EP3784417B1 - Automatic inflow regulation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an inlet regulation for an inlet device for admitting bulk material, a method for controlling an inlet regulation for admitting bulk material and a cleaning machine for cleaning bulk material.

Bulk goods, such as grain, seeds, sand, plastic granules or other flowable goods, can now be cleaned in industrial machines. Such bulk material is fed into such a machine, and it is desirable that this feeding occurs evenly. A corresponding inlet device is, for example, from WO 2015/036384 A2 known. There it is described that when bulk material is poured into a corresponding feed area for the purpose of feeding, an approximately conical pile of bulk material is usually created. If one were to clean such a cone-shaped heap, the distribution of the bulk material would be very uneven with respect to the width of the heap - while there would only be a little bulk material on the sides, there would be a lot of bulk material in the middle of the essentially cone-shaped heap that needs to be cleaned up. Such an uneven distribution of the bulk material leads to cleaning results that are suboptimal and can waste resources. The feeding of bulk material into a cleaning machine is therefore usually carried out via an inlet device or a product distributor, which has a gap between a baffle plate and a feed flap that is significantly lower than the pile of bulk material. This gap enables the bulk material to be stacked evenly over its entire width, corresponding to the height of the gap, and fed into the cleaning machine.

However, the ideal design and size of the gap depends on a number of factors, for example on the type of bulk material used, the granularity of the bulk material used, the weight of the bulk material, the throughput of the bulk material used, as well as the nature and environmental parameters, for example the temperature or humidity.

It is therefore known to provide the possibility of manually adjusting the width of the gap. However, such manual adjustment is time-consuming and prone to errors. Particularly due to the large number of different parameters that need to be taken into account, it takes a lot of experience to find the ideal setting. Furthermore, the desired setting can change over time - for example due to changes in throughput.

The WO 2015/036384 uses a device for measuring the amount of bulk material using swivel devices and angle measuring devices that determine the size of the bulk material cone based on the angle. Depending on this, the feed flap is then opened or closed accordingly via a rigid coupling with a servomotor.

However, foreign bodies in the bulk material that are larger than the defined gap can still lead to a reduction in throughput and even blockages or damage to the machine. Therefore, gap settings of prior art cleaning machines are usually only suitable for narrowly defined types of bulk material under narrowly defined conditions and with narrowly limited throughputs.

When regulating the grain intake in accordance with DE3428672 (A1 ) the movement of the feed flap is caused by the weight of a movable spindle motor that is connected to a feed flap. The position of the motor is adjusted depending on the measured values of three sensors, an empty detector, a full detector and a jam detector. In particular, when there is a signal from the full indicator, the motor is moved and the feed flap is thereby opened. The jam detector is intended as a safety measure and causes the motor to be retracted so that its own weight is very small and the feed flap is opened by the weight of the bulk material. When there is a signal from the empty detector, the spindle of the motor extends so that the weight of the motor closes the feed flap.

According to the DE3428672 A1 The three sensors used are arranged outside the engine room, so that holes in the structure are required to reliably determine the degree of filling of the engine room. However, the external structure of the sensors entails risks in terms of explosion protection and Contamination from outside. Furthermore, the suspension of the counterweight only allows a maximum opening, which is disadvantageous in the event of unexpectedly large foreign bodies.

According to the present invention, an inlet device and a corresponding method for bulk material are provided, which improves the inlet of bulk material, for example into a cleaning machine, in particular with regard to the uniformity of the distribution of the bulk material and at the same time ensures a high level of safety.

It has been shown that in order to improve an inlet device and ensure explosion and food safety, the measurement of the fill level, the internal arrangement of the sensors and the pivoting, weight-loaded suspension of the feed flap are particularly advantageous.

These tasks are solved by the facilities and methods of the claims.

In particular, the invention relates to an inlet regulation for an inlet device for admitting bulk material, the inlet device being defined by a machine housing. Within the machine housing are a baffle plate, a rotatably mounted feed flap that defines a gap between the baffle plate and the feed flap and is connected to a rotation axis, and a lower and an upper sensor for measuring the amount of bulk material located in a space between the Storage plate, the feed flap and the side walls of the machine housing are arranged. The inlet device also has a motor unit which is arranged outside the machine housing and is firmly connected to the axis of rotation. The motor unit can be connected to the feed flap via the axis of rotation and forms a counterweight to the feed flap. The motor unit has a motor and a carriage, the motor being displaceable on the carriage on a linear axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation in order to change the center of gravity of the motor unit on the linear axis with respect to the axis of rotation. The size of the gap between the baffle plate and the feed flap depends on the position of the motor on the linear axis and the weight of the bulk material that is loaded on the feed flap.

In particular, the sensors are mounted on the sensor holder on a side wall of the housing.

Furthermore, a maximum of two sensors are used to measure the amount of bulk material.

Capacitive sensors are preferably used as sensors.

The feed flap and the rotation axis are preferably connected by means of a device which is configured so that it can transform a rotational movement of the rotation axis into a lifting-lowering movement of the feed flap.

The motor unit has an adjustment weight that can be moved in the direction of the linear axis using elongated holes in order to change the center of gravity of the motor unit in relation to the axis of rotation.

According to the invention, any form of flowable bulk material, in particular grain, can be used.

The invention further relates to a cleaning machine with an inlet device according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method for regulating the inlet of an inlet device for bulk material, which within a machine housing has a baffle plate, a rotatably mounted feed flap, which defines a gap between the baffle plate and the feed flap and can be connected to an axis of rotation, and a lower and an upper sensor Measuring the amount of bulk material located in a space between the baffle plate, the feed flap and the side walls of the machine housing.

A motor unit that is firmly connected to the axis of rotation forms a counterweight to the feed flap. The motor unit has a motor and a carriage, the motor being displaceable on the carriage on a linear axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor unit in order to change the center of gravity of the motor unit on the linear axis with respect to the axis of rotation. By moving the motor and thus shifting the center of gravity of the motor unit with respect to the axis of rotation, the counterweight is reduced if the lower sensor and the upper sensor are covered by bulk material. By moving the motor and thus shifting the center of gravity of the motor unit with respect to the axis of rotation, the counterweight is increased if the lower sensor is not covered by bulk material.

The motor movement preferably occurs continuously or at equal intervals.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, these embodiments are merely exemplary to further facilitate the understanding of the invention for those skilled in the art. However, the exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of protection, which is defined solely by the appended claims.

• Figur 1: Ansichten aus der Front- und zwei Seitenperspektiven der leeren Einlasseinrichtung
• Figur 2: Ansichten aus der Front- und zwei Seitenperspektiven der Einlasseinrichtung im Betrieb während der Befüllung
• Figur 3: Ansichten aus der Front- und zwei Seitenperspektiven der Einlasseinrichtung im Betrieb bei Erreichen des unteren Sensors
• Figur 4: Ansichten aus der Front- und zwei Seitenperspektiven der Einlasseinrichtung im Betrieb bei Erreichen des oberen Sensors
• Figur 5: Ansichten aus der Front- und zwei Seitenperspektiven der Einlasseinrichtung im Betrieb
• Figur 6: Ein Verlaufsdiagramm des Füllstands und der Motorposition über die Zeit
• Figur 7: Eine Innenansicht der Motoreinheit
• Figur 8: Außenansichten der Motoreinheit mit Justagegewicht.

Show it:

• Figure 1 : Views from the front and two side perspectives of the empty inlet facility
• Figure 2 : Views from the front and two side perspectives of the inlet device in operation during filling
• Figure 3 : Views from the front and two side perspectives of the inlet device in operation when reaching the lower sensor
• Figure 4 : Views from the front and two side perspectives of the inlet device in operation when reaching the upper sensor
• Figure 5 : Views from the front and two side perspectives of the inlet device in operation
• Figure 6 : A history graph of level and motor position over time
• Figure 7 : An interior view of the motor unit
• Figure 8 : External views of the motor unit with adjustment weight.

Elements given the same reference numerals in the drawings describe the same elements unless otherwise specified. Redundant descriptions are therefore avoided.

Figures 1 to 5 show the inlet device according to the invention. Sub-figure a) is a representation from the outside of the side with the motor unit, sub-figure b) is a frontal section through the inlet device along line AA of sub-figure a) and sub-figure c) is a vertical side section through the inlet device along line BB of sub-figure b ).

Figure 1c ) shows a section through the interior of the inlet device. A bulk material space 8 for collecting bulk material 7 (not shown) is through the side walls of the Machine housing 1, hereinafter also referred to as housing 1, is defined by the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5, which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 59. The food flap 5 can be connected to a rotation axis 29 via a linkage 51. The connection between the axis of rotation 29 and the food flap 5 can also be configured in such a way that it transforms a rotational movement of the axis of rotation 29 into a lifting-lowering movement of the food flap 5. For this purpose, for example, an articulated linkage can be used as a connecting element. A variable gap is formed between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5, which allows bulk material 7 to pass through.

At most two sensors, a lower sensor 31 and an upper sensor 32, are arranged within the housing 1 in the bulk material space 8. A sensor holder 3 can be attached to the housing from the outside so that the sensors 31, 32 are located inside the housing. The fill level of the bulk material in the bulk material space 8 can be determined using the sensors 31, 32. The sensor holder 3 is configured so that it can be easily installed and removed from the outside and is easily replaceable. Furthermore, the sensor holder 3 allows easy retrofitting on various machines.

Figure 1b ) represents a section through the bulk material space 8, into which a flowable bulk material 7 (not shown) is filled. The bulk material is fed through the product inlet 6 and conical between the baffle plate 4 (not shown), the feed flap 5 and the side walls of the housing 1 accumulated. The sensor holder 3 with the lower sensor 31 and the upper sensor 32 is attached to an inside of the housing 1. For example, capacitive sensors can be used, but other sensor heads, such as optical sensors, can also be used there. The lower sensor 31 measures whether the entire width of the bulk material space 8 is covered with bulk material 7 and whether product distribution over the entire machine width is therefore guaranteed. The lower sensor 31 is also referred to as an empty detector. The upper sensor 32, also called a full indicator, provides information as to whether a certain level within the bulk material space 8 has been exceeded, which requires the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5 to be changed. By closing the bulk material space 8 through the sensor holder 3, the greatest possible protection in terms of food safety and explosion protection can be guaranteed. The internal sensors 31, 32 are cleaned during operation by the flow of bulk material 7 and therefore require only minimal maintenance.

Figure 1a ) shows the housing 1 and the externally mounted motor unit 2, which is firmly connected to the axis of rotation 29. Inside the motor unit there is a motor 21, which can be displaced on a linear axis 28, and a carriage 22. The displacement is carried out by moving the motor 21, for example on a spindle, parallel to the carriage 22. By driving the motor 21, the The center of gravity of the motor unit 2 can be changed with respect to the axis of rotation 29. If the feed flap 5 is connected to the axis of rotation 59 via the linkage 51, a counterweight to the feed flap 5 and the bulk material 7 accumulated in the bulk material space 8 can be set and the gap width can thereby be adjusted depending on the weight of the bulk material 7. The measured values from the sensors 31, 32 are used for this. If the lower sensor 31 is not covered by bulk material 7, the motor 21 moves in the direction away from the axis of rotation 29 until the stop is reached or remains in this position. In Figure 1a ) the motor 21 is shown in the extended position away from the axis of rotation 29, ie with the largest possible counterweight. This position is also called the starting position. In this position the gap is minimal. It may be useful that there is always a small opening or that the gap is completely closed. If only the lower sensor 31 is covered by bulk material 7, the motor position is not changed. If both sensors 31, 32 are covered by bulk material 7, the motor 21 moves in the direction of the axis of rotation 29. This shifts the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 closer to the axis of rotation 29 and the counterweight to the feed flap 5 and the bulk material 7 becomes smaller.

The motor unit 2 attached outside the housing 1 also has an adjustment weight 23 on the outside on the side facing the housing in order to be able to adjust the center of gravity of the motor unit 2. This is referred to in the description of Figure 8 discussed in more detail.

The following Figures 2 to 5 show the inlet device according to the invention in operation. The sub-figures a) to c) each show the same sections or representations of the inlet device as that of Figures 1a ) to c)

Figure 2 shows the inlet device in operation shortly after starting. The motor 21 is in the starting position, ie the gap size is minimal. The bulk material 7 is fed into the bulk material space 8 via the product inlet 6 and accumulates there in a cone shape between the baffle plate 4, the feed flap 5 and the side walls of the housing 1. The fill level of the bulk material 7 in the bulk material space 8 is still below the lower sensor 31.

Figure 3 shows the inlet device in operation when the lower sensor 31 or empty detector is reached by the bulk material 7. The entire width of the bulk material space 8 is covered with bulk material 7, which ensures a uniform product outflow. The motor 21 remains in the extended position, ie with the greatest possible counterweight to the feed flap 5 and the bulk material 7 loaded on it.

Figure 4 shows the inlet device in operation when the lower sensor 31 or empty indicator and the upper sensor 32 or full indicator are reached by the bulk material 7. This means that the inflow quantity of bulk material 7 is larger than that discharged through the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5 Crowd. The motor 21 thus moves closer in the direction of the axis of rotation 29 of the motor unit, whereby the counterweight of the motor unit 2 to the feed flap 5 loaded with bulk material 7 is reduced. This allows the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the food flap 5 to open further. Figure 4d ) shows section C of the bulk material space 8.

Figure 5 shows the inlet device in operation, with both sensors 31, 32 still being covered with bulk material 7. The inflow quantity is therefore still greater than the outflow quantity and consequently the motor 21 moves further in the direction of the axis of rotation 29, as a result of which the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 shifts closer to the axis of rotation 29. This further reduces the counterweight to the feed flap 5 loaded with bulk material 7 and the flap can open further in order to increase the throughput. Figure 5d ) shows section C of the bulk material space 8.

Figure 6 shows an exemplary flow chart of the filling quantity of bulk material 7 in the bulk material space 8 and the corresponding position of the motor 21 over time. At time S0, when the machine starts up, there is no bulk material 7 in the bulk material space 8, and the motor 21 is fully extended, so that the maximum counterweight acts on the feed flap 5. The bulk material space 8 is then filled with bulk material 7. When the lower sensor 31 is reached, that is, the bulk material is distributed over the entire width of the machine, initially nothing changes in the position of the motor 21. In step S1, the lower sensor 31 and the upper sensor 32 are covered by bulk material 7 and the Motor moves in the direction of rotation axis 29, whereby the counterweight on the feed flap 5 is reduced and this can thus open further due to the weight of the bulk material 7 acting on the feed flap 5. The

Driving the motor 21 can, for example, take place over a period of 500 ms with a 750 ms pause in between, but other durations can also be useful. However, the motor is preferably always moved at the same speed or according to the same pattern.

In step S2, the fill level of the bulk material 7 in the bulk material space 8 falls back below the upper sensor 32 due to an increase in the outflow quantity or a lower inflow and the motor movement is stopped. Since the bulk material level in the bulk material space 8 remains above the lower sensor 31, no motor movement is carried out.

Up to S3, the bulk material space 8 fills up again, for example due to an increased inflow, so that the upper sensor 32 is also covered again. The motor 21 thus moves further in the direction of the axis of rotation 29, whereby the feed flap 5 can open further due to the lower counterweight due to the shifting of the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 closer to the axis of rotation 29. The product outflow thus becomes higher and the fill level of the bulk material 7 falls below the upper sensor 32 again in step S4, which is why the motor movement is stopped. The bulk material 7 can thus continue to flow evenly over the entire width of the weight-loaded food flap 5.

In step S5, the fill level of the bulk material 7 in the bulk material space 8 falls to such an extent that the lower sensor 31 is no longer covered by bulk material. The motor 21 therefore moves away from the axis of rotation 29 by driving in order to shift the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 further away from the axis of rotation 29 and to increase the counterweight to the feed flap 5. The product flow through the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5 is therefore lower. As soon as the fill level reaches the lower sensor 31 again due to the lower product outflow, the motor movement is stopped as in step S6. The product inflow becomes less, which is why the fill level falls below the lower sensor 31 again in step S7. The motor 21 moves until it is in the starting position and the machine can run completely empty.

In summary, the motor 21 moves in a direction away from the axis of rotation 29 in order to shift the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 so that the counterweight on the feed flap 5 becomes higher as long as the lower sensor 31 is not covered by bulk material. If the motor 21 is in the starting position, it remains in this position. Is the lower one Sensor 31 is covered by bulk material 7, there is no motor movement. If the motor 21 is being moved at the time the bulk material 7 reaches the lower sensor 31, the movement is stopped. If the lower sensor 31 and the upper sensor 32 are covered by bulk material, the motor 21 moves in the direction of the axis of rotation 29, so that the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 shifts closer to the axis of rotation. The counterweight to the feed flap 5 is thereby reduced and more bulk material 7 can flow out through the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5. Because the feed flap 5 is rotatably mounted with the counterweight of the motor unit 2, large and heavy foreign bodies can also pass through the gap between the baffle plate 4 and the feed flap 5 by pressing down the weight-loaded feed flap 5 and thus blockage or damage to the inlet device can be prevented.

Figure 7 shows a section through the motor unit 2 with the motor 21, which can be displaced by means of a slide 22 on the linear axis 28, which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor unit 29.

Figure 8 shows an external view of the motor unit 2 with the adjustment weight 23, which can be moved in the direction of the linear axis 28 via elongated holes 24. As a result, the center of gravity of the motor unit 2 can be adjusted in relation to the axis of rotation 29, depending on the circumstances of each individual cleaning machine. This process only needs to be done once during commissioning. A shift of the adjustment weight 23 outwards, i.e. away from the axis of rotation 29, causes a higher counterweight of the motor unit 2 to the feed flap 5, while a shift closer to the axis of rotation 29 results in a lower counterweight of the motor unit 2 to the feed flap 5.

The invention allows a constant product flow of the bulk material 7 to be ensured across the entire width of the machine without having to make manual adjustments during operation. The weight-loaded feed flap 5 also allows large and heavy foreign objects to pass through the gap, thereby preventing the machine from becoming blocked or damaged. The control via a maximum of two sensors 31, 32 is simple, robust and low-maintenance, since the sensors 31, 32 are cleaned by the product flow during operation. Due to the closed structure and the internal mounting of the sensors 31, 32, the ATEX protection zone can also be created within the housing 1 21 and outside of the housing 1 the ATEX protection zone 22 must be adhered to. Food safety is also ensured by the closed structure.

List of reference symbols:

1

Housing

2

Motor unit

21

engine

22

Sleds

23

Adjustment weight

24

Elongated holes

28

Linear axis of the motor

29

Axis of rotation of the motor unit

3

Sensor holder

31

Lower sensor

32

Upper sensor

4

baffle plate

5

Food hatch

51

linkage

59

Axis of rotation of the food flap

6

Product inlet

7

Bulk goods

8th

Bulk room

S1-S7

Example procedural steps

Claims (10)

1. Inlet device for feeding bulk material (7), with

   a machine housing (1), wherein a baffle plate (4), a rotatably mounted feed flap (5) defining a gap between the baffle plate (4) and the feed flap (5) and being connected with a rotation axis (29), and upper and lower sensors (31, 32) for measuring the amount of the bulk material (7) present in a space (8) between the baffle plate (4), the feed flap (5) and the side walls of the machine housing (1), are provided inside the machine housing (1);

   wherein the inlet device further comprises a motor unit (2) provided outside the machine housing (1) and being fixedly connected to the rotation axis (29);

   wherein the motor unit (2) is connectable to the feed flap (5) via the rotation axis (29) and forms a counterweight to the feed flap (5),

   wherein the motor unit (2) comprises a motor (21) and a carriage (22), wherein the motor (21) is slidable of the carriage (22) on a linear axis (28) perpendicular to the rotation axis (29) for changing the center of gravity of the motor unit (2) on the linear axis (28) relative to the rotation axis (29);

   wherein the size of the gap between the baffle plate (4) and the feed flap (5) depends on the position of the motor (21) on the linear axis (28) and the weight of the bulk material (7) loaded on the feed flap (5).
2. Inlet device according to claim 1,
   wherein the sensors (31, 32) on the sensor mount (3) are provided on a sidewall of the housing (1).
3. Inlet device according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at most two sensors (31, 32) are used for measuring the amount of the bulk material (7).
4. Inlet device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   wherein capacitive sensors are used as sensors (31, 32).
5. Inlet device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
   wherein the feed flap (5) and the rotation axis (29) are connected using a device that is configured in a way that the rotational movement of the rotation axis (29) can be transformed to a lifting-lowering movement of the feed flap (5).
6. Inlet device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   wherein the motor unit (2) uses an adjustment weight (23) moveable in the direction of the linear axis (28) using slots (24) in order to change the center of gravity of the motor unit (2) relative to the rotation axis (29).
7. Inlet device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   wherein the inlet device can be used for introducing flowable bulk material (7), in particular grains.
8. Cleaning machine for cleaning bulk material (7) with an inlet device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Method for controlling inflow of an inlet device of bulk material (7) with an inflow device, in particular an inlet device according to one of claims 1 to 8, which comprises a baffle plate (4), a rotatably mounted feed flap (5) defining a gap between the baffle plate (4) and the feed flap (5) and being connected with a rotation axis (29), and upper and lower sensors (31, 32) for measuring the amount of the bulk material (7) present in a space (8) between the baffle plate (4), the feed flap (5) and the side walls of the machine housing (1) inside a machine housing (1);

   wherein a motor unit (2) being fixedly connected to the rotation axis (29) forms a counterweight to the feed flap (5), wherein the motor unit (2) comprises a motor (21) and a carriage (22), wherein the motor (21) is slidable of the carriage (22) on a linear axis (28) perpendicular to the rotation axis (29) for changing the center of gravity of the motor unit (2) on the linear axis (28) relative to the rotation axis (29),

   wherein by sliding the motor (21) and thus changing the center of gravity of the motor unit (2) relative to the rotation axis (29), the counterweight is reduced, when the lower sensor (31) and the upper sensor (32) are covered by bulk material (7); and

   by sliding the motor (21) and thus changing the center of gravity of the motor unit (2) relative to the rotation axis (29), the counterweight is increased, when the lower sensor (31) is not covered by bulk material (7).
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the sliding of the motor (21) is done continuously or in equal intervals.

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