DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CONNECTION WITH NO FORCE SHUNT

Abstract

A connection device for connecting an outlet opening of a downpipe to an upward-facing inlet opening of a container, comprising a body with a continuous opening from an upper side to an underside of the body, wherein the body is designed in such a way that it is suitable to before being connected by its upper side to the outlet opening of the downpipe via a flexible connection element, in particular via a compensator, in such a way that a connection is created between the outlet opening of the downpipe and the opening of the body. The connection device also comprises a coupling device which is attached to the underside of the body and which is suitable for creating a sealed connection between the opening of the body and the inlet opening of the container when the body rests on an upper side of the container.

Claims

1. A connection device (100) for connecting an outlet opening (210) of a downpipe (200) to an upward-facing inlet opening (310) of a container (300), wherein the connection device (100) has: a body (110) with a continuous opening (120) from an upper side (112) to an underside (114) of the body (110); wherein the body (110) is configured to be connected by its upper side (112) to the outlet opening (210) of the downpipe (200) via a flexible connection element (400), in such a way that a connection is created between the outlet opening (210) of the downpipe and the opening (120) of the body (110); wherein a coupling device (130), which is attached to the underside (114) of the body (110) and which is configured for creating a sealed connection between the opening (120) of the body (110) and the inlet opening (310) of the container (300) when the body (110) rests on an upper side (302) of the container (300).

2. The connection device (100) according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a lowering device (140), which is configured to mount the body (110) in a hanging manner with upward-facing upper side (112) and to lower and raise the body (110) in such a way that the lowering device (140) does not exert any forces onto the body (110) when the body (110) rests on the upper side of the container (300).

3. The connection device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the lowering device (140) has cable elements (142) on which the body (110) is fastened and the free lengths of which can be lengthened for lowering the body (110) and can be shortened for raising the body (110).

4. (Orignal) The connection device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the lowering device (140) has pneumatic cylinders (144); the cable elements (142) are fastened on pistons (146) of the pneumatic cylinders (144); and the lengthening and shortening of the free lengths of the cable elements (142) is brought about by moving the pistons (146).

5. The connection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (130) has a sealing element (132) arranged on the underside of the body, which sealing element surrounds the opening (120) of the body (110) on the underside (114) of the body (110); and the coupling device (130) has fixing elements (134), which are configured for generating the sealed connection between the opening (120) of the body (110) and the inlet opening (310) of the container (300) to press the body (110) against the upper side (302) of the container (300) in such a way that the sealing element (132) is pressed in between body (110) and container (300).

6. The connection device (100) according to claim 1, furthermore comprising: a control element, which is suitable to control the producing of the sealed connection between the opening (120) of the body (110) and the inlet opening (310) of the container (300) through the coupling device (130) based on a user input; wherein the coupling device has vacuum suction cups which are controllable through the control device.

7. The connection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the body (110) is configured in a plate-shaped manner; and/or the upper side (112) of the body (110) has a projection (116) for mounting the flexible connection element (400), which surrounds the opening (110).

8. A system for connecting an outlet opening (210) of a downpipe (200) with an upward-facing inlet opening (310) of a container (300), wherein the system has: the downpipe (200), the container (300), the connection device (100) according to claim 1 and the flexible connection element (400).

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the opening (120) of the body (110) on the underside (114) of the body (110) is smaller than the inlet opening (310) of the container (300).

10. A method for connecting an outlet opening (210) of a downpipe (200) with an upward-facing inlet opening (310) of a container (300) by means of a connection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: producing a connection between the outlet opening (210) of the downpipe (200) and the opening (120) of the body (120) by means of a flexible connection element (400) particular by means of a compensator; applying the body (110) onto an upper side (302) of the container (300); and producing a tight connection between the opening (120) of the body (110) and the inlet opening (310) of the container (300) by means of the coupling device (130).

Description

[0028] The invention is described below by way of example with the aid of the enclosed figures. The subject of the invention is, however, determined solely through the subject of the claims. There are shown:

[0029] FIG. 1 a schematic view of a connection device in interaction with a downpipe and with a container;

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic view of a connection device; and

[0031] FIG. 3 a schematic flow chart of a method for connecting a downpipe with a container by means of a connection device.

[0032] In FIG. 1 the interaction of a connection device 100 with a downpipe 200 and with a container 300 is shown schematically.

[0033] The downpipe 200 corresponds to a line which is used in a conventional manner in industrial systems for the yielding of materials, such as bulk materials, e.g. granulates or powders, fluids or else gases. The materials are conveyed here principally by gravity out of the downpipe 200. In addition, means can also be present for the conveying of the materials. As shown in FIG. 1, the downpipe 200 is situated in the ceiling region of an industrial system or respectively of an operating space. Typically, the downpipe is oriented downwards. If necessary, the outlet of the downpipe can, however, also be tilted toward the horizontal, e.g. when the outlet section of the downpipe 200 is directed in the ceiling region through a vertically standing wall. Therefore, any positioning and orienting is conceivable for the downpipe 200 which allows materials to be yielded out of the downpipe 200 and/or to be allowed to fall out.

[0034] Ultimately, the materials are to be filled into the container 300. A typical application is the pouring of materials via the downpipe 200 into the container 300 of a metering scales. The metering scales measures the weight of the material situated in the container 300 and can thereby meter the filling- and removing quantity of the material. In addition to the collecting containers of metering scales, the container 300 can, however, also be any other type of storage vessel into which materials are introduced via downpipes. Typically, the container 300 has an inlet opening 310, situated on its surface 302, through which materials can be poured into the container 300.

[0035] It is known from the prior art to produce a connection between downpipe 200 and container 300 not directly between outlet opening 210 of the downpipe and inlet opening 310 of the container 300, but rather to use a flexible connection element 400, which owing to its flexibility with existing connection can compensate an offset between downpipe 200 and container 300. For example, thin and flexible comparators can be used as connection element 400 (typically made from silicone), as are known from the prior art. However, it is also possible to use any other type of flexible and sealed line which can be mounted and dismantled between downpipe 200 and container 300 (or respectively connection device 100).

[0036] As described above, in this conventional type of connection, the problem exists that a mounting/dismantling of the connection element 400 on the inlet opening 310 of the container 300 is made difficult due to the limited space in the ceiling region and is thereby time-consuming and prone to error.

[0037] In particular in systems in which various containers 300 must be connected to a downpipe 200, or respectively a container 300 must be connected to various downpipes 200, several times a day, delays or errors such as leaking connections or—with the use of metering scales—force shunts, can occur through the usual manual connecting.

[0038] An example of such systems is the manufacture of plastic, in particular of coloured plastics. Here, a colour-generating material, mostly a powder with a tendency to dust formation, is delivered as an additive for the plastics via downpipes in metering scales. In the case of a colour change, typically the metering scales which are used must be separated from the downpipe and thoroughly cleaned, in order to prevent undesired colour mixtures. Subsequently, the metering scales must be connected with a downpipe delivering the next colour component.

[0039] Owing to the intensive dust formation during the filling into, and the passing on out of, the container, it must always be ensured that the connection from the downpipe to the scales is sufficiently sealed, as otherwise there is a risk of an intensive contamination of the system or a health hazard for the personnel. In addition, for the correct colour mixture the degree of accuracy of the metering scales must be sufficiently high, which entails the necessity that no force shunts must occur through the connection.

[0040] These problems are solved by the connection device 100, which is created between the connection element 400 and the inlet opening 310 of the container 300.

[0041] For this, the connection device 100 has a body 110 with a continuous opening 120 from an upper side 112 of the body 110 to an underside 114 of the body 110. The opening 120 serves in finished mounted state of the connection device 100 to direct the material exiting from the downpipe 200 into the container 300. The size of the opening 120 must therefore correspond to the type of yielded material (granulate, powder, dust, fluid, gas). In FIG. 1 the body 110 is illustrated configured in a plate-shaped manner. The body 110 can, however, have any other shape which permits container 300 and downpipe 200 to be connected with one another via the opening 120 of the body 110 as described below. The body 110 can, in addition, be formed from any desired material which has a sufficiently high stability in order to permit a sealed connection to the container 300. For example, the body can be made from plastic(s) or from metal(s).

[0042] The body 110 can be connected at its upper side 112 with the connection element 400, which in turn is connected with the outlet opening 210 of the downpipe. The connection must be such that materials which are conveyed through the connection element 400 on the upper side 112 of the body 110 can enter into the opening 110 and on its underside 114 can exit therefrom again. The connection can be configured detachably, e.g. through the use of fixing clamps or suchlike. However, this may also concern a permanent connection, e.g. by bonding or suchlike.

[0043] In the mounted state, the connection device 100 together with the connection element 400 therefore constitutes a lengthening of the downpipe 200 which serves, as it were, as connection piece for the container 300. The connection between downpipe 200 and container 300 is therefore brought about solely via a coupling of the connection device 100 to the container 300.

[0044] The connection device 100, after it has been connected to the downpipe 200 via the connection element 400, is mounted in a hanging manner, i.e. the body 110 of the connection device 100 is situated in the region of the outlet opening 210 of the downpipe 200 hanging in open air. This can be achieved e.g. in a simple manner in that the body 110 hangs over the connection element 400 on the downpipe 200. However, additional means (not illustrated in FIG. 1) can also be present, which connect the body 110 with the ceiling in order to thus achieve an aligned and stable position of the body 110. For example, the body 110 can be connected to the ceiling via cables (or respectively ropes or cords) or a holding frame. The cables can consist here of any desired material suitable for this, in particular of plastic.

[0045] In order to connect the container 300 with the downpipe 200, it is already known from the prior art to move the container 300 from below to the downpipe 200, as is illustrated schematically by the arrow in FIG. 1. For this, e.g. stackers or automatic lifting devices can be used. Whereas, however, in the conventional methods it was necessary, after the raising of the container 300, to connect the latter manually with the connection element 400, through the connection device 100 it is possible to produce a connection automatically in a reliable manner.

[0046] Owing to the fact that the body 110 of the connection device 100 can be mounted beneath the outlet opening 210 of the downpipe 200, on raising of the container 300 the underside 114 of the body 110 comes in contact with the upper side 302 of the container 300. Through corresponding placing of the connection device 100 and/or corresponding controlling of the movement of the container 300, the opening 120 of the body 110 and the inlet opening 310 of the container 300 come to lie on one another here. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the opening 120 of the body 110 can be smaller here than the inlet opening 310 of the container 300, in order to reduce the accuracy requirements necessary for the positioning and to facilitate the connecting.

[0047] On the underside 114 of the body 110 a coupling device 130 is situated which, after the body 110 has come to lie on the upper side 302 of the container 300, produces a sealed connection between the opening 120 of the body 110 and the inlet opening 310. For example, through the use of magnets, mechanical arresting arrangements or pneumatic devices, the coupling device can press the upper side 302 of the container 300 against the underside 114 of the body 110 in such a way that a sufficient tightness occurs through the contact of the faces. If necessary, additional sealing means can also be mounted on the container 300 or on the body 110. The coupling can take place here without further intervention, e.g. with the use of permanent magnets. However, a controlling of the coupling via a control device can also be provided, e.g. with the use of electromagnets or switchable mechanical or pneumatic arresting arrangements. Then the sealing and thereby the production of a connection (and likewise the separation of the connection) take place based on a user input.

[0048] The connection device 100 therefore makes it possible to connect a container 300 with a downpipe 200 in a simple, secure and automatic manner, without it being necessary to carry out manual mounting steps in the ceiling region with each production of the connection.

[0049] Thereby, the change between downpipes or respectively containers is considerably simplified and accelerated, whereby the productivity can be increased.

[0050] A further advantage of the connection device 100 consists in that owing to the fact that the connection is produced in a state in which the connection device 100 rests freely, i.e. without force effects apart from gravity, on the container 300. Thereby, the risk of force shunts onto the container 300 is reduced, in particular when through the arrangement of the coupling device 130 a spatially uniform pressing-on of container 300 and body 110 is guaranteed, as for instance through a symmetrical distribution of the means necessary for this (magnets, suction cups, arresting arrangements and suchlike).

[0051] Thereby, the connection device 100 is particularly suitable for use in industrial systems in which bulk materials are to be introduced via downpipes in metering scales, as here an automatic connection method without force shunts is made possible.

[0052] The connection device 100 can have, in addition, a lowering device 140, which makes it possible to mount the connection device 100 not only in a hanging manner, but rather to also lower and raise it with respect to the downpipe 200 or respectively the ceiling. Through such a lowering device 140, it is therefore possible to lower the connection device 100 in a targeted manner onto a container 300 which is moved into the region of the downpipe, and to deposit it there without generating force shunts. The lowering device 140 can be suitable e.g. to lower the connection device 100 uniformly and parallel to the upper side 302 of the container 300, so that it comes to lie thereon with underside 114 parallel to the upper side 302 of the container 300. Likewise, the lowering device 140 serves to release the connection device 100 in a controlled manner from the container 300 and thereby to release the connection from the container 300 to the downpipe 200.

[0053] An example for a connection device 100 with a lowering device 140 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Elements of the connection device 100 which correspond to the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the body 110 can be fastened to cable elements 142 of the lowering device 140. The cable elements 142 can consist here of cables or respectively ropes or cords, which consist of a suitable material for the application. For example, the cable elements can be plastic bands, wires or cables braided from synthetic or natural materials. The cable elements 142 can also have elastic characteristics and be configured e.g. as elastic bands or springs.

[0055] Through the variation of the free length of the cable elements 142, the position of the body 110 can be changed in the vertical. This means that at least one of the ends of each cable element 142 can be moved in its vertical position, or respectively that the lengths of the cable elements 142 between a suspension point, such as e.g. an eye, a hook or a securing gripper, and the fastening on the body 110 can be varied, e.g. by drawing in the cable elements 142 on a winch or suchlike.

[0056] Through a symmetrical arrangement of the cable elements 142 and the plate-shaped configuration of the body 110, a uniform lowering of the body can be improved. The stability of the suspension can—if necessary—be improved through connecting yokes between the cable elements 142, as are shown by way of example in FIG. 2.

[0057] The changing of the free length of the cable elements 142 can take place, as shown in FIG. 2, for example also via piston cylinders 144, in which a piston 146 runs in a cylinder. The piston 146 can be driven here in any desired manner, e.g. electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically. A pneumatic drive is particularly suitable when the coupling of connection device 100 and container 300 also takes place via pneumatic means. The lowering of the body 110 onto the container 300 can take place by moving the pistons 146 out of the cylinders, a raising of the body 110 by moving the pistons 146 in. On placing of the body 110 on the container 300, the cable elements 142 are fully relaxed, i.e. they sag, and therefore do nor exert any forces onto the body 110, whereby force shunts can be prevented.

[0058] In this way, it is possible to place the connection device 100 in a simple manner controllably and uniformly onto a container 300 which is moved into the vicinity of the downpipe 200, without force shunts, in order to subsequently bring about the coupling between connection device 100 and container 300.

[0059] As explained above, the coupling device 130 can be embodied in various ways, in order to achieve an automatic and sealed connecting of body 110 and container 300. For example, the coupling device 130, as illustrated in FIG. 2, can have sealing means 132 and fixing elements 134.

[0060] The sealing means 132, such as e.g. a conventional sealing ring or a soft metal, are arranged around the opening 120 on the underside 114 of the body 110 and surround the latter completely. Likewise, the circumference of the sealing means 132 must be large enough in order to also surround the inlet opening 310 of the container 300, which is usually larger than the opening 120 of the body 110.

[0061] With a sufficiently heavy body 110, the sealing means 132 can already be pressed in solely due to the weight of the body 110 in such a way between the underside 114 of the body 110 and the upper side 302 of the container 300 that a sealed connection is produced between the opening 120 of the body 110 and the inlet opening 310 of the container 300. In addition, such a purely gravitative pressing-on prevents force shunts, in particular in combination with the connection element 400.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, in particular for a light body 110 e.g. of plastic, the fixing elements 134 shown in FIG. 2 can also be provided, which fix the connection device 100 on the container 300 and press the body 110 onto the container 300. The fixing means can be operated here electrically, mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically, i.e. e.g. permanent magnets, electromagnets, mechanical arresting arrangements (with electric, hydraulic or pneumatic drive) or pneumatic suction cups. The fixing elements 134 can e.g. already develop their effect when body 110 and container 300 are sufficiently close to one another (e.g. permanent magnets and suchlike), or the fixing elements 134 are actuated on the basis of a user input via a control device.

[0063] In the example of FIG. 2, the fixing elements 134 are configured as vacuum suction cups. In response to a corresponding input of a user, a vacuum is generated pneumatically in the suction cups, which presses the body 110 against the container 300, and thereby produces the sealed connection between body 110 and container 300. Through the use of vacuum suction cups, in addition the generating of force shunts is prevented, in particular in combination with the connection element 400.

[0064] In addition to the coupling device 130, the body 110 can have on its upper side 112 means which facilitate a connection with the connection element 400. As illustrated in FIG. 2, e.g. a projection, ring or web can e.g. encircle the opening 120 of the body 110, over which a comparator serving as connection element 400 can be placed and can be fastened with a clamp, an adhesive or suchlike.

[0065] The example illustrated in FIG. 2 for a connection device 100 is therefore suitable in particular for producing rapidly, securely and automatically a connection from a downpipe 200 to a container 300, without generating force shunts.

[0066] A flow chart of a method able to be carried out with a connection device 100 as was described above is illustrated in FIG. 3. At 5100 the opening 120 of the body 110 of the connection device 100 is connected via the connection element 400 to the outlet opening 210 of the downpipe 200. At 5110 the body 110 is mounted either by moving the container 300 or by lowering the body 110 onto the upper side 302 of the container 300.

[0067] This takes place in such a way that a continuous connection is produced from the interior of the container 300 via the opening 120 of the body 110 and the connection element 400 to the downpipe 200. At 5120 then through the coupling device 140 a sealed connection is produced between the opening 120 of the body 110 and the inlet opening 310 of the container 300, i.e. the container 300 is connected to the downpipe 200 in a secure, rapid and automatic manner.

REFERENCE LIST

[0068] 100 connection device [0069] 110 body [0070] 112 upper side of the body [0071] 114 underside of the body [0072] 116 projection [0073] 120 opening [0074] 130 coupling device [0075] 132 sealing element [0076] 134 fixing element [0077] 140 lowering device [0078] 142 cable elements [0079] 144 pneumatic cylinders [0080] 146 piston [0081] 200 downpipe [0082] 210 outlet opening of the downpipe [0083] 300 container [0084] 302 upper side of the container [0085] 310 inlet opening of the container [0086] 400 connection element