FR3010519A1 - DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE VOLUMIC MASS OF A BULK PRODUCT, AND PRODUCT LOADING INSTALLATION COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The device according to the invention for measuring the density of a bulk product (2), for example a food in the form of granules, crumbs or powder, is characterized in that it comprises: measuring chamber (11) having a determined volume and adapted to receive a sample of said product (2), - means (12) for measuring the weight of said measuring chamber (11), - means (13) able to determine the weight difference of said measuring chamber (11), before and after its filling with said product (2), so as to measure the weight of said product sample (2), - means (13) for the calculation of the density of said product sample (2), taking into account the weight of said product sample (2) and the volume of said measuring chamber (11), and - display and / or printing means of the mass result volume obtained.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES The present invention relates to a device for measuring the density of a bulk product, for example a food in the form of granules, crumbs or powder.

It also relates to an installation for loading such a product in bulk, for example in the bucket of a transport vehicle, and comprising such a device for measuring density. BACKGROUND In the field of agriculture, and more particularly in animal feed, the density of a food which is in the form of granules, crumbs or powders, varies according to the raw materials that compose it , of the density variation of the same raw material, but also of the various manufacturing technological parameters (granulation, crumbling criteria, etc.). Thus, a variation in the length of the granules, a change of origin and presentation of the raw material or a change in the composition of the formula can change the density of several tens of grams per liter.

However, animal feed systems are increasingly operating on the principle of density in lieu of weight in different productions, especially for concentrated feed dispensing systems for sows reared in groups, the robots for milking ruminants, the dosers in rabbit production .... There is therefore a need to offer breeders a relevant indication of the density of the food product they receive, so as to allow the adjustment of these systems. volumetric distribution.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore proposes a device for measuring the density of a bulk product, for example a food in the form of granules, crumbs or powder, characterized in that it comprises: a measuring chamber having a determined volume adapted to receive a sample of said product, means for measuring the weight of said measuring chamber, means capable of determining the weight differential of said measuring chamber, before and after filling it with said product, so as to measure the weight of said product sample, - means for calculating the density of said product sample, taking into account the weight of said product sample and the volume of said measuring chamber, and means for displaying and / or printing the density result obtained. This density measurement device can be implanted near the product storage area, for example at the food dispenser, so as to allow the measurement of density sought, at the time of loading into the bucket of the vehicle. distribution. Density measurement is thus performed physically, in a state of compression close to that of the breeding means in breeding. From a sample taken manually or automatically just before loading the food into the vehicle, the device quantifies the density of the product, the result obtained is then indicated on the delivery note provided to farmers. Such a device makes it possible, in the event of a significant change in the measured density, to adjust the setting of the volumetric dosers to increase the accuracy of the quantities dispensed and consumed. In addition, this measurement also makes it possible to monitor the density of the feed for monitoring the filling rate in the silos. If there is a noticeable variation, the farmer can carry out the necessary checks, for example at the top of the silo, to avoid any surprises during the following delivery: too large a control (full silo) or food breakage (silo) empty). For the technician, the knowledge of the density of the food brings precision in the advice to the programming of the distribution.

Such a measure taken at the time of loading constitutes an aid for the farmer who must monitor and evaluate the quantities actually distributed on the farm, in particular to comply with the technical recommendations for rationing.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the measuring chamber comprises a / an upper opening which extends in a horizontal plane, and b / a lower opening; and the density measuring device further comprises: - flaring means, for scraping the product sample in the plane of said upper opening, and - a lower flap for removably sealing said lower opening. The flaring means are preferably constituted by a flaring tool mounted at the end of the rod of a jack for translational movement in the plane of the upper opening of the measuring chamber. Even more preferably, this scoring tool comprises an active edge shaped to allow the cutting or breaking of granules or crumbs of the product, during the implementation of said scraper means. According to yet another particularity, the tamper tool advantageously comprises an upper cowling structure in the form of pan (s) inclined (s) to ensure the gravity evacuation on the sides of a possible portion of the product from a superior diet . For its part, the bottom hatch preferably consists of a shutter member mounted at the end of the rod of a jack for translational movement between a closed position in which said shutter member closes the lower opening of said chamber. measuring, and an open position in which said shutter member is disengaged from said lower opening. Still according to an interesting characteristic, the density measuring device comprises: - a main frame, and - a support frame at least for the measuring chamber, the flaring means and the lower hatch, which support frame is mounted on said main frame via said weight measuring means.

More preferably, the device comprises a set of baffle panels arranged to direct the product to a lower recovery receptacle located under the measuring chamber. According to yet another feature, the device comprises means for detecting the presence of product in the measuring chamber. These product presence detection means advantageously consist of a capacitive type sensor mounted on the tamper tool. To allow an automatic measurement of the desired density parameter, the device preferably comprises means for filling the measuring chamber with a sample of said product, which means comprise a feed pipe whose downstream end is disposed above and in line with said measuring chamber, and whose upstream end is connected to a storage hopper of the product and comprises a valve / trap system associated with control means, for controlling the supply of product of the measuring chamber. The device according to the invention preferably further comprises electronic / computer means comprising PLC-type means, provided with calculating means for measuring the density of the product sample, from the weight information provided by said device. means for measuring weight, and also provided with means for displaying and / or printing the results obtained; these means of the automaton type also ensure, optionally, the control of said flaring means, said lower flap and said valve / trap system of said supply manifold.

The invention also relates to an installation for loading a vehicle grab into a food product in the form of granules, crumbs or powder, stored in a storage hopper provided with a distribution chute, characterized in that it comprises a device as defined above, for measuring the density of a sample of said product. In the corresponding installation, the density measuring device preferably comprises a supply pipe which is connected to said storage hopper and which comprises a valve / hatch system associated with control means, for the control of the tank. supply of product from the measuring chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and represented in the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a density measuring device according to the invention, integrated in a product loading installation; - Figure 2 is a schematic view, in longitudinal section, detailing the structure of the tamper tool of the measuring chamber; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tamper tool, according to the sectional plane 33 of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a possible embodiment of the density measuring device according to the invention; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the measuring device illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a device 1 for measuring the density of a bulk product 2 which is stored in a hopper. 3, this density measuring device 1 being integrated in a facility marked 4 generally, for example a food manufacturing plant or a storage / distribution center, for loading said product 2 in a vehicle of delivery 5 equipped with a bucket 6. The bulk product 2 may consist of a feed (pigs, sheep, cattle, poultry, rabbits ...) which is in the form of granules, crumbs or flour. This product 2 is here stored in the hopper 3 located in height, and which is adapted to allow the loading in the bucket 6 of the delivery vehicle 5 via a distribution chute 7 associated with a valve / trap system 8 provided with control means adapted for opening and closing. The storage hopper 3 further comprises a tubing 9 for supplying the product 2 of the measuring device 1. The downstream end 9a of the tubing 9 is located above and in line with the measuring device 1; its upstream end 9b is connected to the storage hopper 3 and is provided with a valve / hatch system 10 associated with suitable control means, for its opening and for its closure.

The valve / trap systems 8 and 10 of the storage hopper 3 can be controlled independently of one another. The density measuring device 1 comprises: a measurement chamber 11, of determined volume V, which is adapted to receive a sample of product 2, means 12 for measuring the weight of this measuring chamber 11, and electronic / computer means 13 provided with a) means for determining the weight difference of said measuring chamber 11, before and after its filling with the product 2, to measure the weight P of said product sample, b) means for calculating the density P / V of said sample, and c) means for displaying and / or printing the result of density obtained. The corresponding density result may for example be printed on the delivery note associated with the product 2 loaded in the bucket 6 of the vehicle 5, to be available to the farmer who receives the product and stores it on the farm ( for example in silo) for subsequent distribution to animals. As can be seen in Figures 1 to 5, the density measuring device 1 here comprises a main frame 14 placed on the ground (preferably provided with a peripheral housing) which carries a frame 15 mounted on the means 12 of weight measurement, which frame 15 supports the measuring chamber 11, scaler means 16 and a bottom hatch 17, detailed below. The measuring chamber 11 here consists of a cylindrical container of vertical axis A, provided with an upper opening 18 which extends in a horizontal plane B and a lower opening 20; its internal volume V can be of the order of 1 dm3. The upper opening 18 of the measuring chamber 11 is located below the downstream end 9a of the supply pipe 9 and in line with this downstream end 9a.

The product 2 from the hopper 3, which is led through the tubing 9 to the measuring device 1 can reach the measuring chamber 11 and fill it by simple gravity. Preferably, a filling cone 21 is provided in the upper portion of the main frame 14, interposed between the measuring chamber 11 and the downstream end 9a of the feed pipe 9, in line with the latter, for channeling the spill product 2 by gravity. The scraper means 16 are adapted to level the upper level of the product sample 2 introduced into the measurement chamber 11, in the plane B of its upper opening 18. These scraper means 16 consist of a scraper tool 21. general form of flat plate provided with an active end edge 22 and which is mounted at the end of the rod 23 of a jack 24 for translational movement in said plane B of the upper opening 18.

The active edge 22 of the cutting tool 16 is shaped to allow cutting or breaking of the granules of the product crumbs 2 located in the plane B of the opening 18, during the shaving maneuver, so as to make drop all the excess material and optimize the filling of the measuring chamber 11.

For this, this active edge 22 is for example in the form of a bevel. The shaving operation is carried out here from a retracted position of the rod 23 of the jack 24 (in which the shaving tool 21 and in particular its active edge 22 is spaced from the upper opening 18 of the chamber 11), by an extension operation of this cylinder rod 23. During this translation operation, the active edge 22 of the tool 21 moves in the plane B of the opening 18 of the measuring chamber 11 to perform the desired shaving operation, until the tool 21 completely covers this opening 18. Then, the extraction operation of the cylinder rod 23 is stopped (see the dashed position on the 1), then it is inverted to return the tool 21 in the open position of the opening 18, in order to return it to the inactive position, ready for a new shaving cycle (see the position in solid lines in the figure 1).

As the shaving tool 21 is disposed under the product supply means 9a, and is caused to move in line with the latter, it is advantageously equipped with an upper cowling structure 25 in the form of pan (s). ) inclined (s), to ensure gravity evacuation, on the sides, of a possible part of product likely to cover it (see Figures 2, 3 and 5). The cowling 25 prevents part of the product 2 from the feed pipe 9 stagnant on the scraper means 16. Here, the cowling 25 is shaped dihedral whose tip is oriented upwards.

This overlap dihedron 25 covers the planar tool 21 and is secured to the lateral edges of the latter, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upper edge 26 of the rollover dihedron 25 extends parallel to the axis translation of the rod 23 of the cylinder 24. The measuring device 1 further comprises means 27 for detecting the presence or absence of product in the measuring chamber 11. As can be seen in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, these detection means 27 are carried by the scorching means 16. They consist of a capacitive type sensor carried by the flaring planar tool 21, in the central part of the latter, on a transparent support 28.

This sensor 27 is positioned and oriented so as to allow the detection of the product 2 in the measuring chamber 11, at the end of the leveling operation, when the planar tool 21 covers the upper opening 18 of the measuring chamber 11 It carries out the detection through the transparent support 28 and is protected by the upper cowling 25.

The sensor 27 may consist of any suitable capacitive detector, known to those skilled in the art; it is wired or wirelessly connected to the electronic / computer means 13, for the processing of the detected information of presence / absence of product in the measurement chamber 11. The lower hatch 17, whose function is to shut off removably the lower opening 20 of the measurement chamber 11 consists of a plane shutter member 29 mounted at the end of the rod 30 of a cylinder 31. The lower opening 20 of the measuring chamber 11 extends in a plane horizontal C, wherein the shutter member 29 moves by translation to occupy: - an open position, in which it is disengaged from this lower opening 20, shown in solid lines in Figure 1, and - a closed position in which it closes the lower opening 20, shown in dotted lines in FIG.

The cylinders 24 and 31 which operate the scorer tool 21 and the shutter member 29 consist of pneumatic or electric cylinders. A receptacle 32 for the recovery of the product 2 discharged into the measuring device 1 is provided under the measuring chamber 11. A system of deflector panels 33 in the form of a chute is preferably arranged under the measuring chamber 11, carried by the frame main 14, to orient the product 2 in the recovery receptacle 32. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, a system of complementary baffle panels 34 may also be provided above and around the measuring chamber 11, also carried by the main frame 14, to orient the product 2 poured on the sides of the measuring chamber 11 to the recovery receptacle 32. The means 12 for measuring the weight of the measuring chamber 11 (and in this case, here also for measuring the weight of the frame 15 carrying the measuring chamber 11, the scavenging device 16 and the lower hatch 17), consist of a weighing platform scale / balance system, i disposed between the main frame 14 and the frame 15. The electronic / computer means 13 comprise a programmable controller adapted to manage the valve / hatch system 10 of the feed pipe 9, the displacement of the leveling device 16 and the displacement of the lower hatch 17. These electronic / computer means 13 are connected to the weight measuring means 12 and to the presence detection means 27. They comprise calculating means adapted for measuring the desired density of the partitioned product sample in FIG. the volume V of the measuring chamber 11, as well as means for displaying the result of density obtained, and advantageously still, means for printing this result on the delivery note associated with the product loaded in the bucket 6 of the vehicle 5.

The purpose of the device according to the invention is to measure the loading, before delivery, the density of the product in a state of compression close to that of the distributors in breeding. The operating principle of this device may be the following: 1) during the loading of the product into the body 6 of the vehicle 5, the device carries out a cleaning cycle by closing and then opening the leveling device 16 and the lower hatch 17, to evacuate any product residues from the previous measurement. 2) the device then closes the tamper device 16 and the lower hatch 17, then records the tare and reopens the tamper device 16. 3) the device then gives the authorization to fill the measuring chamber 11 by a contact to the automation (opening of the valve / hatch 10 of the supply pipe 9). When the filling is finished, the device receives the acknowledgment by a contact coming from the automation. 4) the shaving device 16 closes to perform its shaving function, by dropping the excess material on the sides of the measuring chamber 11, in order to recover it in the lower receptacle 32. 5) after checking the filling by the detection means 27, the measurement of the gross weight is carried out by the weight measuring means 12. 6) The density of the product sample present in the volume V of the measuring chamber 11 is then calculated by the from the net weight P and the volume V of the measuring chamber 11. 7) this information is then transmitted to the printing means for printing on the delivery note, ie at the level of the measuring device 1 , either at the factory automation level. 8) at the end of the cycle, the lower hatch 17 and the tamper device 16 open to release the product and ensure its discharge into the lower recovery receptacle 32.

Such a measuring device 1, of relatively simple design, makes it possible to provide particularly interesting information concerning the density value of the delivered product, useful to the farmer, at the place of use, in particular for adjusting the distributors. automatic product.

In a simplified embodiment, the measuring device 1 can be provided and adapted for manual filling of the measuring chamber 11 by a sample of product 2. Of course, such a density measuring device 1 can be provided. for other types of installations, for example reception of raw materials, density control during the process (grinding, granulation, extrusion ...).

Claims (14)

1.- Device for measuring the density of a bulk product (2), for example a food in the form of granules, crumbs or powder, characterized in that it comprises: - a chamber of measuring (11) having a determined volume (V) and adapted to receive a sample of said product (2), - means (12) for measuring the weight of said measuring chamber (11), - means (13) suitable for determining the weight difference of said measuring chamber (11), before and after its filling with said product (2), so as to measure the weight (P) of said product sample (2), - means (13) for calculating the density of said product sample (2), taking into account the weight (P) of said product sample (2) and the volume (V) of said measuring chamber (11), and - means (13) displaying and / or printing the density result obtained. 2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said measuring chamber (11) comprises a) an upper opening (18) which extends in a horizontal plane (B), and b) a lower opening (20) , and in that said device further comprises: - flaring means (16), for scraping the product sample in the plane (B) of said upper opening (18), and - a lower flap (17) for closing off detachably said lower opening (18). 3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said flaring means (16) consist of a flaring tool (21) mounted at the end of the rod (23) of a jack (24) for its displacement in translation in the plane (B) of the upper opening (18) of said measuring chamber (11). 4.- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cutting tool (21) comprises an active edge (22) shaped to allow the cutting or breaking granules or crumbs of said product (2), during the setting use of said flaring means (16). 5.- Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the sapling tool (21) comprises an upper cowling structure (25) shaped pan (s) inclined (s), to ensure the l gravitational evacuation on the sides of a possible part of the product (2) from an upper feed (9). 6.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said lower door (17) consists of a shutter member (29) mounted at the end of the rod (30) of a cylinder (31) for its displacement in translation between a closed position in which said shutter member (29) closes the lower opening (20) of said measuring chamber (11), and an open position in which said shutter member (29) is disengaged from said lower opening (20). 7.- Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises: - a main frame (14) and - a support frame (15) at least for the measuring chamber (11), said flaring means (16) and said lower flap (17), which support frame (15) is mounted on said main frame (14) via said weight measuring means (12). 8.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a set of deflector panels (21, 33, 34) arranged to orient the product (2) to a lower recovery receptacle (32). ), located under the measuring chamber (11). 9.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises means (27) for detecting the presence of product (2) in the measuring chamber (11). 10.- Device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, combined with claim 9, characterized in that said means (27) for detecting the presence of product (2) in the measuring chamber (11) consist of a capacitive type sensor mounted on the flaring tool (21). 11.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means for filling said measuring chamber (11) with a sample of said product (2), which means comprise a tubing d supply (9), the downstream end (9a) of which is disposed above and in line with said measuring chamber (11), and whose upstream end (9b) is connected to a hopper (2) of storing said product (2) and comprises a valve / trap system (10) associated with control means for controlling the supply of product (2) to said measuring chamber (11). 12.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises electronic / computer means (13) comprising means of the controller type provided with calculating means for measuring the density of the product sample (2) from the weight information provided by said weight measuring means (12), and provided with means for displaying and / or printing the results obtained, which means of the automaton type also ensure, optionally, the control of said flaring means (16), said lower flap (17) and said valve / flap system (10) of said supply pipe (9). 13.- Installation for loading a bucket (6) of vehicle (5) product (2) of the food type in the form of granules, crumbs or powder, stored in a storage hopper (3) provided with a chute dispenser (7), characterized in that it comprises a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for measuring the density of a sample of said product (2). 14.- Installation according to claim 13, comprising a device (1) for density measurement according to claim 11, characterized in that said feed pipe (9) is connected to said storage hopper (3) and comprises a valve / hatch system (10) associated with control means for controlling the supply of product (2) to the measuring chamber (11).