the interior of the container up to the bottom area.

The removal head 3 serves for the removal of liquids into the container. For this purpose, the removal head 3 at its upper end to a liquid connection 3a. At this liquid connection 3a, a line, not shown, can be connected, which leads to a pump, also not shown. Side of the removal head 3 opens a gas connection 3b, by means of which a pressure compensation in the container can be accomplished.

The removal head 3 is fastened by means of a screw on the dip tube 4. To form this screw a clamping nut 5 is screwed with an external thread in a thread in the dip tube 4.

In order to ensure a secure connection of the removal head 3 to a container, a transponder is used according to the invention. The transponder has a transmitter 6, which is designed as a component encapsulated in plastic, and a receiver 7 with an antenna 8.

In the present case, the transponder is designed as a passive transponder, that is, the transmitter 6 does not have its own power supply. The transmitter 6 draws its energy via an induction field constructed by the receiver 7, via which contactless transponder signals stored in the transmitter 6 are transmitted without contact to the receiver 7 become. Alternatively, the transponder can be designed as an active transponder with its own power supply, such as a battery.

How out FIG. 1 it can be seen, the transmitter 6 is integrated in the dip tube 4, wherein the transmitter 6 is fixedly arranged in the head part 4b of the dip tube 4.

The antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is attached laterally to the removal head 3. From the antenna 8, a cable 9 leads to the receiver 7. The receiver 7 is connected via a further cable 10 to a control unit 11. In principle, the receiver 7 can also be integrated in the control unit 11.

For a removal of liquid from the container or a liquid supply into the container, the removal head 3, as in FIG. 1 shown screwed onto the dip tube 4. The transmitter 6 is then in the range of the antenna 8, so that data stored in the transmitter 6 are transmitted to the receiver 7.

Such data may optionally be formed by information describing the containers or the liquid stored there, such as the nature of the liquid or components of the container, customer information, manufacturing data of the container or liquid, and the like. This information can be forwarded via the receiver 7 to the control unit 11 and evaluated there or stored.

In the transmitter 6, a first coding is stored, by means of which the liquid is clearly identified in the container. This first coding is transmitted from the transmitter 6 into the receiver 7 and then compared with a second coding stored in the receiver 7, by means of which the removal head 3, on which the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is arranged, is uniquely identifiable.

Subsequently, a comparison of the two codes, wherein based on the comparison, a monitoring signal is generated, specify the signal intervals, whether the removal head 3 is connected to a permissible or non-permissible container. In principle, the generation of the monitoring signal in the receiver 7 can take place. Then, the monitoring signal thus formed is read into the control unit 11. Alternatively, the monitoring signal can be generated directly in the control unit 11.

Based on the generated by means of the transponder signal of the transponder monitoring signal a confusion safe connection of removal heads 3 is guaranteed to container, that is, it is ensured that a removal head 3 is always correctly connected to its associated container. This prevents incorrect removal of liquids from containers and also avoids contamination of liquids by using a wrong removal head 3.

The monitoring signal forms a safety signal, as a function of which the liquid removal or supply is controlled by the control unit 11. In this case, the control unit 11 only enables the activation of the pump connected thereto for the removal or supply of liquid only if a fault-free, permissible connection of the respective removal head 3 with the monitoring signal is reported to a container. To increase safety, monitoring signals can also be used to activate a warning signal generator, which emits a warning signal if an inadmissible connection a removal head 3 is present on a container. The warning signal generator can be formed for example by a lamp or a horn.

Since the monitoring signal automatically detects whether the connection of a removal head 3 to a container is permissible or not, the physical connection of the removal head 3 to the dip tube 4 can also be carried out by a robot, whereby this is also controlled as a function of the monitoring signal.

FIG. 2 shows a non-inventive sampling system. This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to FIG FIG. 1 only in that the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is not firmly connected to the removal head 3. Thus, there is no fixed spatial association between receiver 7 and removal head 3. This embodiment is particularly suitable for removal systems 1, which have only one removal head 3, but a plurality of containers to which the removal head 3 is to be assigned correctly. Since only one removal head 3 is provided, mix-ups of different removal heads 3 are excluded, so that in this case no identification of the removal head 3 coding is stored in the receiver 7. Accordingly, in this case the monitoring signal is formed solely from the coding stored in the transmitter 6 of the transponder. Otherwise corresponds to the function of the sampling system 1 according to FIG. 2 that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(1)

withdrawal system

(2)

container closure

(3)

removal head

(3a)

liquid port

(3b)

gas connection

(4)

dip tube

(4a)

pipe body

(4b)

headboard

(5)

clamping nut

(6)

transmitter

(7)

receiver

(8th)

antenna

(9)

electric wire

(10)

electric wire

(11)

control unit

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement with a withdrawal system and with containers which each have a container opening and a plug head received therein, wherein the withdrawal system (1) serves for filling and emptying the containers, with container closures (2), wherein a container closure (2) is inserted into the container opening, which receives the plug head, of a container and wherein each container closure (2) comprises an immersion pipe (4) connected with the plug head and a withdrawal connecting element connected with the immersion pipe (4) or the plug head, characterised in that transponders generating transponder signals are provided, that each transponder comprises a transmitter (6), which is fixedly connected with a container, and a receiver (7) associated with the transmitter (6), wherein a coding characterising the container and/or the liquid stored in the container is filed in the transmitter (6) of a transponder, that the receiver (7) or an antenna (8) of the receiver (7) is connected with a withdrawal connecting element, wherein a coding characterising the withdrawal connecting element is filed in the receiver (7), and that through comparison of this coding with the coding filed in the transmitter (6) the monitoring signal is generated which indicates whether an allowable connection of the withdrawal connecting element with the respective container is present, that a control unit (11) is provided, which controls the feed of liquid to a container and/or the withdrawal of liquid from the container in dependence on the monitoring signal, and that the control unit (11) controls a robot constructed for the purpose of connecting a withdrawal connecting element with an immersion pipe (4), wherein the robot is released by the control unit (11) for this connection only when the control unit (11) obtains from the transponder a monitoring signal reporting the connection of an allowable withdrawal connecting element with the container.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the transmitter (6) of a transponder is integrated in the immersion pipe (4).
3. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the coding filed in the transmitter (6) of a transponder is read into the receiver (7) and the monitoring signal is generated in dependence on the coding.
4. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the control unit (11) controls a pump for filling and emptying the container.
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the pump is activated by the control unit (11) only when the control unit (11) receives from a transponder a monitoring signal reporting connection of an allowable withdrawal connecting element with the container.
6. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a warning signal transmitter which issues a warning signal when connection of a non-allowable withdrawal connecting element is reported by the monitoring signal, is controlled by means of the monitoring signal.
7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that data relating to the container closure (2) or materials present in the container are filed in the respective transponder.
8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that data filed in the respective transponder can be read into the control unit (11).

Images