GB2343887A

GB2343887A - Emptying device for bulk goods containers

Info

Publication number: GB2343887A
Application number: GB9927491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans-Peter Klammer; Thomas Mueller
Original assignee: Ucon AG Containersysteme KG
Current assignee: Ucon AG Containersysteme KG
Priority date: 1998-11-20
Filing date: 1999-11-19
Publication date: 2000-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-19
Also published as: DE19853599A1; GB2343887B; DE19853599C2; GB9927491D0

Abstract

An emptying device 10 for a bulk goods container 12, contains an emptying section 20, having a lifting device 24 for opening hopper closure element 16 and an apparatus (26, Fig. 1) which can remove and replace its blanking cover 18. Apparatus (26) preferably comprises a vertically movable pivot arm 28, which may be actuated by means of a tandem and rotary cylinder 34, with a tool 30 at its free end for opening and closing the blanking cover 18. The tool 30 may consist of a spring-loaded stud which can be inserted into a receiving portion in the fastening screw of the blanking cover 18. An automatic or manual screwdriver 32 may actuate the tool 30. The pivot arm 28 may further comprise a sleeve 36 for taking hold of the blanking cover 18 under vacuum. Preferably, the upper edge of the emptying station central part 20 has an inflating seal 38. The emptying station central part 20 may be moved vertically by means of a lifting cylinder 40. Preferably, a weighing device comprising load cells 44 is disposed on the base frame 42. Preferably also, locating shoes 50 are available for taking hold of the feet or runners of the bulk goods container 12. A control device (not shown) may also be provided for automatic operation of the emptying station.

Description

2343887 Emptying device for bulk goods containers The invention relates to

an emptying device for bulk goods containers with a discharge hopper, a conically shaped and axially displaceable closure element and a blanking cover closing the bulk goods container, containing an emptyingstation central part and a lifting device for opening the conical closure element of the bulk'goods container.

Emptying devices of this type are known, for example from DE 44 16 009 Al. These emptying devices are necessary for emptying bulk goods, at the destination, from small containers having a funnel-shaped outlet into a storage tank or the like, by way of example. To that end, the container holding the bulk goods is fitted onto an emptying station, which is generally in a fixed location, matches the container's outlet geometry and is able to instigate an opening and closing procedure on the container, so that the bulk goods can run out of the container with little or no dust, even in one batch, and can be supplied to the associated collection, processing or holding tank underneath the emptying station.

To that end, the emptying station has a lifting cylinder arranged in it which pushes the conical closure element upwards, in a variable fashion and under the required control, so that the bulk goods held in the container can flow through the emptying station into the collec.tion, processing or holding tank. However, the bulk goods container also has a blanking cover, and the emptying station can additionally be provided with a closure cover. 30 Both the blanking cover and, if applicable, the closure cover have to be removed manually prior to the bulk goods container being emptied. This is not only time-consuming and complicated, but can, particularly in the case of bulk goods requiring especially hygienic. treatment, result in 2 undesirable contamination by the operator, so that the bulk goods are possibly made unusable for further processing.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying an emptying device of the type mentioned in the introduction which us-es technically simple means to allow safe, hygienic, and also rapid emptying of a bulk goods container at all times.

This object is achieved wih an emptying device of the type mentioned in the introduction in accordance with the invention by means of an apparatus for opening and closing the blanking cover of he bulk goods container.

This allows the blanking cover of the bulk goods container to be removed either by remote control or under automatic control without an operator having to intervene manually.

According to one advantageous development of the invention, the apparatus comprises a vertically movable pivot arm with a tool for opening and closing the blanking cover mounted on its free end. This tool may consist of a spring- loaded stud which can be inserted into the receiving portion in the fastening screw of the blanking cover. The inserted tool or the inserted stud can then release the fastening screw, for example by means of an automatic (manual) screwdriver. 25 As a preference, the pivot arm has a, tandem cylinder and a rotary cylinder so as to be able to carry out the desired movements. To fix the released blanking cover to the pivot arm, the pivot arm can have a sleeve which can take hold of or suck on the blanking cover under a vacuum effect. 30 If the emptying station has a closure cover, it, is advantageous to fasten it or flange-mount it onto that side of the pivot arm which is opposite the tool or stud so that it can be opened when the pivot arm makes a lifting movement.

3 If a full bulk goods container is now seated onto the emptying station, the container feet or runners can slide into the correct position along bevelled locating shoes or a closed centring frame, which' are or is arranged on the emptying device. In this way it is possible for" centring studs to be arranged on the frame, these being actuated by compressed air and latching the container onto the station.

The long lifting distance 'of the tandem cylinder then allows the pivot arm to move upwards through the chassis of the seated bulk goods container, the spring-loaded stud working its way into the receiving portion in the fastening screw of the blanking cover under the closure elementand unscrewing the fastening screw when the screwdriver has been actuated.

The blanking cover is then situated on the sleeve and is sucked downwards and held fast by means of a vacuum. The tandem cylinder then travels the long lifting distance back into the idle position, and the short lifting distance of the tandem cylinder is extended.

In this lift position, the emptying station's flange mounted closure cover is raised above an inflating seal fitted on the edge of the cylindrical central part of the emptying station, so that the pivot arm can be made to pivot by means of a pneumatic rotary cylinder until the tipping area is clear.

After this, by way of example, three lifting cylinders arranged outside the emptying-station central part can raise the central part of the emptying station until the inflating seal rests against the discharge hopper of the bulk goods container. This inflating seal is sealed, for example by a supply of air, against the discharge hopper so as to be dusttight. By extending the lifting device, which is a central compressed-air cylinder in the emptying station hopper, for example, a plate fastened on the cylinder rests against the 4 plate at the bottom of the discharge cone of the bulk goods container. After further extension, the discharge cone is raised and the content of the bulk goods container can flow out.

The emptying device can also have a weighing device which can comprise four load cells, specifically underneath the feet of the emptying station. This weighing device registers the reduction in weight and forwards appropriate control signals to a controller, which is preferably an SPC controller.

However, it is also possible to specify individual operational steps by means of manual input using an associated control panel, and to specify continuous operating sequences using appropriate links with the SPC controller.

other features' and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment and from the drawings which are referred to and in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of an emptying device with the emptying station closed; Figure 2 shows the emptying device according to Figure 1 with the bulk goods container seated on it; Figure 3 shows an illustration, similar to that in Figure 2, with the pivot arm raised for opening the blanking cover of the bulk goods container; Figure 4 shows an illustration, similar to that in Figure 3, in which the blanking cover has been removed from the bulk goods container and the pivot arm has moved so far downwards that the closure cover now no longer touches the emptying station; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the emptying device shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a plan view, similar to that in Figure 5, in which the pivot arm with the blanking cover and with the closure cover has pivoted so far outwards that the bulk goods container blanking cover has been removed and the emptying station central part is also open; and Figure 7 shows'a view, similar to that in Figure 4, in which the emptying station rests against the opening of the bulk goods container above an inflating seal, and a lifting device has raised the closure element of the bulk goods container to release the bulk goods'.

Figures 1 to 7 are now used to describe an illustrative embodiment of an emptying device 10 and its manner of operation. In the description, identical reference numerals refer to identical parts.

The emptying device 10 has an emptying station 20 fastened in a rack 52. Inside the emptying station 20, there is a lifting device 24 whose function and manner of operation are described further below.

The emptying station 20 is covered by a closure cover 22 which, on the one hand, rests on an inflating seal 38 arranged at the edge of the emptying station 20, and, on the other hand, is connected to an apparatus 26.

This apparatus 26 has a pivot arm 28 which can move both vertically and horizontally (pivoting or rotary movement) and has the closure cover 22 of the emptying station 20 flange-mounted on it.

On that side of the pivot arm 28 which is opposite the closure cover 22, there is a stud 30 which is surrounded by a sleeve 36.

The pivot arm 28 can be actuated by means of a tandem cylinder and a rotary cylinder 34.

The emptying station 20 can be moved vertically by means of, for example, three lifting cylinders 40 supported on the rack 52.

In addition, the top of the rack 52 has at least four locating shoes 46 or a centring frame which are used for 6 guided reception of runners/feet 50 of a bulk goods container 12.

The container can then be latched by centring studs 48 which are arranged oft a rack 52 and can be actuated with 5 compressed air, for example.

Underneath the feet of the emptying device 10, there are, in this case, four load cells 44 arranged in a base frame 42, which represent a weighing devfce.

Figures 2 to 7 are now used to describe the individual steps for emptying the bulk goods container 12.

As Figure' 2 shows, the bulk goods container is accommodated in a loadbearing structure 54. The feet or runners 50 of this load-bearing structure 54 are seated into the locating shoes/centring frame 46 already described above and are latched by means of the centring studs 48. In this context, Figure 2 shows the emptying device in its idle position, i.e. the emptying station 20 is still closed by the closure cover 22 on account of the pivot arm 28 being situated in its lower idle position. 20 As Figure 2 also shows diagrammatically, the bulk goods container 12 contains a discharge hopper 14 which is closed by a conical and axially displaceable closure element 16. In addition, the opening, situated underneath the closure element 16, in the bulk goods container 12 is closed by means of a blanking cover 18.

The long lifting distance of the tandem cylinder 34 now moves the pivot arm 28 far enough upwards that the stud 30 can work its way into the receiving portion in a fastening screw (not shown in more detail) of the blanking cover 18. This position is shown in Figure 3.

An automatic or manual screwdriver 32, which is shown in Figures 5 and 6, is now used to release the fixing screw of the blanking cover 18, so that the blanking cover 18 can be 7 held by the sleeve 36. In this case, the blanking cover 18 is held firmly or sucked on by the sleeve 36 under the effect of a vacuum.

Since the closure cover 22 of the emptying station 20 is f lange-mounted onto. the pivot arm 28 1,- -the emptying station is open in that position of the pivot arm 28 which is shown in Figure 3.

The end position can be nbtified to a control device (not denoted in any more detail) which is preferably an SPC control device.

After this, the tandem cylinder 34 travels the long lifting distance back into its idle position, and the short lifting distance of the tandem cylinder 38 is extended. This position is shown in Figure 4. In this lift position, the flange-mounted closure cover 22 is still raised above the inflating seal 38 of the emptying station 20, so that the pivot arm 28 can be made to pivot by means of a pneumatic rotary cylinder until the tipping area is free. This position can be seen in Figure 6. 20 Next, the three outer lifting cylinders 40 lift the emptying station 20 sufficiently far that the inflating seal 38 lies against the discharge hopper 14 of the bulk goods container 12. By means of an additional supply of air, the inflating seal 38 dilates, so that a dustproof seal is formed against the discharge hopper 14. Finally, the lifting device 24, which in this case is a central compressed-air cylinder, is extended and thus lifts up the closure element 16 of the bulk goods container 12. 30 With the central compressed-air cylinder 24 being extended, a plate secured to the compressed-air cylinder 24 lies against a plate arranged in the lower region of the discharge hopper, and, after a further extension, lifts the 8 discharge hopper 14 sufficiently far that the container contents can flow out. This position is shown in Fig. 7.

The emptying device described here is held stationary in this case over the load cells 44 on a floor. By means of the SPC control, not depicted in more, detail, the abovedescribed operational procedure can be carried out automatically.

In this way the quantities-ldischarged are continuously sensed and thus allow metered withdrawal. The metered quanti ties flowing out through the emptying station 20 are led into receptacles (not depicted) docked underneath the emptying station 20.

The individual functional sequences of the emptying station 10 are carried out by pneumatically actuated compressed-air cylinders.

Individual operating steps can be specified by manual intervention from a control panel, not depicted but associated with the emptying device 10.

However it is also possible, by means of corresponding linking of the manual inputs with the SPC control, to carry out continuous operating sequences.

After the bulk goods container 12 has been completely emptied, the abovedescribed operating sequences are carried out in the reverse sequential order.

9 List of reference numbers emptying device 12 bulk goods container 14 discharge hopper 16 closure element 18 blanking cover emptying station central part 22 closure cover 24 lifting device/compressed-air cylinder 26 apparatus 28 pivot arm tool, stud 32 automatic screwdriver/manual screwdriver 34 tandem cylinder 36 sleeve 38 inflating seal lifting cylinder 42 base frame 44 weighing device, load cells 46 locating shoe/centring frame 48 centring studs runners/shoes 52 rack 54 load-bearing structure

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Emptying device for bulk goods containers with a discharge hopper, a conically shaped and axially displaceable closure element and a blanking cover closing the bulk goods container, containing an emptying-station central part and a lifting device for opening the conical closure element of the bulk goods container, characterised by an apparatus for opening and closing the blanking cover of the bulk goods container.

2. Emptying device according to Claim 11 characterised in that the apparatus comprises a vertically movable pivot arm with a tool for opening and closing the blanking cover mounted on its free end.

3. Emptying device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tool consists of a springloaded stud which can be inserted into a receiving portion in the fastening screw of the blanking cover.

4. Emptying device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the tool or the stud can be actuated by means of an automatic/manual screwdriver.

5. Emptying device according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the pivot arm can be actuated by means of a tandem cylinder and rotary cylinder.

6. Emptying device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the pivot arm has a sleeve for taking hold of the blanking cover under a vacuum effect.

11

7. Emptying device according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterised in that a closure cover of the emptying-station central part is fastened or flangemounted onto tha t side of the pivot arm which is opposite the tool or stud.

8. Emptying device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the upper edge of the emptying-station central part has an inflating seal.

9.. Emptyi ng device according to one of Claims 1 to. 8, characterised in that the emptying- station central part can be moved vertically by means of a lifting cylinder arranged outside of it.

10. Emptying device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a weighing device is available on a base frame.

11. Emptying device according to one of Claims 1 -to 10, characterised in that the weighing device consists of load cells arranged on the base frame.

12. Emptying device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that locating shoes or a centring frame are available for taking hold of the feet or runners of the bulk goods container.

13. Emptying device according to Claim 12, characterised in that a rack has centring studs, which can be actuated by compressed air, for latching of the bulk goods container.

14. Emptying device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised by a control device, particularly an 12 SPC control device, for automatic operation of the emptying station.

15. Emptying device according to Claim 14, characterised in that, via an associated control panel by means of manual inputs, individual operating steps can be specified, as can continuous operating sequences by means of corresponding linkages with the SPC control device.