JPH11291249A - Material charging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized material charging device capable of supplying a material such as a fine particulate material to a material receiving hopper from a flexible container without generating the penetration of the dust or the like. SOLUTION: A material charging apparatus 1 is constituted of a material introducing cylinder 2 having a material charging valve 3 provided to the bottom part thereof, having a material charging port 21 opened thereto and having a dust discharge mechanism 4 and the leading opening end 85a of the material discharge cylinder 85 falling to protrude from the lower part of the flexible container 8 and tied by a closing string while the material charging valve 3 is held to a closed state is joined to the material charging port 21 of a material introducing cylinder 2. Thereafter, by operating the air purge means 41 of the dust discharge means 4, the dust in the closed space 10 formed by the material discharge cylinder 85 and the material introducing cylinder 2 is forcibly discharged out of a dust discharge port 45.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a material input device which is installed on a receiving side of a material receiving hopper of an injection molding machine for, for example, plastics and is used for receiving a material such as a granular material from a flexible container or the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an injection molding machine such as a special plastic molded product such as a compact disc, a granular material such as a plastic pellet as a raw material to be supplied contains something other than what is originally required, such as dust. In addition, the influence on the quality of the formed molded product must be strictly eliminated.

On the other hand, a flexible container called a flexible container bag or the like has been used in recent years because of a reduction in 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 material is filled, the flexible container 8 has a cylindrical shape or a box shape. The flexible container 8 is made of a highly tough material and supports the weight of the filling material, an outer wrapping bag 81, an inner wrapping bag 83 serving as a buffer for the outer wrapping bag 81 and the inner wrapping bag 84, and hermetically protects the filling material. It consists of an inner packet 84. The outer wrapping bag 81 is provided with a discharge lid 81a for discharging, and an upper lid 81b for putting in a material, and a hanging band 82 for hanging the whole is installed in an appropriate position on the outer periphery also as reinforcement. And suspending the suspension band 82 with the crane hook C,
The flexible container 8 can be moved to a predetermined position.

[0004] The inner wrapping bag 83 also has an upper lid 81b.
And a lower opening 83a corresponding to the discharge lid 81a. Similarly, the inner envelope 84 has an upper opening (not shown) corresponding to the upper lid 81b of the outer envelope 81, and the material discharge tube 8 corresponding to the discharge lid 81a.
5 is provided, but in practice, this inner envelope bag 84 is
A vinyl sheet or the like is formed in a cylindrical shape, one opening of which is an upper opening, and the other opening of which constitutes a material discharge cylinder 85.

At the time of transportation, the mouth 85b of the material discharge cylinder 85 is tightened with a squeezing cord 86 so as to prevent the material such as the filled granular material m from being discharged. 83, the lower opening 83a is closed, and the discharge lid 81a of the outer envelope 81 is also closed. On the other hand, from this flexible container 8,
Material receiving hopper A receiving the supply of granular material m as raw material
Is connected to an injection molding machine that produces plastic molded products such as compact discs, and temporarily stores raw materials to supply molding materials to these post-processing devices. It is. In addition, 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 substances such as dust do not enter.

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 closed by the lid 11.
1 to prevent dust and the like from entering from outside air. Conventionally, when the supply of the granular material m as the raw material from the flexible container 8 is performed,
As shown in the figure, the mouth portion 85b of the material discharge cylinder 85 is positioned above the material receiving port B in a state where the mouth portion 85b is tightened by the squeezing string 86, the lid 111 is removed, and then the tip end 85a of the material discharge cylinder 85 is closed. After covering the outside of the material receiving port B and tightening it with an appropriate binding means, the tightening string 86 is loosened and the powder m is supplied from the flexible container 8 to the material receiving hopper A by natural fall.

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. This pressurizing means 100
Is composed of a pressurizing pump 101 for supplying pressurized air, a filter 102 for removing dust from the pressurized air, and an ejection port 103 for supplying pressurized air to the material receiving hopper A. By making the air pressure higher than the outside air and generating an air flow that flows from the inside of the hopper A to the outside through the material receiving port B, it is intended to prevent the intrusion of the outside air containing dust.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional material charging method, the lid 111 of the material receiving port B is taken, and the front end 85a of the material discharge cylinder 85 of the flexible container 8 is opened.
During a short period of time until the cover is covered, there is a possibility that outside air containing dust may enter the material receiving hopper A. Also,
In the case where the pressurizing means 100 is provided, the invasion of the outside air can be avoided, but conversely, the fine powder of the particulate matter m remaining in the material receiving hopper A is discharged to the outside air and pollutes the outside air. Will be. This is not desirable even in such a strictly dust controlled pipeline system atmosphere.
Further, in the pressurizing means 100 for pressurizing 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 in size, and the apparatus is enlarged. Was.

Further, in any case, the material discharge cylinder 8
The inside of the cylinder tip 85c between the tip 85a and the mouth 85b of No. 5
Dust and the like that entered from outside air could not be removed. The present invention has been proposed in view of the above problems, from a flexible container or the like to a material receiving hopper,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized material input device capable of supplying a material such as a powder and the like without intrusion of dust or the like.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material charging apparatus for receiving a powdery material discharged from a flexible container in a natural fall state, and is provided above a material receiving hopper. A material introduction valve is provided at the bottom, a material introduction port is opened, and a material introduction cylinder provided with a dust discharge mechanism including at least an air purge means and a dust discharge port communicated with the outside air is provided. The material input port, while holding the material input valve in the closed state, drops from below the flexible container and protrudes therefrom, and after joining the leading end of the material discharge cylinder tied up with a closing cord or the like, 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. That.

After the material discharge cylinder of the flexible container and the material charging device are connected in an airtight manner, it is a minimum space formed between the two, once exposed to the outside air and possibly containing dust and the like. The closed space is caught as a processing target, and after the dust is discharged from the closed space by the dust discharging mechanism, the material is supplied. In this way, after the outside air is shut off, dust is discharged only to the enclosed space, so that the intrusion of dust from new outside air is completely prevented. In addition, the enclosed space is the smallest space that may be contaminated, and is very small compared to the internal volume of the material receiving hopper, so that the amount of air required for dust discharge is small and the air of the dust discharge mechanism is small. Purging means can also be miniaturized.

Here, the powdery or granular material is a powder or a granular material, and refers to a material to be supplied for processing in the next step, such as a liquid, a sticky fluid, a solid, It does not include a block body or the like, but also includes a pharmaceutical material such as a tablet, a food material such as a grain, and the like, in addition to a polymer compound such as a synthetic resin pellet. The material input device according to claim 2 is for receiving the powder discharged in a state of natural fall from the powder transport container, is installed above the material receiving hopper, and has a material input valve at the bottom. A material introduction cylinder provided with a dust discharge mechanism provided with at least a material discharge port that opens a material input port, and a dust discharge port that is in communication with the outside air. While keeping the material input valve closed, the material discharge cylinder provided below the granular material transport container is connected, and then the air purge means is operated, whereby the material discharge cylinder and the material Dust in a closed space formed by the introduction cylinder is forcibly discharged from the dust discharge port.

[0013] Claim 1 proposes a material charging device for a case where a flexible container is used as an example of a transporting container for the granular material.
The present invention can be applied to a general transport container, and 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 charging apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, wherein a filter for collecting dust is provided at a dust outlet of the dust discharging mechanism.

The dust contained in the discharged air is collected by the filter and does not pollute the outside air, so that the atmosphere of the manufacturing equipment can be kept good. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the material input device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the dust discharge mechanism further includes a suction unit that forcibly discharges the air in the closed space to the outside air. .

[0015] Not only air purging means for jetting clean air for discharge, but also air in the enclosed space at the same time.
Since suction means for forcibly sucking and discharging is provided,
Dust discharge is performed more effectively. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the material introduction device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter that measures a dust amount in the closed space.

Since the amount of dust in the enclosed space is measured while discharging the dust by the dust discharge mechanism, the use of an appropriate display means provides an indication of the degree of dust discharge. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the material charging apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the dust counter further includes a notifying unit for notifying that the measured amount of dust is smaller than a predetermined amount.

It is convenient to notify by a lamp, a buzzer, or the like that the measured amount of dust has become smaller than a predetermined amount, that is, that the enclosed space has become sufficiently clean.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the entire configuration of an example of the material charging apparatus of the present invention. In this figure, a flexible container 8 and a material receiving hopper A
This has already been described with reference to FIG. 3 in the related art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The material charging device 1 comprises a material introducing cylinder 2, a material charging valve 3, a dust discharging mechanism 4, a filter 5, a suction means 6, and a dust counter 7. Material introduction cylinder 2
Has a material input valve 3 provided at the bottom thereof, and has an upper part opening in a mortar shape as a material input port 21. The material introduction cylinder 2 has an outer diameter such that the lower part thereof exactly fits the material receiving port B of the material receiving hopper A, and is placed on the material receiving port B, and is fastened by appropriate fastening means such as bolts and nuts. It is airtightly fixed via a sealing means such as packing.

The material input valve 3 may be of any type as long as it can open and close the space between the material introduction cylinder 2 and the material receiving hopper A in an airtight manner, and may be of any type such as a ball valve and a butterfly valve. Since the material introduction cylinder 2 and the material receiving hopper A are airtightly fixed, the material receiving hopper A can be airtightly closed by closing the material charging valve 3. Reference numeral 31 denotes a closing / opening lever 92b for operating the valve 3. The lever 31 is for manual operation, but may be configured to be automatically opened and closed simultaneously or alternatively by an electromagnetic device or the like.

The dust discharging mechanism 4 is provided in the material introducing cylinder 2 and comprises an air purging means 41 comprising a pressurizing pump 42, a filter 43, and a jet port 44, and a dust discharging port 45. , Supply pressurized air,
Dust is removed from the pressurized air by the filter 43, clean pressurized air is ejected from the ejection port 44 into the material introduction cylinder 2, and is discharged from the dust discharge port 45, whereby air containing dust is removed. Force release to outside air. Reference numeral 46 denotes a shutoff valve for preventing backflow of dust and the like after discharging air containing dust.

The filter 5 collects dust from the air discharged by the dust discharge mechanism 4. The suction means 6 is provided in addition to the dust discharge mechanism 4 as necessary.
In addition to the discharge by the pressurized air supplied by the air purge means 41, the air is forcibly discharged by further suction.

The dust counter 7 comprises a dust measurement sensor 71 for measuring the amount of dust in the discharged air, and a dust measurement display device 72 for processing and displaying a signal from the sensor 71, and the like.
The dust measurement display device 72 is provided with a display means 73, a notification lamp 74, and a notification buzzer 75. The notification lamp 74 and the notification buzzer 75 constitute a notification unit.

The procedure for supplying the granular material m from the flexible container 8 to the material receiving hopper A using the material input device 1 is as follows. Before material input, the material input valve 3 of the material input device 1 is closed, and the intrusion of the outside air containing dust into the material receiving hopper A is shut off. On the other hand, dust and the like enter the inside of the material introducing cylinder 2 of the material input device 1 without particularly blocking outside air from entering. There is no problem because it is forcibly discharged. Of course, a material equivalent to the lid 111 (FIG. 3) described in the conventional example may be put on the material inlet 21.

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, the mouth 85b is squeezed, the material discharge tube 85 in a state of being tightened with the string 86 is taken out, and the flexible container 8 is dropped and protruded. Thus, the leading end 85a of the material discharge cylinder 85 is positioned so as to reach the material inlet 21 of the material introduction cylinder 2.

Next, at the leading end 85a, the material inlet 2
1 and the part is wound up from outside with a wind-down tool 22. As the wringer 22, a simple type of a joint band used for ordinary pipe joints, such as a steel band having an elastic sheet adhered to the inside thereof, which can be wrapped with a bolt and a nut, can be appropriately used. In this way, outside air can be prevented from entering from the constricted portion, and the closed space 10 including the cylinder tip inside 85c and covered by the material discharge cylinder 85 and the material introduction cylinder 2 is formed. Since the upper portion of the closed space 10 is closed by the closing cord 86 and the lower portion is closed by the material charging valve 3, dust and the like contained in the space 10 enter the flexible container 8 and the material receiving hopper A. Can not do it.

In this state, the air purging means 41 of the dust discharging mechanism 4 is operated to purge clean pressurized air into the closed space 1.
When it is ejected toward zero, the dust in the closed space 10 is discharged from the dust discharge port 45 with the pressurized air.
Then, after that, the closing cord 86 is loosened, the material charging valve 3 is opened, and the granular material m is supplied to the material receiving hopper A.

In this way, the dust adhering to the inside 85c of the material discharge cylinder 85 can be discharged, and the intrusion of dust from the outside air can be completely prevented. The powder m can be supplied. Further, the closed space 10 which is formed between the material discharge cylinder 85 of the flexible container 8 and the material input device 1 and which is a minimum space which is once exposed to the outside air and may contain dust or the like is set as a processing target. Because it catches and discharges dust, it can be easily discharged in a short time, and the closed space 10
Is very small as compared with the internal volume of the material receiving hopper A, so that the amount of air required for discharging the dust is small, and the air purging means 41 of the dust discharging mechanism 4 can be downsized.

Further, since the filter 5 for collecting the dust from the discharged air is provided, the atmosphere of the manufacturing equipment can be kept good without polluting the outside air. Further, the suction means 6 not only supplies the pressurized air but also simultaneously forcibly sucks and discharges the air in the closed space.
Is provided, dust is more effectively discharged in a short time.

Since the dust counter 7 for measuring the amount of dust in the enclosed space 10 is provided, the amount of dust in the enclosed space 10 is measured by the dust discharging mechanism 4 while discharging the dust. The use of the means 73 provides an indication of the degree of dust discharge. Further, when the measured amount of dust is smaller than a predetermined amount, a notification lamp 74 for notifying the dust counter 7 of the fact, or a notification buzzer 7
Since the device 5 is provided, it is possible to confirm that the closed space has been sufficiently cleaned by the notification, terminate the dust discharge, and start supplying the granular material, which is convenient. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view 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 only difference is that the transport container for the granular material is not a flexible container, but a granular or granular material transport container made of ordinary steel or stainless steel. , Common points are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

The granular material transport container 9 is a rigid container made of steel, stainless steel, or the like, unlike the flexible container 8, and can be used even when the granular material to be transported is not filled therein. Maintaining its shape,
Usually, it is cylindrical or box-shaped. Container body 91
Is made of a single material, steel or stainless steel,
It is not multi-layered like the flexible container 8,
By itself, it plays a role in the structure, the protective body, and the outside air intrusion prevention. Reference numeral 92 denotes a material discharge cylinder projecting from the lower part of the container body 91, which is made of the same material as the container body 91, and which is a discharge opening / closing 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 for operating. This lever 92
b is for manual operation, but may be such that it can be automatically opened or closed simultaneously or alternatively by an electromagnetic device or the like. 92 c is a material discharge port provided at the discharge end of the material discharge cylinder 92.

At the upper part of the container body 91, there is provided an opening 91a for supplying the granular material m to the container 9;
4 can be closed. A container suspender 93 for suspending the container 9 is provided at the upper part of the container body 91. The container suspender 93 is suspended by the crane hook C to suspend the powder transporting container 9. , Can be moved to a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the material charging device 1A in the case of using such a granular material transporting container 9 is different from the material charging device 1 of FIG. However, the only difference is in accordance with the material discharge port 92 c of the granular material transport container 9. Therefore, the closed space 10
And the point of discharging dust from the closed space 10 using the dust discharging mechanism 4 and the like are the same as those of the material input device 1, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

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 cylinder 2A also has For example, a mounting hole or the like for fastening and fixing the both is formed. Therefore, the material transporting container 9 is hung by the crane hook C so that the material discharge port 92c is located exactly at the position of the material input port 21A, and both are connected using appropriate fastening means, for example, bolts and nuts. If tightly fixed with a sealing means such as packing interposed therebetween, the tightness of the tightly connected portion is maintained, and outside air including dust and the like does not enter from this portion.

After the closed space 10 is thus formed,
As in the case of the material input device 1, dust and the like in the closed space 10 can be easily and quickly discharged by the small dust discharge mechanism, and the dust enters the material receiving hopper A from the granular material transport container 9. The powder m can be supplied without performing the above.

[0036]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the material charging device according to the first aspect, after the material discharging cylinder of the flexible container and the material charging device are air-tightly connected, there is no space between them. The closed space, which is the smallest space that is once 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 removed. After the outside air is shut off, dust is discharged only to the enclosed space, so that the intrusion of dust from new outside air is completely prevented. Dust adhering to the inside can also be discharged, and the intrusion of dust into the supplied granular material is completely prevented.

Further, the enclosed space is a minimum space that may be contaminated, and is very small in comparison with the inner volume of the material receiving hopper. Dust can be discharged in a short time, the air purge means of the dust discharge mechanism can be reduced in size, and the entire apparatus can be reduced in size. According to the material charging device according to the second aspect, the material charging device according to the first aspect is applied to a general granular material transporting container. The same effects as those of the first aspect are exerted even when a typical powdery and granular material transport container is used.

According to the material input device of the third aspect,
Since a filter for collecting dust is provided at the dust discharge port of the dust discharge mechanism, the dust contained in the discharged air is collected by the filter and does not pollute the outside air. The atmosphere is kept good. According to the material charging device of the fourth aspect, the dust discharging mechanism further includes suction means for forcibly discharging the air in the closed space to the outside air, so that clean pressurized air is ejected for discharging. Not only the air purging means but also the air in the closed space is simultaneously sucked by the suction means for forcibly sucking and discharging, so that the dust is more effectively discharged.

According to the material charging device of the fifth aspect,
The material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter for measuring the amount of dust in the enclosed space, and the dust discharge mechanism measures the amount of dust in the enclosed space while discharging the dust. This provides a guide to the degree of dust emission. According to the material input device according to claim 6,
Since the dust counter further includes a notifying unit for notifying that the measured dust amount has become smaller than the predetermined amount,
After confirming by notification that the measured amount of dust has become less than the predetermined amount, that is, that the enclosed space has become sufficiently clean, the dust discharge is terminated and the supply of granular material starts. Can be convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an example of a material charging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing the overall configuration of another example of the material input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a conventional material charging method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Material receiving hopper B Material receiving port C Crane hook m Granular material 1, 1A Material input device 2, 2A Material introducing cylinder 21, 21A Material input port 3 Material input valve 4 Dust discharging mechanism 41 Air purge means 45 Dust discharging port 5 Filter 6 Suction means 7 Dust counter 74 Notification lamp 75 Notification buzzer 8 Flexible container 85 Material discharge cylinder 85a Tip end 85b Mouth part 86 Closing cord 9 Powder transport container 92c Material discharge port 10 Closed space

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Osamu Matsui 6-5-26 Tanimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside Matsui Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A material input device for receiving a powdery material discharged from a flexible container in a natural fall state, wherein the material input device is installed above a material receiving hopper, a material input valve is provided at a bottom portion, and a material input port is opened. A material introduction cylinder provided with a dust discharge mechanism having at least an air purge means and a dust discharge port communicating with the outside air, wherein the material introduction valve is closed at the material introduction port of the material introduction cylinder. While maintaining the state, the material discharge cylinder is dropped and projected from below the flexible container, and the front end of the material discharge cylinder tied up with a closing cord or the like is connected to the material discharge cylinder. And a material input device configured to forcibly discharge dust in a closed space formed by the material introduction cylinder from the dust discharge port. 2. A material charging apparatus for receiving a powder discharged from a powder transport container in a natural fall state, said device being provided above a material receiving hopper, having a material charging valve at a bottom portion, A material introduction cylinder provided with a dust discharge mechanism having at least an air purge means and a dust discharge port communicated with the outside air, wherein the material introduction cylinder is provided; While the valve is kept closed, the material discharging cylinder provided below the granular material transporting container is connected, and then the air purge means is operated, whereby the material discharging cylinder and the material introducing cylinder are operated. A material input device having a structure for forcibly discharging dust in a closed space formed by the dust discharge port. 3. The material charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filter for collecting dust is provided at a dust outlet of the dust discharging mechanism. 4. A material charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dust discharging mechanism further comprises suction means for forcibly discharging air in said closed space to outside air. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material introduction cylinder further includes a dust counter for measuring an amount of dust in the closed space. 6. A material charging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said dust counter further comprises a notifying means for notifying that the measured amount of dust has become smaller than a predetermined amount.