JP3929165B2 - Material input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a material charging apparatus that is installed on the receiving side of a material receiving hopper of an injection molding machine such as plastic and is used to receive a material such as a granular material from a flexible container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In injection molding machines such as special plastic moldings such as compact discs, powders such as plastic pellets of raw materials to be supplied are formed if they contain something other than originally necessary, such as dust. In order to affect the quality of the molded product, dust and other contaminants must be strictly excluded.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent years, flexible containers called flexible container bags have been used because of reduction of distribution costs and ease of handling.
FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a conventional material charging method when a flexible container is used.
The flexible container 8 is used for transporting a material such as the granular material m, and is formed of a flexible material. When the flexible container 8 is filled with the material, the flexible container 8 has a cylindrical shape or a box shape. The flexible container 8 is composed of a material having high toughness and supports an outer bag 81 that supports the weight of the filling material, an inner bag 83 that acts as a buffer for the outer bag 81 and the inner bag 84, and hermetically protects the filling material. It consists of an inner bag 84. The outer bag 81 is provided with a discharge lid 81a for discharging, and an upper lid 81b for holding material, and a hanging band 82 for hanging the whole is installed at an appropriate position on the outer periphery for reinforcement. The suspension band 82 is suspended by the crane hook C, and the flexible container 8 can be moved to a predetermined position.
[0004]
The inner bag 83 is also provided with an upper opening (not shown) corresponding to the upper lid 81b of the outer bag 81 and a lower opening 83a corresponding to the discharge lid 81a. Similarly, the inner bag 84 is provided with an upper opening (not shown) corresponding to the upper lid 81b of the outer bag 81 and a material discharge cylinder 85 corresponding to the discharge lid 81a. The bag 84 is formed by forming a vinyl sheet or the like into a cylindrical shape, one opening of which forms an upper opening, and the other opening forms a material discharge cylinder 85.
[0005]
At the time of transportation, the material discharge cylinder 85 is accommodated in the inner bag 83 so that the material such as the filled granular material m is not discharged by tightening the mouth portion 85 b of the material discharge cylinder 85 with the tightening string 86. The lower opening 83a is closed, and the discharge lid 81a of the outer bag 81 is also closed.
On the other hand, the material receiving hopper A that receives the supply of the granular material m as a raw material from the flexible container 8 is connected to an injection molding machine for producing a plastic molded product such as a compact disc. The raw material is temporarily stored in order to supply a molding material or the like to a subsequent process apparatus. In order to maintain the quality required for the molded product, the pipeline system from the hopper A to the completion of the product is strictly controlled so that foreign matters such as dust do not enter.
[0006]
The material receiving hopper A has a material receiving port B above the material receiving hopper A. When no material is received from the flexible container 8 or the like, the material receiving port B is covered with the lid 111 so that dust or the like does not enter from outside air. I am doing so.
Conventionally, when receiving the supply of granular material m as a raw material from the flexible container 8, the material container B with the flexible container 8 in a state in which the mouth portion 85b of the material discharge cylinder 85 is tightened and tightened with a string 86 as shown in the figure. The lid 111 is removed, and then the mouth end 85a of the material discharge tube 85 is put on the outside of the material receiving port B and tightened with an appropriate binding means. The granular material m was supplied from the flexible container 8 to the material receiving hopper A.
[0007]
At this time, there is also a material receiving hopper A provided with a pressurizing means 100 so that outside air containing dust does not enter the material receiving hopper A. The pressurizing means 100 includes a pressurizing pump 101 that supplies pressurized air, a filter 102 that removes dust from the pressurized air, and a jet outlet 103 that jets pressurized air into the material receiving hopper A. The inside of the hopper A is made to have a higher pressure than the outside air, and the inflow of the outside air containing dust is prevented by generating an air flow that flows out from the inside of the hopper A through the material receiving port B to the outside. .
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional material charging method, outside air containing dust is taken for a short time from when the lid 111 of the material receiving port B is taken to cover the mouth end 85a of the material discharge cylinder 85 of the flexible container 8. There was a risk of entering the material receiving hopper A.
In addition, in the case where the pressurizing means 100 is provided, the intrusion of the outside air can be avoided, but conversely, the fine powder of the granular material m remaining in the material receiving hopper A is discharged to the outside air and the outside air is removed. It will be contaminated. This is not desirable even in such an atmosphere of a pipeline system in which dust is strictly controlled. Furthermore, in the pressurizing means 100 that pressurizes the air in the material receiving hopper A, since the internal volume of the hopper A is large, the pressurizing pump 101 is inevitably large and the apparatus is large. It was.
[0009]
Furthermore, in any case, dust or the like that has entered from the outside into the tube tip interior 85c between the mouth tip 85a and the mouth portion 85b of the material discharge tube 85 could not be removed.
The present invention has been proposed in view of the above problems, and is a small-sized material input device capable of supplying a material such as a granular material from a flexible container or the like to a material receiving hopper without intrusion of dust or the like. It is intended to provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The material input device according to claim 1 is configured to receive a granular material discharged from the flexible container in a state of natural fall, and is installed above the material receiving hopper, and provided with a material input valve at the bottom. It is composed of a material introduction cylinder that is provided with a dust discharge mechanism that has at least a dust discharge port that opens an input port and communicates with air purge means and outside air,
The material introduction port of the material introduction cylinder is connected to the front end of the material discharge cylinder that is dropped from the lower side of the flexible container and is tightly bound by a closing string while the material introduction valve is held closed. Then, by operating the air purge means, the dust in the closed space formed by the material discharge cylinder and the material introduction cylinder is forcibly discharged from the dust discharge port.
[0011]
After the flexible container material discharge tube and the material input device are connected in an airtight manner, the closed space that is formed between the two and exposed to the outside air and may contain dust is contained. The material is supplied as a material after being caught as a processing target and discharged from the enclosed space by the dust discharge mechanism.
In this way, after the outside air is shut off, dust is discharged only for the closed space, so that intrusion of dust from new outside air is completely prevented. In addition, the closed space is the smallest space that may have been contaminated, and is very small compared to the internal volume of the material receiving hopper, so the amount of air required for dust discharge can be reduced, and the air of the dust discharge mechanism The purge means can also be reduced in size.
[0012]
Here, the granular material is a powder or granular material, which means a material to be supplied for processing in the next process, such as liquid, sticky fluid, solid, block, etc. In addition to polymer compounds such as synthetic resin pellets, pharmaceutical materials such as tablets, food materials such as cereals, and the like are included.
The material input device according to claim 2 receives the granular material discharged from the granular material transport container in a state of natural fall, and is installed above the material receiving hopper and has a material input valve at the bottom. The material inlet is provided with a dust discharge mechanism provided with at least a dust discharge port that opens a material input port and communicates with air purge means and outside air;
The material introduction port of the material introduction cylinder is connected to the material discharge cylinder provided below the powder and particle transport container while the material introduction valve is kept closed, and then the air purge means is installed. By operating, the structure is such that the dust in the closed space formed by the material discharge cylinder and the material introduction cylinder is forcibly discharged from the dust discharge port.
[0013]
In claim 1, as an example of a transport container for granular materials, a material input device is proposed for the case of using a flexible container. However, the above-described features of the present invention can also be applied to a general transport container. The present invention is applied to such a general granular material transport container.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material input device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a filter for collecting the dust is provided at the dust discharge port of the dust discharge mechanism.
[0014]
Dust contained in the exhausted air is collected by the filter and does not contaminate the outside air, so that the atmosphere of such a manufacturing facility is kept good.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material input device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the dust discharge mechanism further includes suction means for forcibly discharging the air in the closed space to the outside air. .
[0015]
Since not only the air purge means for ejecting clean air for discharge but also the suction means for forcibly sucking and discharging the air in the closed space at the same time, dust discharge is performed more effectively.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material feeding device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter that measures the amount of dust in the closed space.
[0016]
The dust discharge mechanism measures the amount of dust in the enclosed space while discharging the dust, so that it can be used as a guideline to know the degree of dust discharge by using an appropriate display means.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material feeding apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the dust counter further comprises a notification means for notifying that the measured amount of dust is less than a predetermined amount.
[0017]
This is convenient because a lamp, a buzzer, or the like notifies that the measured amount of dust is less than a predetermined amount, that is, that the enclosed space is sufficiently clean.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of an example of the material input device of the present invention. In this figure, the flexible container 8 and the material receiving hopper A have already been described with reference to FIG.
[0019]
The material input device 1 includes a material introduction cylinder 2, a material input valve 3, a dust discharge mechanism 4, a filter 5, a suction means 6, and a dust counter 7.
The material introduction cylinder 2 has a cylindrical shape, and a material introduction valve 3 is provided at the bottom thereof, and the upper portion thereof opens as a material introduction port 21 in a mortar shape. The lower part of the material introduction cylinder 2 has an outer diameter that just fits the material receiving port B of the material receiving hopper A. The material introducing tube 2 is placed on the material receiving port B and is fitted by appropriate fastening means such as bolts and nuts. It is airtightly fixed through sealing means such as packing.
[0020]
The material input valve 3 may be any type as long as it can open and close between the material introduction cylinder 2 and the material receiving hopper A in an airtight manner, and may be any type such as a ball valve or a butterfly valve. Since the material introduction cylinder 2 and the material receiving hopper A are fixed in an airtight manner, the material receiving hopper A can be closed in an airtight manner when the material charging valve 3 is closed. Reference numeral 31 denotes a closing lever 92b for operating the valve 3. The lever 31 is for manual operation, but may be one that can be automatically opened and closed simultaneously or alternatively by an electromagnetic device or the like.
[0021]
The dust discharge mechanism 4 is provided in the material introduction cylinder 2 and includes a pressure pump 42, a filter 43, an air purge means 41 including a jet outlet 44, and a dust discharge port 45. By supplying air, removing dust from the pressurized air with the filter 43, jetting clean pressurized air into the material introduction cylinder 2 from the jet port 44, and discharging it from the dust outlet 45. Force the air containing dust to the outside air. 46 is a shut-off valve for preventing the backflow of dust and the like after the air containing the dust is discharged.
[0022]
The filter 5 collects dust from the air discharged by the dust discharge mechanism 4.
The suction means 6 is attached to the dust discharge mechanism 4 as required, and forcibly discharges the air by further sucking in addition to the discharge by the pressurized air supplied by the air purge means 41.
[0023]
The dust counter 7 includes a dust measurement sensor 71 that measures the amount of dust in the exhausted air, and a dust measurement display device 72 that processes and displays a signal from the sensor 71. The dust measurement display device 72 includes display means. 73, a notification lamp 74, and a notification buzzer 75 are provided. The notification lamp 74 and the notification buzzer 75 constitute notification means.
[0024]
The procedure for supplying the granular material m from the flexible container 8 to the material receiving hopper A using the material charging device 1 is as follows.
Before the material is charged, the material charging valve 3 of the material charging device 1 is closed, and the intrusion of outside air including dust into the material receiving hopper A is blocked. On the other hand, there is nothing particularly obstructing the intrusion of outside air into the material introduction cylinder 2 of the material input device 1, and dust or the like enters. However, before the dust is newly supplied as described later, Because it is forcibly discharged, there is no problem. However, a material corresponding to the lid 111 (FIG. 3) described in the conventional example may be placed on the material inlet 21.
[0025]
With the material charging valve 3 closed, the flexible container 8 is lifted by the crane hook C so as to come directly above the material charging device 1. Next, the discharge lid 81a and the lower opening 83a of the flexible container 8 are opened, and the material discharge cylinder 85 in a state where the mouth 85b is tightened with the string 86 is taken out, dropped and protruded, and then the entire flexible container 8 is lowered appropriately. Thus, the front end 85a of the material discharge tube 85 is positioned to reach the material input port 21 of the material introduction tube 2.
[0026]
Next, the material inlet 21 is covered with the leading end 85a, and the portion is wound and squeezed by the winding and tightening tool 22 from the outside. As the winding / squeezing tool 22, a simple type of a joint band used for a normal pipe joint, such as a steel band with an elastic sheet attached inside, which can be wound and tightened with a bolt and a nut, can be used as appropriate.
In this way, it is possible to prevent the outside air from entering from the wound and squeezed portion, and the closed space 10 including the tube tip inner portion 85c and covered with the material discharge tube 85 and the material introduction tube 2 is formed. Since the upper part of the closed space 10 is closed by the closing string 86 and the lower part is closed by the material charging valve 3, dust contained in the space 10 enters the flexible container 8 and the material receiving hopper A. Can not do it.
[0027]
In this state, when the air purge means 41 of the dust discharge mechanism 4 is operated and clean pressurized air is ejected toward the closed space 10, the dust in the closed space 10 is accompanied by the pressurized air. It is discharged from the dust discharge port 45.
Thereafter, the closing string 86 is loosened, the material charging valve 3 is opened, and the granular material m is supplied to the material receiving hopper A.
[0028]
In this way, the dust adhering to the cylinder tip interior 85c of the material discharge cylinder 85 can also be discharged, completely preventing the intrusion of dust from the outside air, and the granular material from the flexible container 8 to the material receiving hopper A. m can be supplied.
Further, the closed space 10 formed between the material discharge cylinder 85 of the flexible container 8 and the material charging device 1 and once exposed to the outside air and possibly containing dust or the like is used as a processing target. Since it catches and discharges dust, it can be easily discharged in a short time, and its closed space 10 is very small compared to the internal volume of the material receiving hopper A, so that the amount of air required for dust discharge can be reduced. The air purge means 41 of the mechanism 4 can also be reduced in size.
[0029]
In addition, since the filter 5 that collects dust from the discharged air is provided, the outside air is not contaminated, and the atmosphere of such a manufacturing facility is kept good.
Further, since the suction means 6 is provided for not only supplying pressurized air but also forcibly sucking and discharging the air in the closed space at the same time, dust is discharged more effectively and in a short time. .
[0030]
In addition, since the dust counter 7 that measures the amount of dust in the enclosed space 10 is provided, the amount of dust in the enclosed space 10 is measured while the dust is discharged by the dust discharge mechanism 4. By using it, it becomes a standard to know the degree of dust discharge.
Further, since the dust counter 7 is provided with a notification lamp 74 and a notification buzzer 75 for notifying when the measured dust amount is less than a predetermined amount, the closed space is sufficiently clean. After confirming that it has become, the dust discharge can be terminated and the supply of the granular material can be started, which is convenient.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of another example of the material input device of the present invention. In this case, as compared with the case of FIG. 1, the difference is that the powder container is not a flexible container but a powder container made of ordinary steel or stainless steel. The common points are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0031]
Unlike the flexible container 8, the granular material transport container 9 is a rigid container made of steel, stainless steel, or the like, and has a shape even when the granular material to be transported is not filled therein. Usually, it has a cylindrical shape or a box shape.
The container body 91 is made of a single material, steel or stainless steel, and is not multilayered like the flexible container 8, and itself serves as a structure, a protective body, and an outside air intrusion prevention function. I'm in charge. Reference numeral 92 denotes a material discharge cylinder protruding from the lower part of the container main body 91, which is made of the same material as the container main body 91. The discharge open / close valve 92a for opening / closing the discharge of the filled granular material m, and the valve 92a Is provided with a discharge opening / closing lever 92b. The lever 92b is for manual operation, but may be one that can be opened and closed automatically by an electromagnetic device or the like at the same time or instead. 92 c is a material discharge port provided at the discharge end of the material discharge tube 92.
[0032]
In the upper part of the container main body 91, there is an opening 91 a for supplying the granular material m to the container 9, so that the container lid 94 can cover it. In addition, a container suspending tool 93 for suspending the container 9 is provided on the upper part of the container main body 91, and the powder particle transport container 9 is suspended by suspending the container suspending tool 93 with the crane hook C. Can be moved to a predetermined position.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 2, the material charging device 1 </ b> A in the case of using such a granular material transporting container 9 has a material charging port 21 </ b> A of the material introducing cylinder 2 </ b> A as shown in FIG. The only difference is in accordance with the material discharge port 92c of the granule transport container 9. Accordingly, the point of forming the closed space 10 and the point of discharging the dust from the closed space 10 using the dust discharge mechanism 4 and the like are the same as those of the material input device 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
[0034]
In this case, the material discharge port 92c of the granular material transport container 9 has a flange-like shape made of rigid steel or stainless steel, and the material input port 21A of the material introduction tube 2A is also matched thereto. For example, an attachment hole or the like is formed for tightening and fixing both.
Therefore, the granular material transport container 9 is suspended by the crane hook C so that the material discharge port 92c is just at the position of the material input port 21A, and both are used with appropriate fastening means such as bolts and nuts, If the sealing means such as packing is interposed and fixed tightly, the tightness of the tightly connected portion is maintained, and outside air including dust does not enter from this portion.
[0035]
After the closed space 10 is formed in this way, the dust in the closed space 10 can be discharged easily and in a short time by the small dust discharge mechanism, like the material input device 1, and the granular material transport container The granular material m can be supplied without causing dust to enter the material receiving hopper A from 9.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As can be understood from the above description, according to the material input device according to claim 1, after the material discharge cylinder of the flexible container and the material input device are connected in an airtight manner, The closed space, which is the smallest space that may be exposed to the outside air and may contain dust, etc. is captured as a processing target, and after the dust is discharged from the closed space by the dust discharge mechanism, the material is supplied. Therefore, after shutting off the outside air, dust is discharged only in the enclosed space, so that intrusion of dust from new outside air is completely prevented, and it adheres to the inside of the tube of the material discharge cylinder. Dust that has been discharged can be discharged, and entry of dust into the supplied granular material is completely prevented.
[0037]
In addition, the closed space is the smallest space that may have been contaminated, and is very small compared to the internal volume of the material receiving hopper. The air purge means of the dust discharge mechanism can be downsized, and the entire apparatus can be downsized.
According to the material input device of the second aspect, since the material input device of the first aspect is applied to a general powder material transport container, the powder material transport container is not a flexible container but a general one. Even when a typical granular material transport container is used, the same effect as in claim 1 is exhibited.
[0038]
According to the material input device according to claim 3, since the dust discharge port of the dust discharge mechanism is provided with the filter for collecting the dust, the dust contained in the discharged air is collected by the filter, The atmosphere of such a manufacturing facility is kept good without contaminating the outside air.
According to the material input device of the fourth aspect, the dust discharge mechanism further includes the suction means for forcibly discharging the air in the closed space to the outside air, so that clean pressurized air is ejected for discharge. Since not only the air purge means but also the air in the closed space is simultaneously sucked by the suction means for forcibly discharging the dust, the dust is more effectively discharged.
[0039]
According to the material input device of claim 5, the material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter for measuring the amount of dust in the closed space, and the dust in the closed space is discharged while discharging the dust by the dust discharge mechanism. Since the amount is measured, it becomes a standard to know the degree of dust discharge by using an appropriate display means.
According to the material input device of the sixth aspect, since the dust counter further includes notification means for notifying that the measured amount of dust is less than the predetermined amount, the measured dust amount is the predetermined amount. Convenient because it can be confirmed by the notification that the enclosed space has become sufficiently clean, that is, the closed space has become sufficiently clean, and then the dust discharge can be terminated and the supply of the granular material can be started. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an overall configuration of an example of a material input apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing an overall configuration of another example of a material input apparatus of the present invention. Schematic explanatory diagram showing the explanation
A Material receiving hopper B Material receiving port C Crane hook m Powder body 1, 1A Material input device 2, 2A Material introduction cylinder 21, 21A Material input port 3 Material input valve 4 Dust discharge mechanism 41 Air purge means 45 Dust discharge port 5 Filter 6 Suction means 7 Dust counter 74 Notification lamp 75 Notification buzzer 8 Flexible container 85 Material discharge cylinder 85a Front end 85b Opening 86 Closing string 9 Granule transport container 92c Material discharge port 10 Closed space

Claims (6)

A material input device that accepts a granular material discharged from a flexible container in a naturally falling state,
A material introduction cylinder installed above the material receiving hopper, provided with a material discharge valve, provided with a material discharge valve at the bottom, provided with a material discharge port, and provided with a dust discharge mechanism having at least a dust discharge port communicating with air purge means and outside air Consists of
The material introduction port of the material introduction tube is connected to the front end of the material discharge tube which is dropped from the lower side of the flexible container and is tightly bound by a closing string while the material introduction valve is kept closed. After that, a material charging device configured to forcibly discharge dust in a closed space formed by the material discharge cylinder and the material introduction cylinder by operating the air purge means from the dust discharge port. A material input device that accepts a granular material discharged in a natural fall state from a granular material transport container,
Material introduction with a dust discharge mechanism installed above the material receiving hopper, having a material input valve at the bottom, opening a material input port, and having at least a dust discharge port communicating with air purge means and outside air Composed of cylinders,
The material introduction port of the material introduction tube is connected with a material discharge tube provided below the powder and particle transport container while the material introduction valve is kept closed, and then the air purge means is installed. A material input device configured to force the dust in a closed space formed by the material discharge cylinder and the material introduction cylinder to be discharged from the dust discharge port by operating. In either claim 1 or 2,
A material input device, wherein a dust collecting port is provided at a dust discharge port of the dust discharging mechanism. In any one of Claims 1-3,
The material discharging apparatus, wherein the dust discharging mechanism further includes suction means for forcibly discharging the air in the closed space to the outside air. In any one of Claims 1-4,
The material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter that measures the amount of dust in the closed space. In claim 5,
The said dust counter is further equipped with the notification means which notifies that the measured dust amount became less than predetermined amount, The material injection | throwing-in apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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