GB2230254A

GB2230254A - Container loading devices

Info

Publication number: GB2230254A
Application number: GB9005159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alff Reinhard; Hormeyer Heinrich
Original assignee: Ruetgerswerke AG
Current assignee: Ruetgers Germany GmbH
Priority date: 1989-03-07
Filing date: 1990-03-07
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Also published as: FR2644148A3; FR2644148B3; DE8902742U1; GB9005159D0

Abstract

To enable easy and dust-free loading of containers with bulk materials which may be brittle and not flow easily, the present invention provides a device for the loading of bulk materials into containers, comprising a storage bin (2) for the material, an outlet (4) for releasing the material to a conveyor (13) adapted to actively convey the material to a container (5), an enclosure associated with the conveyor for preventing dust-contamination of the atmosphere, and a duct (16) to relay displaced air from the container into the storage bin. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER-LOADING DEVICES The resent invention relates to a device for loading containers with bulk material.

Containers have become widely accepted for the transportation of piece materials, in particular in combined transportation on road, rail, and - sea.

They are also used to an increasing extent for conveying bulk material. For this purpose, special containers are frequently used, for example,those which can be opened at the top for loading and are provided with inclined bases and openings for emptying. These containers can be filled with movable conveyor belts and similar conveying devices. A disadvantage, however, is that on account of the bit taper the volume available cannot be used satisfactorily without additional devices. In addition, with this open loading it is noutreally possible to prevent the emission of duet.Furthermore, the use of special containers also results in economic disadvantages, since no suitable return or further shipment is generally provided at their destination, and they must, as a rule, be sent back empty. Similar problems also arise when using standard containers which can be filled from the end face by way of suitable elevated openings.

In order to make better use of the container volume and to reduce the emission of dust, container inlets have been developed which comprise a plastic sack and a closure wall with closable filling and emptying openings.

These inlets are filled pneumatically with dry, easily flowing granulate when the standard container is positioned horizontally. The exhaust air passes into the open by way of filters. A disadvantage of pneumatic loading is that it can be used only with easily flowing bulk material, which is either highly abrasion-resistant or. which is not affected by an increased proportion of fine particles. In the case of hygroscopic or oxidation-susceptible materials, dried or inert conveying gases must be used instead of the ambient air.

The object is therefore to develop a device for loading standard containers with bulk material, which can also be used for products with poor flow dlnrosStia and permits both a maximum use of the volume of the container and dust-free, low-abrasion filling.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for the loading of bulk materials into containers, comprising storage means for the material, outlet means therefrom for releasing the material to a conveyor adapted to actively convey the material to a container, an enclosure associated with the conveyor for preventing substantial dust-contamination of the atmosphere by the material conveyed, and a duct adapted to relay displaced air from the container into the storage means.

In an al te rrat i ve aspect, there is provided a device which comprises a product store having an enclosed mechanical conveying device connected thereto and which is pivotable and/or movable.

a compensation pipe connecting the product store and the conveying device, a tiltable container support, and a balance associated vith the container support and/or to a level-measuring device.

The type of product store depends upon the bulk material and its manufacturing process. If the container is loaded directly from production, then a small' intermediate store is frequently sufficient, for example one or more "big bags". Delicate materials.

however, are preferably stored in silos which are provided with a lockable outlet.

All known enclosed, mechanical conveying devices, such as chutes, vibrating conveyors and conveyor belts can be used as the conveying device They have an advantage over pneumatic conveying devices in that less easily flowing material can also be conveyed. and that less abrasion occurs.

Th balance uy, for exanple1be a conventional mechanical balance, as is customary for weighing motor vehicles. Instead of this, however, its is also possible to use a rigid plate, which rests on at least three load cells. Instead of a balance, or in addition thereto, a level-measuring device can also be provided on the conveying device, which emits a signal as soon as the container has been filled. In this way, loading can be terminated. Thesis not necessary, however, in the case of materials with a known, constant bulk weight.

particularly since in most cases the container is to be loaded with a specific quantity of bulk material.

and so it is desirable not to dispense with the balance.

The present invention will now be further illustrated with respect to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment.

The Figure shows a device of the invention curing filling of the container. By way.of example, extruded pitch, a very brittle material in the form of strands approximately 5 to 10 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness, is conveyed by way of the bucket conveyor 1 into the silo 2. 9o that the pitch -does ' not break, the silo 2 is provided intermilywith a helical chute 3 which reaches almost to the base. The opening in the base of the silo 2 is closed by a slide 4 v provided with a servo motor. A- bucet-wheel sluice can also be used instead of the slide 4.

The container 5 is positioned by such as a crane or fork lift on the tilting table 6, which is provided with a container support 7, an hydraulic tilting device 8 and an upright 9. The tilting table 6 is connected on tts underside to a rigid plate 10, the corners of which rest on four load cells 11.

If the container 5 has an upper filling opiiegcnUend face, it is opened. In the case of standard containers with doors on their end faces, the doors are opened and an end piece having an upper filling opening 'inserted. The container 5 is inclined by the tilting table 6 until it is angled- approximately 10 greater than the angle of repose of the pitch, the filling opening being situated at the highest point. The enclosed chute 13, guided on rail 12 is now moved under the slide 4 and with its outlet project into the filling opening of the container (5)J the filling opening being sealed in a dust-tight manner by the sealing plate 14 at the outlet of the chute 13. The servo motor of the slide 4 is actuated by a control pulse by way of the control system 15 and the slide 4 is opened. The pitch reaches the container 5 by way of the chute 13.

The dust-loaded air displaced during the operation is fed back into the silo 2 by way of the compensation pipe 16 connected to the chute 13.

The pressure gauges 11 are likewise connected to the control system 15, to monitor the filling procedure. * At a pre-determined quantity of pitch is in the container 5, the servo-motor is actuated and the slide 4 is closed. - When the chute 13 has been emptied, which map be expedited by a vibrator, it is moved back to the starting position. The container 5 is closed, tilted back to horizontal, and placed, for example, on a transport . In this case, despite poor flowability and the brittleness of the extruded pitch, it was possible to load the container in a dust-free manner and with only slight abrasion by means of the device according to the present invention, and its volume was utilised almost completely.

Claims

1. A device for the loading of bulk materials into containers, comprising storage means for the material, outlet means therefrom for releasing the material to a-conveyor adapted to actively convey the material to a container, an enclosure associated with the conveyor for preventing substantial dustontamihation of the atmosphere by the material conveyed, and a duct adapted to relay displaced air from the container into the storage means.

2 A device according to Claim 1, wherein the storage means is a silo having an outlet provided with a slide controllable by a servomotor.

3. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor is a chute.

4 A device according to Claim 3, wherein the chute is equipped with vibration means.

5. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the conveyor is a vibrating conveyor or conveyor belt.

6. A advice according to any preceding Claim, wherein the outlet of the conveyor is provided with a sealing plate.

7. A device according to any preceding Claim, comprising a container support.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein the support is tiltable.

9. A device according to Claim 7 or 8, comprising loading-measuring means associated with the support.

10. A device according to Clain i, wherein the load-measurs meanscooprises a weighing device and/or level measuring means.

11. A device according to Claim 9 or 10, comprising closure means for the stoaoe i-ne Which is actLlatable by a pre-determined signal from the load-measuring means.

12. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the conveyor is pivotable and/or movable.

13. A device for loading containers with bulk material, characterised in that it comprises a product store, an enclosed mechanical conveying device associated therewith and which is pivotable and/or movable, a compensation pipe connecting the product store and the conveying device, a tiltable container support, and a balance connected to the said container support and/or a level-measuring device, said device optionally further comprising any one or more features, in any combinationt as defined in any preceding Claim.

14. A: device for loading bulk materials into containers substantially as hereinbefore described, with particular reference to the accompanying drawing.