WO2012131131A1

WO2012131131A1 - Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically

Info

Publication number: WO2012131131A1
Application number: PCT/ES2012/070186
Authority: WO
Inventors: Holger FUNKE
Original assignee: Seppelec, S.L.
Priority date: 2011-04-01
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2012-10-04
Also published as: ES2400553R1; BR112013025399B1; MX2013011308A; EP2695847A4; ES2709889T3; ES2400553B1; MX344062B; PT2695847T; BR112013025399A2; ES2400553A2; EP2695847B1; EP2695847A1

Abstract

The machine comprises an extraction pipe that is moved vertically on a first support of the pipe by means of a stepper motor. The first support is mounted on an expander that is associated with a second support on which the expander can move vertically and horizontally. In addition, means for supporting and sealing a bag are provided on the expander, and said expander and bag-closing and -supporting means can be moved together in a precise manner. The extraction pipe includes: a central drainage channel; a movable closure cone; and, peripherally, a first internal sleeve which sprays water into the drainage channel and a second external sleeve which sprays water towards the exterior of the pipe. This machine provides automatic, hygienic drainage, in which the entire process is controlled and all of the product contained in the bag is used.

Description

MACHINE FOR THE EMPTYING OF DRINKS FORM

AUTOMATIC AND HYGIENIC

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention, as the title of the invention establishes, a machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically where the drums contain concentrated products, pulps, fruit pieces or any other product.

It characterizes the present invention the elements that are part of the machine, the special design said elements, achieving a synergistic result so that a machine is obtained that allows the emptying of drums that have inside products that need to be extracted and diluted to its employment in the industry, carrying out the whole process with the minimum human intervention, that is to say automatically, and in a hygienic way.

Therefore, the present invention is within the scope of the means and machines used for the dilution extraction of more or less viscous products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the industry in general, and in the food industry in particular, the use of more or less viscous products, which are distributed to the industries for the production of food products, is frequent.

A common case is that of fruit juices, the fruit juice concentrate being distributed from the countries of origin, to the processing industries that are responsible for dilution, and preparation of the final juices from concentrates sent or adding preparations that include fruit pieces.

Said products are sent in drums, inside which there is a hermetically sealed bag, in order to avoid any deterioration of the product contained inside, the extraction of said product being necessary for the subsequent dilution and preparation of the final product.

The extraction processes are carried out by means of an extraction lance, after the opening of the bag containing the product and introduction into the bag of the extractor lance. The lance is manipulated manually, moving it conveniently by an operator. When the process of emptying the bag has almost finished, the operator moves the lance to all those areas or folds of the bag where there are residues in order to ensure a better aspiration of most of the product.

As can be seen, with the means so far used, the process has some drawbacks and aspects that can be improved. On the one hand, one of the drawbacks of the emptying process is that the product is in contact with the air, so hygiene in the emptying process is not guaranteed. On the other hand, it requires the operator his presence continuously, in addition to directing the lance towards those areas where the rest of the product has been left. Additionally, with the means so far used, there is no control over the emptying process, as regards the quantities emptied.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to develop a machine and procedure for emptying drums of products that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, that is, a machine that performs the emptying process automatically, in addition to ensuring maximum hygiene in the emptying process, and that allows controlled emptying. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, where the drums contain inside closed bags full of products

The machine comprises an extractor lance that moves vertically on a support of the lance by means of a stepper motor, said support being mounted on an extender (5) to which are also associated support and closure means of the bag, where the extender together with the support and closure means of the bag are connected to a second support of both of which it moves precisely. Said second support, in a possible embodiment, can have a rotating base.

The extraction lance, as will be explained in more detail in the preferred embodiment of the invention, has a central emptying duct, which at its end has a movable opening and closing cone by means of a rod that runs through the inside of the duct duct. In addition to the emptying duct, the extractor lance has two shirts, one inner shirt and another outer jacket, both arranged concentrically.

The inner jacket allows the injection of water only inside the emptying duct, in no case towards the outside of the lance. The projection of the water is carried out on the ascending product stream, which produces a thin film that lubricates the passage of the product, which facilitates its extraction and dilution of the product without affecting the concentration of the product contained inside the bag.

The outer jacket allows the projection of water out of the lance, logically inside the bag contained in the drum, which produces the dilution of the concentration and facilitates its subsequent extraction.

This water projected from the outer jacket can be used for various purposes. On the one hand, it allows the dilution of the inner product, in case you want or need a dilution for a better extraction. On the other hand, it allows once almost completely emptied the plastic container, to inject water, so that the remains of the product dissolve and facilitate the cleaning and extraction of the entire product contained inside. Finally, it can simply be used for cleaning the emptying duct, by passing the cleaning solutions inside.

The particular characteristics of the lance, in order to achieve a better functioning of the set can be used in combination with other elements.

On the one hand, the machine can count on the place where a drum with a load cell is positioned, which at all times is reading the weight of the drum, so that in combination with some control means a emptying could be carried out controlled of the product, controlling the weight emptied by difference with the initial weight measurement.

Another important aspect, which improves the performance and functionality of the machine, is that the machine has support and closure means for the bag once the extractor lance has been introduced inside. Said support and closing means may be tweezers or any other means that performs similar functionality.

Thus, when the contents of the bag are close to finishing its extraction, since the bag contained inside the drum has dimensions larger than those of the drum, the bag has some folds in which product remains are deposited, by what is necessary to lift the bag for a better cleaning of it. Therefore, thanks to the support and closing means of the bag, it is possible to close the bag on the one hand and prevent the product from being in contact with the environment, and on the other hand, to be able to raise the bag and thus proceed to a better emptying and use of the product.

In order to lift the bag, the machine has means for lifting the fasteners and closing the bag. In general, the complete emptying of the bag takes place when, once the bag is raised, the water is injected into the interior, and subsequent aspiration of the water, ensuring a complete recovery of the product inside the bag.

Another constructive aspect of the machine that improves the improvement of the performance of the machine is the provision on the support of the extractor lance of means of displacement by means of a stepper motor that allows a correct positioning in the bottom of the bag, since It is interesting that it is neither too close to the bottom, nor too far apart, and all this depending on the viscosity of the product.

The control system has the possibility of parameterizing corresponding recipes for each product and each type of container, in order to optimize the emptying time.

Thanks to the means described, the following advantages are achieved over machines that have been used in the prior art.

The emptying operation is carried out in a simple way The emptying operation is performed automatically Increasing the optimized emptying capacity for each product and type of container

Allows instant product changes after complete emptying of a drum. Empty all kinds of products, no matter their viscosity or degree of concentration.

Allows its use for all types of containers.

The emptying is carried out in a hygienic way, without contact of the surfaces exposed to the product with the hands of the operator, and in an environment of protection of the product by the bag, where the fall of foreign objects is avoided. The set is completely washable: for this, the lance (1) is introduced at the end of the production in a washing housing, through which the cleaning solutions (CIP) circulating that achieve the washing of the surfaces that have been soiled by the product, both outside and inside the lance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a series of figures are attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, it has been represented:

In figure 1, a simplified representation of the emptying machine object of the invention is shown, where the main features thereof can be appreciated.

In figure 2, a representation of the machine is shown where you can see how there has been an elevation of the bag

In figure 3, a detail of the final mouth of the extraction lance is shown in order to better appreciate the construction details.

Figures 4 to 9 show the construction characteristics of the extraction lance and the different operations that can be carried out with the extractor lance. Thus in figure 4, the priming process of the pump is observed. In figure 5, the start of the product aspiration, in figure 6, the aspiration of the product only, in figure 7 the aspiration of the product in combination with another fluid that runs through the inner jacket, in figure 8, the suction of dense products, while in figure 9, the process of rinsing the bag contained inside the drum. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth, but in no case limiting.

As can be seen in figure 1, the machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically comprises an extractor lance (1), associated with a support (6) of the lance on which it moves, said support (6) it is associated with an extender (5) mounted on a support (8) on which it can be moved vertically and horizontally; The machine also has means for holding and closing (4) a bag, being associated with the extender (5) and moving together with it. The extender (5) allows the support (6), and all the elements mounted on said support (6), of the support (8) to be moved closer or further away. On the other hand, the base of the support 8 is rotatable. Both movements, the rotation of the support (8) and the approach or distance of the support (6), allow access with the lance to any position: in our case it is used to access any of the 4 drums that are sometimes on a pallet , or to access a housing in which the lance is inserted to clean In Figure 1, it can be seen how the extractor lance (1) has been introduced into the bag (3), which in turn is inside a drum ( 2 ) . The bag (3) once the extractor lance (1) has been opened and introduced is closed and supported and closed by means of support and closing means, which basically consist of tweezers (13) mounted on an element (14) that supports both clamps and that is capable of being displaced vertically together with the extender (5).

The displacement of the extractor lance (1) on the support (6) of the lance is carried out precisely, allowing the spear end to be positioned as precisely as possible in relation to the bottom, which is achieved by means of a motor (7) step by step.

In fact, in figure 2 it can be seen how the assembly formed by the support and closing means (4) has been displaced vertically together with the extender (5), producing the elevation of the bag (3), which would allow a water injection and subsequent absorption, diluting any remaining that could remain in any fold that would form if the bag was not stretched or lifted, as shown in Figure 2.

In figure 3, you can see the constructive characteristics of the extractor lance (1), which has a drain duct (10), which runs through the center of the extractor lance, whose free end has a movable cone ( 9), which fits over the mouth of the extractor lance. The movable cone is associated with a displacement rod (15) that runs through the interior of the drain duct.

The extractor lance also has an inner shirt (11) and another shirt arranged outside the previous one, which we will call outer shirt (12), both arranged concentrically, presenting as constructive features the fact that in the inner shirt ( 11) the annular hole of evacuation (16) is oriented towards the inside of the drain duct (10), so that even if the movable cone (9) is positioned so that it closes the drain duct, it is possible for water or a fluid to flow through said jacket inside (11) towards the inside of the drain duct (10), serving, as shown in figure 4, as a means of priming the pump.

With a complete displacement of the movable cone (9), the access of the product into the emptying duct (10) would be allowed. as shown in figure 6.

In the event that the viscosity of the product is such that it hinders its extraction or if you simply want to dilute the concentration, fluid can be injected through the inner jacket (11), as shown in Figure 7. Thanks to this inner jacket it is possible facilitate the extraction of products with high viscosity by lubricating the product contract film with the drain tube (10). On the other hand, the outer jacket (12), presents as a particularity the fact that the annular evacuation hole (17) evacuates or projects the water towards the outside of the extraction lance, as shown in Figure 8, is that is, the annular evacuation hole (17) is open in the outer wall of the extractor lance on its lower end.

Thanks to this outer jacket, it is possible to dilute the concentration of the product contained inside the bag, as shown in Figure 8, and when the bag was already empty it is possible to inject water for a complete rinse of the bag and use of the bag. product in its entirety (Figure 9).

To speed up the rest of the rinse, a third position of the movable cone (9) is available, which allows the lance assembly to be approached to the bottom of the bag so that the extraction is complete (Figure 5). It does not alter the essentiality of this invention variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, this being sufficient for reproduction by an expert.

Claims

1.- Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically characterized in that it comprises an extractor lance (1), associated with a support (6) of the lance on which it travels, said support (6) is associated with an extender (5), mounted on a support (8) on which it can be moved vertically and horizontally; The machine also has fastening and closing means (4) of a bag, being associated with an extender (5) and moving the fastening and closing means (4) together with the extender (5).

2. Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 1, characterized in that the support and closing means consist of tweezers (13) mounted on an element (14) that supports both tweezers and is susceptible of being displaced vertically together with the extender (5).

3. Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extractor lance (1) has a duct (10), which runs through the center of the extractor lance, in which free end has a movable cone (9), which fits over the mouth of the extractor lance; It also has an inner shirt (11) and another outer shirt (12) arranged concentrically to the previous one.

4. Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner sleeve (11) has an annular drain hole (16) that is oriented towards the inside of the drain duct (10 ).

5. Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 3, characterized in that the outer jacket (4) has an annular evacuation duct (17) that evacuates or projects the water towards the outside of the extractor lance.

6. - Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement of the extraction lance (1) on the support (6) of the lance is carried out by means of a motor (7) Step by Step.

7. - Machine for emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine has a load cell that is reading the weight of the drum at all times, the load cell being associated with means of control.

8. - Machine for. emptying drums automatically and hygienically, according to claim 1, characterized in that the base of the support s rotatable.