FI127800B - Method and dispensing apparatus for dispensing a powder and/or granular material - Google Patents

Abstract

Dosing system (1) for dosing a flour and / or granular substance, comprising - at least two dosing containers (10) for storing the dosing of the substance to be dosed, each dosing container (10) being provided with at least one plant (12). ) indicating the mass of the substance contained in the metering container, - a pneumatic moving device (16), comprising a transfer tube (24) arranged to receive the substance from the metering container (10) and moving the subject to further processing, - a vacuum source (26) coupled to the transfer tube (24), - a metering and closing device (22, 22 ') adapted to dispense the substance from the metering container (10) to the air flowing into the transfer tube (24) of the pneumatic moving system (16), and wherein - each metering and closing means (22, 22 ') have been arranged to minimize the mediation of the suppressive effect of the pneumatic moving system to doses the container (10) under ambient pressure and the function of the plant (12) indicating its mass. The invention also relates to a method for dosing a flour and / or granular substance with the dosing plant (1).

Description

DOSING EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR DOSING Powder and / or Granular The invention relates to a dosing apparatus for dispensing powder and / or granular material according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for dispensing powder and / or granular material.

In prior art devices, powdered and / or granular substances are fed at several locations simultaneously, based on weighing, onto a mechanical screw conveyor and the substances are conveyed in a screw conveyor to a final container. The structure of the mixing screw conveyor consists of a tube within which a screw coil rotates. As a result, powder remains in the clearance between the screw tube and the coil, which never leaves the conveyor. As the mixing batch changes, the conveyor must be opened and cleaned of the previous material. Therefore, the mixing screw is poorly suited for mixing volatile materials.

Another problem relates to the transport distance of substances. Frequently, the dose of substance 20 occurs in storage facilities, which are tens of meters away to the final container where mixed materials are required. Due to its construction, the screw conveyor is poorly suited for transport distances longer than 10 m.

US 2006056924 A1 discloses a dispensing apparatus for dispensing powder and / or granular material, comprising at least two dispensing containers for storing dispensable material, a pneumatic transfer apparatus comprising a transfer tube arranged to receive and dispense material from the dispensing container. The apparatus further comprises dispensing and shut-off devices adapted to dispense material from a metering container into a transfer tube of a pneumatic transfer device to filing air.

US 4277279 A discloses a dispensing apparatus for dispensing powder and / or granular material comprising at least two dispensing containers

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199 for storing a dispensing agent for dispensing, each dispensing container being provided with at least one mass indicating device for the dispensing container and a pneumatic transfer apparatus comprising a transfer tube arranged to receive and dispense the substance from the dispensing container. The apparatus of the publication further comprises dispensing and closing devices adapted to dispense material from the dispensing container into the air flowing in the transfer tube of the pneumatic transfer device.

GB 772385 A, US 3309148 A and EP 2805902 10 A1 disclose a general state of the art in the field of application.

The object of the invention is to increase the state of the art by providing a dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing powder and / or granular material which minimizes the problems of the prior art.

The objects of the invention are mainly achieved by the features defined in the independent claims. Other additional features of the invention will be apparent from the appended claims and from the following description of embodiments of the figures.

The advantages of the invention are mainly its efficiency and simplicity. The invention enables the simultaneous metering and mixing of powdered and / or granular substances and their transfer to a substance receiving container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing apparatus for dispensing the powder and / or granular material comprises:

- at least two dosing containers for storing the dosing substance for dosing, each dosing container being provided with at least one mass indicating device for the dosing container containing material,

- a pneumatic transfer apparatus comprising a transfer tube arranged to receive material from the metering container and transfer the material for further processing,

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- a vacuum source connected to the transfer tube,

- metering and shut-off devices adapted to dispense material from the metering tank into the air transfer tube of the pneumatic transfer device, and wherein

- each dosing and closing device is arranged to minimize transmission of the vacuum effect of the pneumatic transfer device 5 to the ambient pressure dosing container and operation of the device indicating its mass.

In a dispensing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing and closing devices are connected to the transfer tube in successive locations in the transfer tube.

The dispensing apparatus for dispensing the powder and / or granular material according to one embodiment of the invention comprises:

- at least two dosing containers for storing the dosing substance for dosing, each dosing container being provided with at least one mass indicating device for the dosing container containing material,

- a transfer device arranged to receive material from the metering container and transfer the material for further processing,

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the dispensing apparatus.

The metering device control unit then comprises

- information on the target mixing ratio of the metering agents contained in at least two metering containers in the mixture,

- information on the individual metering mass flow rate, depending on the target mixing ratio of the metering agent contained in each metering container,

- an arrangement for receiving, from the mass indicating device of each substance in the metering container, mass data from the metering container to determine the mass flow of the metered material,

- an arrangement to control the dispensing of the substance dispensed from the dispensing container to the transfer equipment on the basis of the mass flow rate and / or the targeted mixing ratio of the dispensed material, and

- an arrangement for starting and stopping the dosing of the substance from each storage container at the same time.

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199 According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a metering and shut-off device in connection with each metering container adapted to dispense material from the metering tank into a transfer apparatus, said transfer apparatus being a pneumatic transfer apparatus. The metering and closing device is arranged to minimize transmission of the vacuum effect of the pneumatic conveyor to the metering container, and the control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the metering of each metering container independently to achieve said target mixing ratio.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing devices comprise a receiving container coupled to a pneumatic transfer device, the pneumatic transfer device comprising a transfer tube and a vacuum source connected downstream of the receiving container.

According to an embodiment of the invention, said transfer apparatus is a pneumatic transfer apparatus and the apparatus comprises a receiving container and the receiving container comprises a filter unit for separating the substance from the gas in a pneumatic transfer arrangement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing container comprises a feeding device for feeding material from the dispensing container to a dispensing and closing device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing and closing device 25 is coupled in a flexible manner to the dispensing container. By flexible coupling, forces are not transmitted between the dispensing container and the dispensing and closing device, at least to the extent that the effect of the coupling on the operation of the volume indicating device is significant. In this way, the change in mass of the substance contained in the dosing container over time, i.e. the mass flow rate of the dosing substance 30, is accurately determined.

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199 According to one embodiment of the invention, a flow connection to the surrounding air space is provided between the dispensing and closing device and the dispensing container. At this time, an effect is obtained which minimizes the effect of any leakage and / or vacuum in determining the mass of the substance.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the operation of the feeder and the dispensing and closing device in such a manner that material from each dispensing container is supplied to the transfer apparatus according to said target mixing ratio.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing and closing device is a closing feeder, which may also be called a tray feeder.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the metering and shut-off device 15 comprises two successive valves arranged to operate in synchronized manner so that their functional open-closed position is opposite to one another. The control apparatus then comprises an arrangement for controlling the valves in a synchronized manner so that their functional open-closed position is opposite to one another.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the feeding device is a screw conveyor which conveys metered substance from a metering container to a metering and closing device.

In a method according to an embodiment of the invention

- the substance to be dispensed is stored in at least two dispensers for dispensing,

- the mass of the metered substance is determined independently of each metering tank,

- the substance is dispensed into a vacuum pneumatic conveying apparatus 30 for transferring the substance for further processing, and

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- dispensing the substance into the air flowing into the transfer tube of the pneumatic transfer device by means of metering and shut-off devices while minimizing the transmission of the vacuum effect of the pneumatic transfer device to the pressurized metering container, and

- independently controlling the mass flow of metered material from each metering reservoir.

Preferably, the agent is metered into the air flowing into the transfer tube of the pneumatic transfer device at successive locations in the transfer tube.

In a method according to another embodiment of the invention

- the substance is dosed from at least two dosing containers to a transfer device for transferring the substance to the receiving container,

- setting the target mixing ratio15 of each substance in the dosing container in the receiving container,

- independently determining the mass flow rate of the metered material from each metering tank,

- controlling the dispensing of the metered substance from the metering reservoir to the transfer equipment based on the mass flow and / or target mixing ratio of the metered metering agent, and

- starting and stopping the dosing of the substance from each dosing container simultaneously.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in the method, the mass flow rate of the dosing substance from the dosing container is determined by weighing the dosing container and the substance contained therein at predetermined time intervals, and dosing is controlled by generating a control signal from a defined substance setting mass flow.

According to an embodiment of the invention, in the method, the transfer apparatus acts as a pneumatic conveyor and the substance is dispensed from the dispensing container using a dispensing and closing device which simultaneously minimizes the transmission of the vacuum effect of the pneumatic conveyor to the dispensing container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises dispensing an agent from a dispensing container using a sequential feeder and a dispensing and closing device in the flow direction of the agent, and controlling the feeder 5 and the dispensing and closing device for each metered substance or mass.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the transfer apparatus serves as a pneumatic conveyor and in the method, the substances dosed simultaneously from at least two dispensing containers are mixed in the pneumatic transfer apparatus while the substances are transferred to the receiving container.

According to an embodiment of the invention, in the method, the transfer apparatus functions as a pneumatic conveyor, thereby allowing replacement air to enter the apparatus 15 via a flow connection between the metering and closing device and the metering tank in the surrounding air space.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said at least two dispensing containers are arranged in a storage space and said receiving container is arranged in a production space separate from the storage space, wherein the distance between the containers is more than 10m.

In this context, the word substance is to be understood as being either singular or plural unless specifically specified. The material may be, for example, a raw material used in the process. For example, the process may be a baking process wherein the ingredients are the ingredients of the requisite dough recipe and the method comprises dispensing and mixing the ingredients of the baking recipe and transporting the mixture of ingredients to a receiving container. The target mixing ratio is the ratio of the mass flow rate from a single metering tank to the sum of the mass flows of the metering materials from all 30 metering tanks in use.

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199 The solution according to the invention can successfully mix substances at very low concentration ratios, whereby the concentration of a single substance can be up to 1: 10,000.

In the following, the invention and its operation will be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a dispensing device an10 and Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a dispensing device.

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a dispensing apparatus 1 according to the invention 15. The dispensing apparatus comprises at least two dispensing containers 10. In Fig. 1 there are four, in which case the mixture of substances may consist of four different substances. The dosing container 10 serves as a reservoir of material for dosing. The metering devices 10 further comprise at least one receiving container 14 for the metering containers to receive the metered substances. The apparatus also comprises transfer devices 16 arranged to receive material from the dispensing container 10 and transfer material to the receiving container 14. The dispensing devices also comprise a control unit 20. The control unit is, for example, programmable logic or computer.

The transfer device 16 passes through each dispensing container 10, ending in the receiving container 14. The transfer device is preferably a pneumatic conveyor comprising a transfer tube 24 and a filter unit 28 fitted to the receiving container 14 and a vacuum source 26 connected to the tube 24 downstream of the receiving container 14. Each dosing container is connected to the same transfer tube 24 at successive locations in the tube. The apparatus control unit 20 is adapted to control the operation of the vacuum source 26, wherein the control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the operation of the vacuum source 26 in a dose contained in at least two metering containers 10.

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199, based on the target mixing ratio of the at least two metering containers containing the metering rate and / or the measured vacuum level. In practice, the vacuum source may be, for example, a fan, a compressor, a vacuum pump or the like.

The dispensing container 10 includes, as an integral part, a mass indicating device 12 for the substance containing the dispensing container, which is in communication with the control unit 20 included in the apparatus. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mass indicating device of the substance 10 comprises a metering container and an apparatus for measuring the mass of the substance contained therein which, when properly calibrated, only indicates the amount of substance in the metering container. By determining the decrease in mass of the substance at a sufficiently dense interval of time or substantially continuously per unit time, the mass of the substance to be dispensed15 is determined. The measurement may be based, for example, on stretch strip technology. In other words, the amount of dosing substance from each dosing container 10 is determined by continuous weighing of the dosing container 10 and the substance contained therein.

Each dispensing container 10 is provided with a dispensing and sealing device 20 22, 22 'adapted to dispense material from the dispensing container 10 into a transfer device so as to minimize the passage of gas from the transfer tube 24 to the dispensing container. The transfer tube 24 of the pneumatic conveyor acting as a transfer device is connected to each dosing container 10 via a dosing and closing device 22, 22 '. At each metering and closing device 22, 22 ', the transfer device will have a significantly lower pressure than the metering container approximately at ambient pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the dispensing and closing device is a compartment feeder 22. According to another preferred embodiment, the dispensing and closing device comprises two consecutive valves 22 'which are arranged to operate in a synchronized manner so that their functional open-closed position is opposite to one another. Preferably, the control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the operation of said valves in a synchronized manner such that their functional open-closed position is opposed to one another. The metering and closing device is in communication with the control unit 20 and thus the control unit is adapted to control these functions.

20185371 prh 01 -02 to 2019 guarantee implementation of the dosing method. The control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the dispensing and closing device of each dispensing container independently to achieve said target mixing ratio.

In the dispensing device 1 according to the invention, the control unit 20 comprises, in particular, information on the target mixing ratio of the metering agent contained in the at least two metering containers in the receiving tank 14, and the metering rate for determining the amount of dosing agent, and further the amount of dosing agent from the dosing container 10 to the transfer device 16 controlled by the arrangement based on said target dosing rate, dosing container dosing agent amount and / or target mixing ratio. In this way, the apparatus is arranged to operate so that the material is fed into the transfer tube at the correct speeds for optimum mixing results during the transport of the materials.

Each metering container 10 is further provided with a feeder 18, such as a screw conveyor, for discharging material from the metering container 10 forward.

The device is referred to herein as a feeder because it is arranged to feed the substance from the metering container to the metering and closing device 22 which is arranged downstream of the metering device 1 feeder. The function of the dispensing and shut-off device 22 is to permit controlled transfer of material from the an25 suction tank to the transfer apparatus 16 and at the same time to prevent the flow of gas 8 from the transfer tube 24 to the dosing container. In some rare cases, if the shape of the dosing container and the material to be processed are suitable, the material may be discharged directly into the dosing and sealing apparatus without the aid of a feeder.

The supply device comprises an actuator, such as an electric motor 30, which is provided in communication with the control unit 20. In this way, the control unit 20 is arranged to control the operation of the motor and thus the feeder 18.

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The control unit 20 comprises an arrangement for controlling the amount of material dispensed from the dispensing container to the transfer apparatus. Said arrangement comprises instructions within the control unit to control the amount of material dispensed from the dispensing container to the transfer apparatus, and means within the control unit for performing these instructions.

According to the invention, the material flow and the quantities of material are treated as mass flow and mass, although the feeder 18 itself and the metering and closing devices 20,22 'produce a volume flow. However, the properties of the powder and / or granular material may be such that the mass flow rate of the material passing through a device operating at a constant capacity, i.e. a constant volume flow rate, may change over time. The control unit thus comprises an arrangement for producing a suitable control signal for the motors of the feeder 18 and the metering and closing devices 20,22 'according to the mass flow reference value produced by the control unit. Such a control signal may be, for example, a frequency reference for a motor controlling frequency converter.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a dispensing container 10 of a dispensing device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the dispensing and closing device 22 is connected to a dispensing container 10, more particularly to a dispensing container 18 of a dispensing container 10. By means of a flexible coupling, forces are not transmitted between the dosing container and the dosing and sealing device, so that the effect of coupling 32 on the operation of the substance mass indicating device 12 can be calibrated to more accurately indicate the amount of substance in the dosing container. The metering and shut-off device also prevents the gas pressure (vacuum) from acting on the mass indicating device 12 of the substance, whereby the amount of material leaving the metering tank can be accurately measured and controlled.

Figure 2 also shows how the apparatus is provided with a flow connection 34 between the dosing and melting device 22 and the dosing container 10 to the surrounding air space. This can be achieved by providing, for example, a flow connection on the wall, the flow port of which is suitably protected. Such a flow connection practically eliminates the effect of a gas leakage of the metering and shut-off device 22. Thus, possibly, a metering and closing device 22 is thus provided

By means of 20185371 prh 01 -02-20199, the vacuum of the transfer tube 24 cannot be influenced by the dosing tank, but is compensated for by flow filing replacement air, which is allowed to enter the equipment in a controlled manner.

The apparatus essentially operates by dispensing the substance from at least two dosing containers 10 into a transfer device 16 for transferring the substance to the receiving container. Thus, the transfer device preferably functions as a pneumatic conveyor, and the substance is dispensed from the dispensing container using a dispensing and sealing device used to transfer the substance to the transfer apparatus, which simultaneously transmits the pressure effect of the pneumatic conveyor to the dispensing container.

The target mixing ratio and total amount of substance to be dispensed in the receiving container is set as desired and the rate of dispensing of the substance in each dispensing container to the transfer equipment is dependent on the target mixing ratio of the substance. In this way, material from two or more feed tanks is introduced into the gas stream simultaneously and substantially continuously. The amount of substance dispensed from each dispensing container is substantially continuous and the amount of substance dispensed from the dispensing container to the transfer device is controlled based on said 20 target dispensing rates, amount of dispensing agent dispensed from the dispensing container and / or target mixing ratio. In this way, a mixture is sufficiently homogeneous in the receiving container and the substances are uniformly mixed, the operation of the vacuum source of the pneumatic conveyor is controlled by the target mixing ratio of the at least two metering containers, the metering by.

When the apparatus operates from two or more metering containers 10, the metering agent is mixed in the pneumatic transfer apparatus 16 while the substance is transferred to the receiving container.

20185371 prh 01 -02-20199 In the transfer tube 24, a filing gas, preferably air 8, is made to flow at a rate of 5 to 40 m / s by means of a vacuum source 26. The gas 8 flowing in the transfer tube 24 conveys from the metering tanks 10 to the metering receptacle 14, where the substance is separated from the gas used to transport the substance by means of a filtration unit 28. In the transfer tube 24, the mixed substances settle to the bottom of the receiving container 14, from which the substance can be further removed for use as desired.

The method is carried out by preparing a batch of a powder and / or granular mixture according to a predetermined recipe in a receiving container. For batch preparation, a start time is defined, wherein dismantling of each dosing container 10, i.e., dosing commenced simultaneously, and an end time at which simultaneous dismantling, i.e. dosing, of each dosing container, is controlled by dosing .

With reference to Figure 3, an embodiment of the invention will now be described. The dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of dispensing arrangements 1T, 11, which in turn consist essentially of a dispensing container 10, a dispenser, and a dispensing and closing device 2, 22 '. According to one embodiment of the invention, the dispensing arrangements of the dispensing device 1 comprise at least two groups of dispensing arrangements 11, 11 ', wherein the dispensing arrangements of one group are mechanically identical but the dispensing arrangements of the first group 11' are different, typically smaller one dispensing arrangement 11 'and a second group 3 dispensing arrangements 11. In this case, the first dispensing group may be dispensed with an order of magnitude less than the second dispensing group 11. In this case, the first group 30 11' dispensing system will have for example, computer programs, databases, functions, etc. the unit comprises one or more control computers.

It should be noted that only some of the most preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be applied in many ways within the scope defined by the appended claims. The features disclosed in the various embodiments may also be used within the basic idea of the invention in conjunction with the other embodiments and / or combined with other entities than the disclosed features, if desired and the technical possibilities therefor.

Claims (13)

claim A dosing system (1) for dosing a flour and / or granular substance, comprising - at least two dosing containers (10) for storage for the dosing of the substance to be dosed, each dosing container (10) being provided with at least one plant (12) indicating the mass of the substance contained in the dosing container, - a pneumatic moving device (16), comprising a transfer tube (24) arranged to receive the blank from the metering container (10) and move the blank to further processing, - a vacuum source (26) connected to the transfer tube (24), - metering and closing devices (22, 22 ') adapted for metering the substance from the metering container (10) to the air flowing in the transfer tube (24) of the pneumatic moving system (16), Characterized in that - each metering and closing device (22, 22 ') has been arranged to minimize the mediation of the suppression effect of the pneumatic moving system to the metering container (10) under ambient pressure, and The function of the plant (12) indicating its mass. Dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing and closing devices (22, 22 ') are connected to the transfer tube (24) at successive points in the transfer tube. Dosing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the system comprises a dosing and closing device (22, 22 ') adjacent to the respective dosing container (10) adapted for dosing the substance from the dosing container (10) to the moving system (16) and 30, a control unit (20) comprises an arrangement for controlling the dosing container and sealing device (22) of the respective dosing container independently. 20185371 prh 01 -02-2019 Dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing container (10) comprises a feeder device (18) for supplying material from the dosing container (10) to the dosing and 5 (22, 22 '). Dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing and closing device (22, 22 ') is coupled with an elastic connection (32) to the dosing container. Dosing system according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the system has a flow connection (34) to the surrounding air space arranged between the dosing and closing device and the dosing container. Dosing system according to claim 4, characterized in that the dosing system comprises a control unit (20) arranged to control the function of the dosing system (1) and that the control unit comprises an arrangement for controlling the feeding device (18) and the dosing device. The function of the closure device (22, 22 ') is synchronized so that the substance is measured from the respective dosing container to the moving plant according to the desired mixing ratio. Method of dosing a flour and / or granular substance with one Dosing plant (1), in which method - the substance to be dosed is stored in at least two dosing containers (10) for dosing, - the mass of the dosed substance is determined independently from each dosing container (10), - the substance is dispensed to a pneumatic displacement system (16) with vacuum, with the aid of which the substance is moved for further processing, characterized in that - the substance is dosed into the air flowing in the pneumatic transfer system's transfer tube (24) by means of metering and closing devices (22, 22 '), and 20185371 prh 01 -02 2019 at the same time, the mediation of the pneumatic removal system's suppression effect to the metering container (10) is minimized with ambient pressure, - the mass flow of the dosed substance is controlled independently from each dosing container. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the substance is dosed to the air flowing in the transfer tube (24) of the pneumatic moving system to successive places of the transfer tube (24). Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the mass flow of substance dosed from respective dosing container (10) in the method is determined by weighing the dosing container (10) and the substance it contains at predetermined intervals, and that the dosing is controlled by generating a control signal. starting from the predetermined mass flow of the substance. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that in the method the moving plant (16) functions as a pneumatic conveyor and the substance is dispensed from the dispensing container using the dispensing and dispensing container. And the closure device (22, 22 ') which simultaneously minimizes the mediation of the pneumatic conveyor's suppressive power to the metering container (10). Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the method The substance is dispensed from the metering container using the feeder (18) and the metering and closing device (22, 22 ') arranged one after the other in the flow direction of the blank and by controlling the feeder (18) and the metering and closing device (22, 22'). of the respective mass flow of dosed substance and / or the desired mixing ratio. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that in the method the moving plant (16) functions as a pneumatic conveyor and in the method the substances from at least two dosing containers are simultaneously mixed in the pneumatic moving plant while the substances are moved to the receiving container (14). Method according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the process, replacement air is allowed to enter the system via a flow connection (34) arranged between the metering and closing device (22, 22 ') and the metering container (10).