JP2021054427A - Filling arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a filling arrangement sufficiently preventing a decrease in yield and deterioration of a work environment in a work of putting powder into a flexible container.SOLUTION: An arrangement 1 for filling powder M into a flexible container F includes a filling cylinder 10, a cover portion 20 provided on a periphery of the filling cylinder 10, and a suction portion 30 that sucks gas in the filling cylinder 10 and the cover portion 20. The filling cylinder 10 includes an inner cylinder 11 that supplies the powder M, and an outer cylinder 12 disposed so as to have a gap 12h between the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder. The filling cylinder 10 is provided with a dust collection opening 10b. The suction portion 30 includes a first suction pipe 31 connected to the gap 12h between the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder, a second suction pipe 32 connected to a space 20h surrounded by the cover portion 20, a dust collector 35 connected to the first suction pipe 31 and the second suction pipe 32, and a suction flow amount adjustment portion 34 that is provided in the first suction pipe 31 and controls a flow of gas in the first suction pipe 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a filling facility. More specifically, the present invention relates to a filling facility for filling a flexible container bag with powders such as nickel powder, cobalt powder, and manganese powder.

When transporting a large amount of nickel powder, cobalt powder, or manganese powder, a flexible container bag (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a flexible container) is used. This flexible container is made in a bag shape using a flexible material that can be folded, and has a bag-shaped container part for filling powder and a hanging part for lifting this container part. ing. The container portion has an opening for charging the powder at the top and a discharge port for discharging the powder provided at the bottom.

When the powder is charged into the flexible container, the powder often scatters from the opening of the flexible container, resulting in loss of the powder filled in the flexible container. In addition, the working environment may be deteriorated due to the scattering of powder. Therefore, there is a demand for a filling facility that can minimize the amount of powder scattered from the opening when the powder is charged into the flexible container.

For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a technique for preventing powder leakage by making a filling tube (filling tube) for charging powder into a flexible container into a double tube. In this technology, the inner cylinder of the filling cylinder is used for filling, and air is sucked from the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to prevent the powder leaking from the opening of the flexible container from scattering to the outside. ..

Further, in Patent Document 2, a cover covering the opening of the flexible container is provided around the filling cylinder to suck the air in the cover, thereby preventing the powder that could not be sucked by the filling cylinder from scattering to the outside. The technology to do so is also disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-4501 JP-A-2002-87407

By the way, in the case of the technique of Patent Document 2, when the charging of the powder into the flexible container is completed, the suction of air from the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder is stopped so as not to suck the powder in the flexible container. Must. In the technique of Patent Document 2, although a cover covering the opening of the flexible container is provided around the filling cylinder, an opening for communicating the outer cylinder of the filling cylinder and the inside of the cover is provided and the gas in the cover is passed through the outer cylinder of the filling cylinder. It is configured to suck. Therefore, after the charging of the powder into the flexible container is completed, the suction of the gas in the cover is also stopped, so that the powder scattered when the opening of the flexible container is closed cannot be sucked. That is, with the technique of Patent Document 2, since the powder scattered after the powder is charged into the flexible container cannot be recovered, it may not be possible to sufficiently prevent the loss of the powder and the deterioration of the working environment. ..

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a filling facility capable of preventing powder loss and deterioration of the working environment in the work of putting powder into a flexible container.

The filling facility of the first invention is a facility for filling a flexible container with powder, and a filling cylinder inserted into the opening of the container portion of the flexible container to supply the powder into the container portion and the filling cylinder are inserted. The filling cylinder is provided with a cover portion provided around the filling cylinder and a suction portion for sucking the filling cylinder and the gas in the cover portion so as to cover the opening of the container portion of the flexible container. , An inner cylinder for supplying powder and an outer cylinder arranged around the inner cylinder so as to have a gap between the inner cylinder, and the filling cylinder has a flexible container. A dust collecting opening that communicates between the gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the container portion of the flexible container is provided in a state of being inserted into the opening of the container portion of the flexible container. The first suction pipe communicated with the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the second suction pipe communicated with the space surrounded by the cover portion, the first suction pipe and the second suction pipe. It is characterized by including a dust collector communicated with a pipe and a suction flow rate adjusting unit provided in the first suction pipe and controlling the flow of gas in the first suction pipe.
In the filling equipment of the second invention, in the first invention, the suction flow rate adjusting unit operates in accordance with the operation of the powder flow rate adjusting unit that controls the supply of powder provided in the inner cylinder of the filling cylinder. It is characterized by being controlled.
In the filling equipment of the third invention, in the first or second invention, the first suction pipe is communicated with the second suction pipe at a portion upstream of the connection position with the dust collector in the second suction pipe. It is characterized by being.
In the filling equipment of the fourth invention, in the first, second, third or fourth invention, the front cover portion includes a side wall arranged around the opening of the container portion of the flexible container, and the side wall is provided with a side wall. A notch connecting from the lower end to the upper side is provided in a part thereof, and the notch is provided with a plurality of sheet members whose upper ends are attached to the side wall so as to cover the notch. It is characterized by being.

According to the first invention, when the flexible container bag is filled with powder, it is possible to prevent the powder from scattering around. Moreover, if the suction flow rate adjusting unit adjusts the suction of gas from the first suction pipe, it is possible to effectively prevent the powder from scattering and prevent the loss of the powder.
According to the second invention, the effect of preventing powder scattering and the effect of preventing deterioration of powder yield can be enhanced.
According to the third invention, since the dust collectors can be integrated into one, the configuration of the equipment can be simplified.
According to the fourth invention, it becomes easy to attach / detach the flexible container to / from the filling cylinder.

It is the schematic explanatory drawing of the filling equipment 1 of this embodiment, and is the figure which showed the cross section of the main part. It is a schematic external view of the filling equipment 1 of this embodiment.

The filling equipment of the present embodiment is equipment for filling a flexible container with powder, and is characterized in that it can effectively prevent the powder from scattering to the surroundings when the powder is filled. ing.

The powder to be filled in a flexible container (hereinafter, may be referred to as a flexible container) by the filling equipment of the present embodiment is not particularly limited. Examples of the powder to be filled in the flexible container by the filling equipment of the present embodiment include powders such as nickel powder, cobalt powder, and manganese powder.

<Filling equipment 1 of this embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, the filling equipment 1 of the present embodiment has a pedestal 2 on which a flexible container F (hereinafter referred to as a flexible container F) filled with powder M is placed, and powder arranged above the pedestal 2. It is provided with a filling unit 3 which is a filling device.

<Pedestal 2>
The pedestal 2 has a function of measuring the weight of the flexible container F. Based on the signal from the pedestal 2, the filling unit 3 controls the supply and stop of the powder M to the flexible container F. That is, after the flexible container F is placed on the pedestal 2, when the operator instructs the control unit 4 of the filling unit 3 to start filling, the control unit 4 controls the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13, which will be described later. The powder M is supplied from the filling unit 3 to the flexible container F. Then, when the weight reaches a predetermined value, a signal for stopping the supply of the powder M is transmitted from the pedestal 2 to the control unit 4 of the filling unit 3, the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 4, and the filling unit 3 controls the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13. The supply of powder M to the flexible container F is stopped.

Note that only weight information may be transmitted from the pedestal 2 to the control unit 4 of the filling unit 3. In this case, when the control unit 4 of the filling unit 3 detects that the weight has reached a predetermined value, the control unit 4 controls the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 described later to stop the supply of the powder M to the flexible container F. To.

Further, both the supply of the flexible container F before filling to the pedestal 2 and the work of carrying out the flexible container F after filling from the pedestal 2 may be performed manually by an operator. Further, although the flexible container F before filling is supplied to the pedestal 2 manually by the operator, the work of carrying out the flexible container F after filling from the pedestal 2 may be performed by a conveyor or the like.

<Filling part 3>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filling portion 3 includes a filling cylinder 10 for supplying the powder M to the flexible container F, a cover portion 20 provided around the filling cylinder 10, and the filling cylinder 10 and the cover portion 12. It is provided with a suction unit 30 for sucking the gas inside.

<Filling cylinder 10>
The filling cylinder 10 includes a cylindrical inner cylinder 11 and a cylindrical outer cylinder 12 arranged so as to surround the inner cylinder 11.

The cross-sectional shapes of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 are not necessarily limited to a circle, and may be a quadrangle, a triangle, or not particularly limited.
Further, the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 may have similar shapes or different shapes.

<Inner cylinder 11>
The inner cylinder 11 is arranged so that its axial direction is substantially vertical, and its upper end is communicated with a supply device such as a hopper that supplies powder M via a pipe or the like. That is, the space 11h penetrating the inner cylinder 11 in the vertical direction serves as a flow path for supplying the powder M to the flexible container F.

The inner cylinder 11 is provided with a powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 for adjusting the flow rate of the powder M flowing in the space 11h. Then, by operating the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13, the flow rate of the powder M supplied to the flexible container F through the space 11h of the inner cylinder 11 can be adjusted. The powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is, for example, an electromagnetic valve, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 4 of the filling unit 3.

<Outer cylinder 12>
The outer cylinder 12 is provided so as to cover the side surface of the inner cylinder 11, and is provided so that a gap 12h is formed between the outer surface of the inner cylinder 11 and the inner surface of the outer cylinder 12. For example, when the cross sections of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 are circular, if the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 11 is about 30 to 60 mm, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 11 is about 50 to 80 mm. ing.

The outer cylinder 12 is provided so that the upper end thereof is closed and a dust collecting opening 10b is formed between the lower end thereof and the side surface of the inner cylinder 11. That is, the outer cylinder 12 is provided so that the gap 12h between the outer surface of the inner cylinder 11 and the inner surface of the outer cylinder 12 communicates with the outside through the dust collecting opening 10b.

In FIG. 1, the dust collecting opening 10b is provided at the lower end of the outer cylinder 12, that is, the lower end of the filling cylinder 10, but the place where the dust collecting opening 10b communicating between the gap 12h and the outside is provided is particularly large. Not limited. As will be described later, when the lower end of the filling cylinder 10 is inserted into the container portion FB from the opening Fa of the flexible container F, the dust collecting opening 10b is located at a place where the gas in the container portion FB can be sucked. It suffices if it is provided.

Further, one end of the first suction pipe 31 of the suction portion 30 described later is connected to the outer cylinder 12 so that the gas in the gap 12h can be sucked, but the suction portion 30 will be described later.

<Cover 20>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover portion 20 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the filling cylinder 10 described above. The cover portion 20 has a top plate portion 21 provided in a flange shape on the side surface of the outer cylinder 12 of the filling cylinder 10, and a side wall 22 extending downward from the periphery of the top plate portion 21. The side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 surrounds the outer cylinder 12 of the filling cylinder 10, and a space 20h is formed between the outer cylinder 12 of the filling cylinder 10 and the side wall 22. Specifically, the side wall 22 is provided so that the operator can set the flexible container F in the filling cylinder 10 in the space 20h. For example, if the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 12 of the filling cylinder 10 is about 50 to 80 mm, the side wall 22 is provided so that the inner diameter thereof is about 400 to 600 mm.

Moreover, the side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 is provided so that the lower end thereof is located below the opening Fa of the flexible container F in the state of being filled with the powder M. For example, if the side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 is provided so that the lower end thereof is located below the lower end of the filling cylinder 10, the above state can be satisfied.

The side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 may be provided so as to be located below the position of the opening Fa of the flexible container F in that state when the opening Fa of the flexible container F is attached to the filling cylinder 10. The lower end of the filling cylinder 10 does not necessarily have to be located below the lower end of the filling cylinder 10. However, if the lower end of the side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 is provided so as to be located below the lower end of the filling cylinder 10 (preferably the lower end of the inner cylinder 11), the opening Fa of the flexible container F is outside the filling cylinder 10. Even when this is done, the opening Fa of the flexible container F can be arranged in the space 20h of the cover portion 20. Then, even if the powder M scatters when the opening Fa of the flexible container F is removed from the filling cylinder 10, the powder M can be kept in the space 20h.

<Sheet member 25>
As described above, if the lower end of the side wall 22 of the cover portion 20 is provided so as to be located below the lower end of the filling cylinder 10, the function of keeping the powder M in the space 20h can be enhanced. On the other hand, when the operator attaches or detaches the opening Fa of the flexible container F to or from the filling cylinder 10, the presence of the side wall 22 may make it difficult to perform the work.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a notch 22 g may be provided in a part of the side wall 22 of the cover portion 20. Specifically, a notch 22g connected upward from the lower end of the side wall 22 may be provided. If such a notch 22g is provided, the inside can be visually recognized from the notch 22g portion, and the work can be performed by putting a hand in the space 20h of the cover portion 20 from the notch 22g. Then, the work of attaching / detaching the opening Fa of the flexible container F to / from the filling cylinder 10 becomes easy.

On the other hand, when the notch 22g is provided, the powder M may be scattered from the notch 22g to the outside. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the sheet member 26 so as to cover the notch 22g. For example, the upper ends of the plurality of sheet members 26 are fixed to the side wall 22 above the notch 22 g. Moreover, a plurality of sheet members 26 are arranged so that the side ends of the adjacent sheet members 26 overlap each other. Then, since the hand can be put into the space 20h from between the plurality of sheet members 26, the work of attaching / detaching the opening Fa of the flexible container F to / from the filling cylinder 10 is performed as compared with the case where there is no notch 22g. It will be easier.

The sheet member 26 is not particularly limited, but a transparent material is desirable. If the sheet member 26 made of a transparent material is used, the inside of the space 20h of the cover portion 20 can be confirmed through the sheet member 26, so that workability can be further improved.

Further, it is desirable that the sheet member 26 is made of a soft material. If the sheet member 26 made of a soft material is used, the sheet member 26 can be easily brought into close contact with the operator's hand when the hand is put into the space 20h of the cover portion 20 from between the plurality of sheet members 26. Become. Then, when a hand is put into the space 20h from between the plurality of sheet members 26, the gap communicating between the space 20h and the outside can be reduced, so that the powder M can be reduced from the space 20h to the outside during work. It becomes easier to prevent leakage.

<Suction unit 30>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction portion 30 has a second suction pipe 32 that is communicated with the space 20h of the cover portion 20 at one end. The other end of the second suction pipe 32 is communicated with the dust collector 35, and when the dust collector 35 operates, the air in the space 20h of the cover portion 20 and the powder M floating in the space 20h are sucked. Can be done.

Further, the suction unit 30 has a first suction pipe 31 that is communicated with the gap 12h of the filling cylinder 10 at one end. The other end of the first suction pipe 31 is communicated with the second suction pipe 32. That is, when the dust collector 35 operates, it becomes possible to suck not only the air in the space 20h of the cover portion 20 but also the air in the gap 12h of the filling cylinder 10 and the powder M floating in the gap 12h. There is.

Moreover, the first suction pipe 31 is provided with a suction flow rate adjusting unit 34. The suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is, for example, an electromagnetic valve, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 4. That is, by controlling the operation of the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 by the control unit 4, it is possible to control the suction of gas or the like from the gap 12h of the filling cylinder 20 through the first suction pipe 31.

For example, in a state where the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is operated so as to stop the supply of the powder M to the flexible container F, the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is controlled to close the first suction pipe 31. That is, the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 are controlled so as to be closed at the same time. On the contrary, in the state where the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is operated so as to supply the powder M to the flexible container F, the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is controlled to close the first suction pipe 31. That is, the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 are controlled to be open at the same time. Moreover, the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 opens the first suction pipe 31 slightly before opening the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13, and closes the first suction pipe 31 slightly after the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is closed. Is controlled. With this control, the gas in the container portion FB of the flexible container F can be sucked before the powder M is supplied to the flexible container F, so that the powder M can be smoothly supplied to the flexible container F. Further, when the opening Fa of the flexible container F is removed from the filling cylinder 10, the powder M scattered in the flexible container F can be sucked. Then, when the opening Fa of the flexible container F is removed from the filling cylinder 10, the possibility that the powder M leaks from the opening Fa of the flexible container F and scatters to the surroundings can be reduced.

In the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34, the timing for switching between the closed state and the open state is not limited to the above-mentioned timing.
Further, the gas may be sucked from the gap 12h of the filling cylinder 10 at all times without providing the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34. In this case, since the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 can be eliminated, the number of parts of the equipment can be reduced.

<Work to fill powder M>
The work of filling the flexible container F with the powder M by the filling equipment 1 as described above will be described.
First, the dust collector 35 is operated so that air is sucked from the space 20h of the cover portion 20. In this state, both the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 are closed.

The operator puts the flexible container F on the pedestal 2 and attaches the upper portion of the container portion FB of the flexible container F to the plurality of hanging members H. That is, the container portion FB of the flexible container F is held by the plurality of hanging members H so that the flexible container F is extended to some extent.

When the container portion FB of the flexible container F is held by the plurality of hanging members H, the operator covers the opening Fa of the container portion FB from the lower end of the filling cylinder 10. That is, the lower end of the filling cylinder 10 is inserted into the container portion FB from the opening Fa of the container portion FB (see FIG. 1). In this state, the operator arranges a mounting member B such as a band around the opening Fa of the container portion FB, and fixes the opening Fa of the container portion FB to the filling cylinder 10.

When the opening Fa of the container portion FB is fixed to the filling cylinder 10, the supply of the powder M to the flexible container F is started.

First, the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is released, and then the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 is released. Then, the powder M can be smoothly supplied into the container portion FB of the flexible container F.

As the supply of the powder M progresses, the weight of the flexible container F increases, and the pedestal 2 detects that the weight has reached a predetermined value. Then, the control unit 4 first closes the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 to stop the supply of the powder M, and a little later, closes the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34.

When the powder flow rate adjusting unit 13 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 are stopped, the operator removes the mounting member B and removes the opening Fa of the container portion FB from the filling cylinder 10. At this time, since the powder M scattered in the container portion FB of the Frecon F is sucked through the first suction pipe 31, it scatters when the opening Fa of the container portion FB is removed from the filling cylinder 10. The amount of powder M can be reduced. Moreover, since the opening Fa of the container portion FB is located in the space 20h of the cover portion 20, even if the powder M is scattered when the opening Fa of the container portion FB is removed from the filling cylinder 10, the powder is the powder. The body M is sucked into the dust collector 35 through the second suction pipe 32 together with the air in the space 20h of the cover portion 20.

The opening Fa of the container portion FB removed from the filling cylinder 10 is closed by the operator, but even if the powder M leaks during this period, the air in the space 20h of the cover portion 20 is constantly sucked, so that the powder It is possible to prevent the body M from scattering around.

As described above, according to the filling equipment 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent the powder M from scattering around when the flexible container F is filled with the powder M, so that deterioration of the working environment can be prevented. it can.
Moreover, since the scattered powder M is collected by the dust collector 35, the collected powder M can be reused and the loss of the powder M can be prevented.

<About suction unit 30>
The number of the first suction pipe 31 and the second suction pipe 32 is not particularly limited. One may be provided, or a plurality of may be provided. In particular, if a plurality of second suction pipes 32 are provided at a certain interval, the efficiency of collecting the powder M scattered in the space 20h of the cover portion 20 can be improved.

The other end of the first suction pipe 31 of the suction unit 30 does not necessarily have to be connected to the second suction pipe 32, and may be connected to a dust collector different from the second suction pipe 32. In this case, the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 does not necessarily have to be provided in the first suction pipe 31. If the operation of the dust collector connected to the first suction pipe 31 is controlled, it can function in the same manner as when the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is provided. However, if the other end of the first suction pipe 31 is connected to the second suction pipe 32 and the suction flow rate adjusting unit 34 is provided in the first suction pipe 31, the dust collector 35 can be unified. The equipment configuration can be simplified.

The filling equipment of the present invention is suitable for filling a flexible container bag with powders such as nickel powder, cobalt powder, and manganese powder.

1 Filling equipment 2 Pedestal 3 Filling part 10 Filling cylinder 10b Dust collection opening 11 Inner cylinder 12 Outer cylinder 12h Gap 13 Powder flow rate adjusting part 20 Cover part 20h Space 30 Suction part 31 First suction pipe 32 Second suction pipe 34 Suction flow Adjustment part 35 Dust collector F Flexible container FB Container part Fa Opening M Powder

Claims (4)

Equipment for filling flexible containers with powder
A filling cylinder that is inserted into the opening of the container part of a flexible container and supplies powder into the container part,
A cover portion provided around the filling cylinder and a cover portion provided around the filling cylinder so as to cover the opening of the container portion of the flexible container into which the filling cylinder is inserted.
It is provided with a suction part for sucking the gas in the filling cylinder and the cover part.
The filling cylinder
It has an inner cylinder for supplying powder and an outer cylinder arranged around the inner cylinder so as to have a gap between the inner cylinder.
The filling cylinder
When inserted into the opening of the container portion of the flexible container, a dust collecting opening is provided to communicate between the gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and the container portion of the flexible container.
The suction part is
The first suction pipe communicated with the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder,
The second suction pipe communicated with the space surrounded by the cover portion,
A dust collector communicated with the first suction pipe and the second suction pipe,
A filling facility provided in the first suction pipe and provided with a suction flow rate adjusting unit for controlling the flow of gas in the first suction pipe. The suction flow rate adjusting unit is
The filling equipment according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the powder flow rate adjusting unit for controlling the supply of powder provided in the inner cylinder of the filling cylinder is controlled. The first suction pipe
The filling facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second suction pipe is communicated with the second suction pipe at a portion upstream of the connection position with the dust collector. The front cover is
It has a side wall that is placed around the opening of the container part of the flexible container.
The side wall
A notch that connects from the lower end to the upper part is provided in a part of it.
In the notch
The filling equipment according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of sheet members whose upper ends are attached to the side wall are provided so as to cover the notch.

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