LU87739A1 - APPARATUS FOR PLACING GRANULES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS IN ONE OR MORE RECEPTACLES - Google Patents

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY BL-4349

- patent application / (XKfôMèîXXi & MiîÉXX

In IRELAND

From January 16, 1990

No 177/90 Brief Description filed in support of a request for

PATENT OF INVENTION at

Luxembourg

on behalf of: IAWS RESEARCH LIMITED 151 Thomas Street DUBLIN 8, / Ireland

for: "APPARATUS FOR PLACING GRANULES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS IN ONE OR MORE RECEPTACLES"

APPARATUS FOR PLACING GRANULES AND SIMILAR MATERIALS IN ONE OR MORE RECEPTACLES

The present invention relates to an apparatus for placing granules and the like in one or more receptacles.

It relates more particularly to an apparatus for placing granulated materials in several containers.

The present invention therefore provides, an apparatus for placing a predetermined weight of granulated materials in one or more receptacles, said apparatus comprising means for transporting the materials to a weighing means; means for transferring the materials thus weighed to a slide device; means for transferring the materials from the slide device to the receptacle or to each of the receptacles; and an air circulation means for blowing air into the receptacle or into each of the receptacles before and / or during the placement of the materials therein, said blowing means also making it possible to extract the air from the receptacle or from each of the receptacles after placing the granulated materials therein or therein and means for removing the thus filled receptacles from the apparatus.

The present invention will be better understood on examining the detailed description below of a particular embodiment thereof, given by way of example only and with reference to the appended figures which represent respectively:

Figure 1 a perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention and a position of use;

Figure 2, a slightly enlarged perspective view with partial section of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4, an enlarged perspective view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5, an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Figure 4 in a first condition of use;

Figure 6, an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Figure 4 in a second condition of use;

Figure 7, an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

If we first look at the figures, we can see an apparatus 10 according to the present invention, which comprises a screw conveyor 11, a funnel 12, a weighing apparatus 13, a slide device 14, a air circulation system 15, an apparatus for shaping the bags 16, an elevator 17, a conveyor 18 and a main frame 19.

Each of the aforementioned components will now be described in detail, as well as its relationship with the entire apparatus.

The screw conveyor 11 comprises a conventional screw of the Archimedes type capable of transporting granulated materials from a silo (not shown) to the funnel 12. If we look more particularly at FIG. 3, we can see that the funnel 12 comprises a Y-shaped device 30, the branch 31 of which is in communication with the outlet (not shown) of the screw conveyor 16. The branch 31 leads to a second branch 32 via a third branch 33.

Each of the inputs 42, 43 coming from the branches 32 and 33 respectively which are in communication with the branch 31 can be closed by a corresponding valve 34, 35. The valves 34 and 35 are connected to a rod 36 mounted between a pair of elements support 37, 38 and capable of undergoing a reciprocating movement relative thereto. The support element 38 carries an arm 39 pivotally mounted and connected to the piston 40, of a hydraulic cylinder 41. The arm 39 is also connected to the rod 36, so that the reciprocating movement of the piston 40 gives rise to a reciprocating movement of the rod 36 which causes the valves 34, 35 to move. Consequently, when the piston 40 is pulled out relative to the jack 41, the two valves 34, 35 which move together and parallel to one another are in such a position that the entrance 42 is closed, and that the entry 43 is open. When the piston 40 is retracted, relative to the cylinder 41, the inlet 42 is open, while the inlet 43 is closed.

Each of the branches 31, 32 leads to the weighing device 13. The weighing device 13 comprises two hoppers 50, 51 each of which comprises a conventional weighing device for grain materials. The weighing device is of a well known type and requires no description. The outlet of each of the hoppers 50, 51 is located above the slide device 14.

The slide device 14 comprises four slides 61, 62, 63 and 64 created by walls 66, 67 arranged transversely relative to the walls 68, 69.

The outlet of the hopper 50 is located in the center of the wall 66; the outlet of the hopper 51 is located in the center of the wall 67. Each of the slides 61-64 ends in a corresponding tubular outlet 71-74 connected to each slide 61-64 by a corresponding connector 81-84.

Each connector 81-84 is in communication with the air circulation system 15. The air circulation system 15 comprises corresponding pipes 85, 86, 87, 88. Each pipe leads to a connector 89 suitably mounted on two of the connectors 81, 82. A fan unit 90 comprising a fan 91 is mounted on the slide device 14. A first pipe 92 leads from the fan unit 90 into the connector 89; a second pipe 93 leads from the fan unit 90 into the connector 89. The connector 89 comprises a first flap valve 94 and a second flap valve 95, as well as a first vent pipe 96 and a second pipe d '' vent 98.

Below the slide device is arranged the bag shaping apparatus 16 which essentially comprises a box 20 without cover or base, which consists of 4 compartments 21, 22, 23, 24.

Each tubular outlet 71-74 is located respectively above the compartments 21-24.

Below the box 20 is mounted the elevator 17 of well known construction which is capable of raising or lowering a pallet 25 as required. When it is in the raised position, the pallet 25 constitutes a base for the box 20.

A first sub-frame 26 supports the box 20. The frame 19 comprises feet 52-55 and two cross members 56 which support a second sub-frame 27.

The second subframe 27 provides support for the slide device 14.

The conveyor 18 is designed to move from left to right when examining the figures, in order to transport the pallet 25 successively to the elevator 17, and from the elevator 17 to a storage location or any other desired location. The apparatus 10 operates in the following manner. Suitable bags 76, 77, 78 and 79 are each fixed to the corresponding tubular outlets 71-74 by well-known clamping rings 75. With the fan 91 in operation and the air flowing in the first and second pipes 92-93 in the direction of the corresponding arrows, the flap valve 94 is closed and the flap valve 95 is open, so that the air is introduced into the second vent pipe 97 and blown into the bags 76-79 (see Figure 5). Bags 76-79 are inflated.

In the meantime, the screw conveyor 11 continuously transports granular materials from the silo via the funnel 21 and firstly deposits the materials in the weighing device 13. More particularly, the valves 34, 35 are initially arranged so that the materials descend only through the branch 32, so as to fill the hopper 50 until the weighing device 13 detects the correct or desired weight. The valves 34, 35 move immediately and automatically, so that the materials no longer leave the branch 32, but are sent to the branch 33.

Then, the hopper 50 is emptied relative to the location of the hopper outlet 50 with respect to the slides 61, 63 and the load is divided regularly between the two slides 61, 63. Meanwhile, the hopper 51 is being filled and, when it is filled to the desired weight, the valves 34, 35 are arranged so that the materials then flow into the closed hopper 50 and the hopper 51 empties into the slides 62 , 64. The materials coming from the slides 61, 63 penetrate into the bags 76, 79. The materials coming from the slides 62, 64 penetrate into the bags 77, 78. The apparatus for shaping the bags 16 gives the bags 76- 79 a square shape when filled with materials. The regular distribution of the materials in the bags 76-79 is facilitated by the inflation of the bags 76-79.

If desired, a vibrator (not shown) can be incorporated into the apparatus 10 to vibrate the bags 76-79 during filling to further improve the uniform distribution of materials.

When the bags 76-79 are filled, the flap valves 94, 95 move so that air is extracted from the bags 76-79 to facilitate their closing. The bags 76-79 are closed, and the pallet supporting the bags is lowered by carrying the bags 76-79.

When the pallet 25 thus loaded reaches the conveyor 18, the latter is set in motion, so as to move the loaded pallet 25 to the right. In the meantime, another pallet 25 is lifted to provide a base for the device for shaping the bags 16, while 4 new bags 76-79 are attached to the outlets 71, 74 and the filling operation can start again.

If desired, the shaping device 16 may include means for tying up the filled bags 76-79.

It will be understood that this device can be used and / or designed to operate so as to allow the placement of materials in one or more bags as required.

The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thus described, and can undergo significant variations without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

An apparatus for allowing placement of a predetermined weight of grain materials in one or more receptacles, said apparatus comprising means for transporting the materials to a weighing means; means for transferring the materials thus weighed to a slide device; means for transferring the materials from the slide device to the receptacle or to each of the receptacles; and air circulation means for blowing air into the receptacle or into each of the receptacles before and / or during placement of the materials therein or therein; said blowing means making it possible to extract air from the receptacle or from each of the receptacles after placing the granular materials therein or therein; and means for removing the receptacles thus filled from the apparatus. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor comprises an Archimedes screw capable of transporting granular or particulate materials. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the conveyor leads to a first branch of a funnel, said branch leading to a second branch and a third branch, while a control means is provided to allow the materials to pass from the first branch to the second branch or from the first branch to the third branch. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the control means comprises a first valve member interposed between the first branch and the second branch and a second valve member interposed between the first branch and the third branch, and means for controlling the position of the valve elements, when, in a first condition of use, the first valve element allows the materials to pass from the first branch to the second branch, and, in a second operating condition, to prevent the passage of materials from the first branch to the second branch; in which, in a first condition of use, the second valve member allows the materials to pass from the first branch to the third branch, and in a second condition of use, prevents the passage of materials from the first branch to the third branch, and in which a means is provided to allow the first valve element to be in the first condition of use, while the second valve element is in the second condition of use or vice versa. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected to the first or second valve member and which allows, when actuated, that the valve members move together. 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air circulation means comprises means for creating an air circulation, a first pipe and a second pipe, the means for creating circulation having an inlet and an outlet, a first end of the first pipe being connected to the air outlet, a first end of the second pipe being connected to the air inlet, the second end of the first pipe and the second end of the second pipe each terminating in a common conduit having an orifice; the first pipe having a first vent pipe and a corresponding first valve device, the second pipe having the second vent pipe and a corresponding second valve device, the arrangement being such that when the first valve is in a first condition of use, the air passes from the first pipe to the first vent pipe and, in a second condition of use, the air passes from the first pipe to the common duct; when the second valve is in a first operating condition, the air passes from the second vent pipe to the second pipe and, when it is in a second operating condition, the air passes from the common duct to the second pipe and wherein, when the first valve device is in the first condition of use, the second valve device is in the second condition of use or vice versa. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the common conduit leads to a corresponding tubular element designed to be in communication with a corresponding receptacle, so as to allow air to be blown into each of the corresponding receptacles or to be extract from each of the corresponding receptacles as required. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the number of receptacles is equal to 4. 9. Method for placing granulated materials in one or more receptacles using the apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the air circulation means allows the air to be blown into the receptacle or into each of the receptacles before and / or during the placement of the materials therein or therein, and allows that after the placement of the materials therein or in them, air can be extracted from the receptacle or of each of the receptacles.