Device for Charging a Refrigerant-Receiving Compartment of a Cooling Container with Dry Ice

Abstract

For charging a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a cooling container with dry ice, a reservoir vessel has a dispensing opening and a dispensing unit which cooperates therewith and by means of which dry ice blocks stored in stacks in a magazine of the reservoir vessel are ejected one after the other from the reservoir vessel and are respectively inserted into a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a respectively provided cooling container. This makes it possible to provide cooling containers in rapid succession with a precisely metered quantity of dry ice as refrigerant.

Claims

1. A device for charging a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a cooling container with dry ice, the device comprising a storage container comprising a feed opening for stackable dry ice slices, a hopper area for storing a stack of dry ice slices, and a dispensing opening arranged in a lower region of the storage container, and having a dispensing unit for the sequential unloading of dry ice slices located in the hopper area through the dispensing opening.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening is arranged on the side of the storage container and the dispensing unit comprises a horizontally movable sliding element for the sequential pushing-out of the dry ice slices located in the hopper area through the dispensing opening on the side.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dispensing unit has two or more sliding elements arranged above one another.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage container is equipped with a dispensing opening arranged on the underside and the dispensing unit comprises at least two holding devices which each hold the stack of dry ice slices in the hopper area in a first operating position, in order to prevent displacement in a vertical direction, and allow a vertical movement of said stack in a second operating position, wherein during operation of the device, a first holding device makes contact using holding means with the lowermost dry ice slice of the stack in each case and a second holding device makes contact using holding means with a dry ice slice lying thereabove.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vertical position of the second holding device on the stack can be variably adjusted for holding a dry ice slice.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a closing element to protect against moisture from the ambient atmosphere is assigned to the dispensing opening.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transport device for transporting cooling containers equipped with a refrigerant-receiving compartment into a region in front of the dispensing opening.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit is data-connected to a control and monitoring unit which is in turn in data connection with a sensor device, by means of which the presence of a refrigerant-receiving compartment of a cooling container which is to be filled in a region in front of the dispensing opening can be detected.

9. A device for charging a plurality of refrigerant-receiving compartments of cooling containers, characterized by at least two filling devices as claimed in claim 1 which are arranged behind one another on a transport device for transporting refrigerant-receiving compartments in the transport direction of the refrigerant-receiving compartments.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are to be explained in greater detail with the help of the drawings. The drawings show in schematic views:

[0026] FIG. 1: A device according to the invention in a first embodiment as a vertical sectional view,

[0027] FIG. 2: A device according to the invention in a second embodiment as a vertical sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a storage container 2 with thermally well-insulated walls, on the upper side of which a feed opening 3 for dry ice blocks 4 is arranged. The dry ice blocks 4 are box-shaped blocks with a basic area of 25 cm×25 cm to 40 cm×50 cm and a height of between 2.5 cm and 10 cm, for example, which are pre-produced, for example produced by compressing carbon dioxide snow. In the lower region, the storage container 2 ends with a fixed floor 5. Directly above the floor 5 there is a dispensing opening on the side 6.

[0029] As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the floor 5 may be a closed and thermally well-insulated floor, however it may also have an open design, for example as a grid, so that small dry ice particles that have broken off the dry ice blocks 4 can fall through, for example, wherein an additional closure part which is not shown here can be provided to prevent the penetration of ambient moisture. In each case, the floor is configured in such a manner that it guarantees a substantially horizontal positioning of the dry ice blocks 4 in the storage container 2.

[0030] Furthermore, the storage container 2 is equipped with a dispensing unit 7. The dispensing unit 7 comprises a sliding element 9 which can be moved horizontally through an opening 8 opposite the dispensing opening 6 and which is operated by means of a drive unit 10. The drive unit 10 comprises an electric motor, for example, which is actuated by means of a control unit 11.

[0031] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a transport device 12 by means of which one or multiple cooling containers 13 are automatically fed to the storage container 2 for filling purposes while the device 1 is operating. The cooling container 13 has a product-receiving compartment 14 and a refrigerant-receiving compartment 15. The refrigerant-receiving compartment 15 has a feed opening 16 for supplying dry ice blocks 4 which can preferably be opened and closed using a closing structure 17, for example a closing cap, such that a dry ice block 4 pushed through the feed opening 16 automatically opens the closing structure 17, and the closing structure 17 automatically closes as soon as the dry ice block 4 has been completely introduced into the refrigerant-receiving compartment 15. The refrigerant-receiving compartment 15 is of course designed in such a manner that a dry ice block 4 can easily be inserted into the refrigerant-receiving compartment 15 without there being any risk of it becoming wedged or jammed in the process.

[0032] During operation of the device 1, the sliding element 9 is initially located in a position in which it is substantially aligned with its front surface 18 with the inner wall of the storage container 2. Dry ice blocks 4 are then supplied to the storage container 2, said dry ice blocks forming a stack 19 of 10-100 dry ice blocks 4, for example, in a hopper area 20 in the upper part of the storage container 2, wherein the lowermost dry ice block 4 in each case lies horizontally on the floor 5. Once the cooling container 13 has been positioned by means of the transport device 12, in such a manner that the feed opening 16 of the refrigerant-receiving compartment is aligned with the dispensing opening 6, the drive unit 10 is operated and the sliding element 9 pushes the lowermost dry ice block 4 in each case through the dispensing opening 6 and the feed opening 16 into the refrigerant-receiving compartment 15. The sliding element 9 is then pulled back into its starting position and the stack 19 of dry ice blocks 4 remaining in the hopper area 20 falls downwards in the storage container 2 until the dry ice block which is then the lowest rests on the floor 5. At the same time, the closing structure 17 closes the feed opening 16 and the cooling container 13 is transported away by means of the transport device 12 and replaced by a following cooling container 13.

[0033] The correct positioning of the feed opening 16 with respect to the dispensing opening 6 is detected by means of a sensor 21, whereof the signals are processed by the control unit 11 for the delivery of corresponding control commands from the control unit 11 to the drive unit 10 and possibly the transport unit 12.

[0034] In the case of the exemplary embodiment of a device 25 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2, the same features are labelled using the same reference numbers as in FIG. 1.

[0035] The device 25 has a thermally well-insulated storage container 26 with a dispensing opening 28 on the underside. The dispensing opening 28 can be opened and closed using a horizontally displaceable closing element 27. The closing element 27 that can be moved using a drive unit 29 has, in particular, the function of thermally insulating the underside of the storage container 26 and preventing moisture from penetrating from the ambient atmosphere, at least for the most part.

[0036] Using the device 25, cooling containers 30 of this kind which are equipped with a refrigerant-receiving compartment 31 with a feed opening 32 on the upper side can, in particular, be charged with dry ice blocks 4.

[0037] In the same way as the device 1, the device 25 is also equipped with a dispensing unit 33 which allows the refrigerant-receiving compartment 31 to be charged with individual and/or a prescribed number of dry ice slices 4. For this purpose, the dispensing unit 33 has two holding devices 34, 35 which are arranged vertically above one another on the storage container 26 and which allow a vertical movement of a stack 36 of dry ice slices 4 located in the storage container 26 to be prevented during use.

[0038] The holding devices 34, 35 in this case may be differently designed. The holding device 35 in the exemplary embodiment shown here is equipped with laterally displaceable holding plates 38 which engage below the lowermost dry ice block 4 in the stack 36 in a first position, whereas in a second position they are arranged to the side of the stack 36. The holding device 34 is equipped with clamping plates 37 in the exemplary embodiment, which clamping plates fix a dry ice block in a force-fitting manner through lateral pressing against said dry ice block 4, as a result of which all dry ice slices 4 lying thereabove are likewise simultaneously fixed vertically. The holding device 34 engages here on a dry ice plate 4 located above the lowermost dry ice plate 4. The devices 34, 35 are actuated by means of a drive unit 39, operated electrically or hydraulically, for example.

[0039] Otherwise, this arrangement of the devices 34, 35 is not obligatory; the two holding devices 34, 35 can also be equipped with holding plates 38 or with clamping plates 37, or the device with holding plates 38 is arranged above the device with clamping plates 37, or other devices may be provided for holding the stack 36.

[0040] During operation of the device 25, a hopper area 40 of the storage container 26 located above the holding devices 34, 35 is initially filled with a stack 36 of dry ice slices 4. The holding device 35 projects with the holding plates 38 into the inside of the storage container 26 and thereby prevents the stack 36 from sliding in the direction of the dispensing opening 28. At the same time, the closing element 27 is moved into a position closing the dispensing opening 28 and prevents ambient dampness from penetrating the storage container 26.

[0041] The transport device 12 transports cooling containers 30 one after the other beneath the dispensing opening 28 of the device 25. If the presence of a refrigerant-receiving compartment 31 directly below the dispensing opening 28 is detected by the sensor unit 21, the clamping plates 37 of the holding device 34 are displaced in the direction of the stack 36 of dry ice slices 4 until the second lowest dry ice slice 4, and therefore the stack 36 of dry ice slices 4 lying thereabove, is fixed vertically. At the same time, the closing element 27 is displaced into its position releasing the dispensing opening 28. Through lateral displacement of the holding plates 38 of the holding device 35 outwardly, the lowermost dry ice slice 4 is released. It falls under the effects of gravity through the dispensing opening 28 into the refrigerant-receiving compartment 31. The holding plates 38 of the holding device 35 are then advanced back into the inside of the storage container 26 and the clamping plates 37 are released from the dry ice slice 4. The consequence of this is that the remainder of the stack 36 of dry ice slices 4 then falls onto the holding plates 38. The cooling container 30 is then transported on by means of the transport device 12 and replaced by a following cooling container, the refrigerant-receiving compartment of which is to be filled with one or multiple dry ice slice(s). The filled refrigerant-receiving compartment 31 is closed with a cover in a manner not shown here. The closing element 27 can be moved into its closing position after each filling process, or it remains in its opening position during the filling of a series of refrigerant-receiving compartments 31.

[0042] Otherwise, the holding device 34 can be moved with its clamping plates 37 vertically in respect of the stack 36, by means of a positioning device which is not shown here. In this way, the number of dry ice slices 4 which are released during detachment of the lower holding device 35 can be varied.

[0043] Through the largely automatic operation of the devices 1, 25, cooling containers 13, 30 can be charged with dry ice blocks 4 in very rapid succession, for example at a rate of 10-50 units per minute. Otherwise, the feeding of dry ice blocks 4 to the storage container 2, 26 can also be automated by means of a suitable machine which is not shown here, however.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0044] 1. Device [0045] 2. Storage container [0046] 3. Feed opening [0047] 4. Dry ice block [0048] 5. Floor [0049] 6. Dispensing opening on the side [0050] 7. Dispensing unit [0051] 8. Opening [0052] 9. Sliding element [0053] 10. Drive unit [0054] 11. Control unit [0055] 12. Transport device [0056] 13. Cooling container [0057] 14. Product-receiving compartment [0058] 15. Refrigerant-receiving compartment [0059] 16. Feed opening [0060] 17. Closing structure [0061] 18. Front surface [0062] 19. Stack [0063] 20. Hopper area [0064] 21. Sensor device [0065] 22. - [0066] 23. - [0067] 24. - [0068] 25. Device [0069] 26. Storage container [0070] 27. Closing element [0071] 28. Dispensing opening on the underside [0072] 29. Drive unit [0073] 30. Cooling container [0074] 31. Refrigerant-receiving compartment [0075] 32. Feed opening [0076] 33. Dispensing unit [0077] 34. Holding device [0078] 35. Holding device [0079] 36. Stack [0080] 37. Clamping plate [0081] 38. Holding plate [0082] 39. Drive unit [0083] 40. Hopper area