Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
  • B65B69/0075—Emptying systems for flexible intermediate bulk containers [FIBC]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an emptying device according to the preamble of claim 1.
• Such a device is particularly intended to be utilized when emptying different transport containers filled with viscous material.
• viscid materials i.e. materials having a high viscosity
• containers having a fixed or variable form.
• These containers may be e.g. barrels or bags, each made from different materials or material combinations.
• the present invention enables avoidance of the problems related to known solutions.
• the object of the invention is thus to provide a structure for a simple emptying device that is easy to use and operationally highly reliable. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of the emptying device of the invention, which is characterized in what is stated in claim 1.
• the subsequent dependent claims describe suitable further elaborations and variations of the invention, further improving its operation.
• the pre- sent invention is mainly intended to solve the problems related to said part of the emptying work. Focusing the attention to improved emptying of the lower end of the container and particularly to the related structural details has resulted in a very cost-effective solution to said problems.
• the present invention provides a plurality of significant advantages over known art. Accordingly, experiments conducted have shown that the present emptying device provides an emptying of a bag-like container with only 0.5 - 1 % of residual material out of the total material in the container.
• an emptying device according to the present structure is very simple to take into use.
• the device can easily be installed in existing machinery by only carrying out minor technical changes.
• an insert device having the design of a substantially rigid pipe enables simple combination of the insert device with discharge pipes at the same time as it enables simple follow-up and restriction of the movements of the insert device relative to the discharge pipe and the sealing between the insert device and the discharge pipe.
• Shifting the rigid insert device with control means provides a rapid and reliable coupling of the emptying device to the transport container.
• the container can also be fixed during the emptying.
• This fixing enables easier handling of the container during the emptying process.
• a special benefit is provided by this fixing during the emptying of bag-like containers that are emptied by means of a roll apparatus.
• the fixing of the container prevents the container from twisting during the emptying, and, accordingly, ensures that the container lies optimally close to the roll apparatus during the entire emptying process, which provides a maximal emptying of the contents of the container.
• Fixing the discharge pipes of the container provides also prevention of mechanical loading of the coupling between discharge pipes and transport pipes. This ensures an airtight coupling and the prevention of leakage during the emptying process.
• Figure 1 is a side view of the present emptying device
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of an insert device according to Figure 1 , arranged in the discharge pipe of a container;
• Figure 3 exemplifies the emptying of a bag-like container arranged in a discharge roll and connected to an emptying device according to Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a side view of an emptying process according to Figure 3.
• Figure 1 shows a special embodiment of an emptying device 1 for emptying containers 2, such containers being intended for the transport of highly viscous materials 3, the consistency of the material thus being very viscid.
• the emptying of a container of such material requires that the material be subjected to an external power effect.
• This can be composed of a pressure applied to the container itself, a pressure applied to the material in the container, a suction power applied to the material in the container or a combination of two or more thereof.
• the emptying device 1 is connected to at least one discharge pipe 4 provided in the container 2.
• a pump e.g. a simple plunger pump or a mono pump
• the material 3 in the container results in the contents of the container starting to flow to a transport pipe 5 connected to the discharge pipe, which is usually provided on the lower side of the container.
• a transport pipe 5 connected to the discharge pipe, which is usually provided on the lower side of the container.
• the transport pipe 5 of the emptying device 1 is provided with an insert device 6 having an elongated substantially rigid body 7 according to Figure 2.
• a first end 8 of the body is fastened to the transport pipe for instance with usual contact flanges 9 and 10, and with screw joints 11.
• a second end 12 of the body is arranged to be inserted into the discharge pipe, the body being inserted into the discharge pipe along its longitudinal axis.
• the insert device is provided with an outer diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the discharge pipe.
• the insert device is manoeuvrable since the emptying device or the transport pipe provided therein together with the insert device connected thereto are arranged to be shifted in the direction of their longitudinal axes with at least one control means 13 connected thereto.
• the driving force of these control means can be based on a pressure medium or electricity.
• the control means comprise e.g. hydraulic or pneumatic pressure cylinders or at least an electric spindle motor.
• the discharge pipe 4 is preferably provided with a brake flange 14 arranged to receive the second end 8 of the body 7.
• Said brake flange encloses the discharge pipe completely or partly around its inner periphery in the vicinity of the joint between the discharge pipe and the container 2.
• the brake flange serves to prevent the insert device 6 from obstructing the discharge pipe at the point where it bends towards the container.
• the body of the insert device extends along a substantial part of the length of the discharge pipe.
• the insert device 6 is provided with at least one gasket 15, known per se, for closing the joint between the transport pipe and the discharge pipe.
• This gasket is preferably connected to a screw thread provided in the discharge pipe with a fastening device 16 of a type known per se, e.g. a screw fastener.
• the body 7 of the insert device is also a substantially cylindrical metal pipe.
• the dimensions of the cross-sections of the discharge pipe and the insert device, respectively, can be selected according to the requirements or demands set by the material 3 to be transported. In the case of more viscous materials, discharge pipes having a diameter of about 100 mm or more are preferably used, whereas materials having a lower viscosity may require discharge pipes having a diameter of only 50 mm.
• the insert device is naturally dimensioned accordingly.
• the figures show a transport bag 2 arranged in a roll apparatus 17.
• the transport bag is suspended from a frame 18 of the roll apparatus and enclosed by opposed cylindrical rolls 19.
• the contents, the viscous material, of the transport bag are pressed out through the discharge pipe 4 provided at the lower end of the transport bag.
• the contents of the transport bag 2 are further conveyed through the emptying device 1 , which is connected to the discharge pipe 4.
• the pump of the emptying device conveys the material to the transport pipe 5 and further to the respective final usage.
• the insert device 6 of the emptying device is fastened to the transport pipe with screw joints while its opposite end is inserted into the discharge pipe.
• the pipe has been moved relative to the transport bag with control means 13.
• the body 7 of the insert device is then positioned in the discharge pipe 4, where it extends along a considerable part of the length of the discharge pipe.
• the insert device 6 arranged in the discharge pipe 4 simulta- neously fixes the discharge pipe and the part of the container 2 that is in its immediate vicinity, which substantially prevents a shifting of that end of the container which rests against the discharge pipe during the emptying. This way the roll apparatus is able to empty the transport bag without any risk of damage to the discharge pipe.
• the material remains inside the insert device while a change of containers takes place in the roll apparatus and the insert device is attached to the discharge pipe of the next transport bag. Because this discharge pipe, too, is filled with material, no air bubble can be generated in the material flow; instead, the flow continues fully homogenous in the resumed emptying.
• the insert device 6 When the insert device 6 is removed from the discharge pipe 4, it carries along the majority of the material 3 that would otherwise constitute a material residue in the transport bag 2.
• the present emptying device 1 enables the reduction of residual material in transport bags to as low as only 0.5 to 1 % of the total amount of material.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8565710

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-02-25 FI FI20030277A patent/FI20030277A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2004
  • 2004-02-24 WO PCT/FI2004/000092 patent/WO2004076338A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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