Withdrawal system

Abstract

A removal system (1) for a container designed to receive a fluid, with an extraction head (4) and a dip tube (5) that can be fastened thereto. By means of the extraction head (4), fluid can be removed through the dip tube (5) from the container (3) or fluid can be fed into the container (3). The extraction head (4) can be fastened to the dip tube (5) by a displacement movement. Alternatively or additionally, a target position of the dip tube (5) at the extraction head (4) is monitored by means of an optical sensor (12).

Claims

1. A removal system (1) for a container designed for receiving a fluid, with an extraction head (4) and a dip tube (5) that can be fastened thereto, wherein by means of the extraction head (4) fluid can be removed through the dip tube (5) from the container (3) or fluid can be fed into the container (3), characterized in that the extraction head (4) can be fastened to the dip tube (5) by a displacement movement, and/or that a target position of the dip tube (5) at the extraction head (4) is monitored by an optical sensor (12), wherein, due to the displacement movement of the extraction head (4) relative to the displacement tube (5), a positioning element is moved, wherein the position of the positioning element is monitored by the optical sensor (12), and wherein the optical sensor (12) generates a binary switching signal, the switching states of which indicate whether the positioning element is located in the detection range of the optical sensor (12) or not.

2. The removal system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning element only projects into the detection range of the optical sensor (12) when the extraction head (4) is located in the region of the target position at the dip tube (5).

3. The removal system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a displacement movement of the positioning element is effected by the displacement movement of the extraction head (4) relative to the dip tube (5).

4. The removal system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the extraction head (4) can be connected to the dip tube (5) by means of a robot.

5. The removal system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical sensor (12) is a light barrier.

6. The removal system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the optical sensor (12) is a fork light barrier.

7. The removal system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning element is designed in the form of a pin (21), which is displaceably located in a borehole (20) of the extraction head (4).

8. The removal system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the pin (21) in a starting position projects beyond a lower edge of the extraction head (4) and is outside the detection range of the optical sensor (12), and that by contact with the dip tube (5), the pin (21) is displaceable into an end position, in which the upper end of the pin (21) lies in the detection range of the optical sensor (12).

9. The removal system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a housing segment (15a) of the extraction head (4) is in the shape of a hollow cylinder, whereby a connection segment (18) of the extraction head (4) projects beyond the open bottom side of the housing segment (15a), the connection segment (18) being designed for connecting the dip tube (5).

10. The removal system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the dip tube (5) can be pushed onto the connection segment (18).

11. The removal system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the lower edge of the housing segment (15a) forms a stop (16) for the dip tube (5), wherein the pin (21) in its starting position projects beyond the lower edge of the housing segment (15a).

12. The removal system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that with the dip tube (5) abutting the stop (16), the pin (21) is pushed into the borehole (20) and lies in the end position.

13. The removal system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the dip tube (5) abutting the stop (16) is secured in place by a form-locked or force-locked connection with the connection segment (18).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained below based on the drawings. They show:

(2) FIG. 1: Schematic depiction of the removal system according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2: Depiction of the extraction head of the removal system according to FIG. 1, wherein the dip tube is not engaged with the extraction head.

(4) FIG. 3: Arrangement from FIG. 2 with dip tube fastened at the extraction head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 shows in schematic form an exemplary embodiment of the extraction system 1 according to the invention. The removal system 1 comprises a container closure 2 for a transportable container 3, which is in the form of a barrel or similar, in particular. A fluid is stored in the container 3. Fluids stored in such containers 3 are specialized chemicals in fluid form, in particular.

(6) The container closure 2 comprises an extraction head 4 and a dip tube 5. The dip tube 5 is mounted in a bung head 6, which sits in a container opening of the container 3 and is thus securely connected to the container 3. The longitudinal axis of the dip tube 5 runs in the vertical direction. The components of the container closure 2 are composed of chemically resistant plastics such that they are not weakened by the specialized chemicals stored in the container 3. The container closure 2 usually also serves as a closure of the container 3 during its transport.

(7) The extraction head 4 serves to remove fluids from the container 3. The extraction head 4 can also be used to fill containers 3. For this purpose, the extraction head 4 has a fluid connection 4a at its upper end. A line 7, which leads to a pump 8, is connected to this fluid connection 4a. The line 7 can be in the form of a tube.

(8) The pump 8 is controlled by a control unit 9. For this purpose, the pump 8 is connected to the control unit 9 via a cable 10.

(9) The extraction head 4 can be fastened to the dip tube 5. The fastening can be performed by means of a robot. It is autonomously detected by means of an optical sensor 12 whether the extraction head 4 is fastened correctly and in a target position at the dip tube 5. In the present case, the optical sensor 12 is in the form of a fork light barrier. The optical sensor 12 generates an output signal in the form of a binary switching signal, the switching states of which indicate whether an object is located within the detection range of the optical sensor 12 or not. The switching signal generated in the optical sensor 12 is read into the control unit 9, wherein for this purpose the optical sensor 12 is connected to the control unit 9 via a cable 11. The control unit 9 controls the pump 8 depending on the switching signal generated by the optical sensor 12. Operation of the pump 8 is only released by the control unit 9 when the optical sensor 12 reports fault-free fastening of the extraction head 4 at the dip tube 5. In this manner, hazardous conditions of the kind where, in the event of incorrect fastening of the extraction head 4, a fluid removal from the container 3 or a fluid supply to the latter occurs and fluid may escape are prevented.

(10) Finally, a warning signal generator 14 is connected to the control unit 9 via an additional cable 13. The generator generates a warning signal when an incorrect fastening is reported by the switching signal of the optical sensor 12. The warning signal generator 14 can be provided in the form of a horn or a lamp.

(11) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a detail depiction of the extraction head 4 from FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in which the dip tube 5 is not in engagement with the extraction head 4. FIG. 3 shows the dip tube 5 fastened to the extraction head 4.

(12) The extraction head 4 has a housing 15 wherein the lower part of the housing 15 is formed by a hollow cylindrical housing segment 15a, the bottom side of which is open. The lower edge of the housing segment 15a forms a stop for positioning the upper edge of the dip tube 5 against.

(13) The fluid connection 4a opens out at an opening on the top side of the housing 15. The fluid connection 4a runs in the axial direction of the housing 15. The vertical longitudinal axis of the fluid connection 4a runs along the axis of symmetry. A check valve 17, which prevents uncontrolled return flow of fluid in the direction of container 3, is connected to the bottom side of the fluid connection 4a.

(14) A connection segment 18 running in the axial direction of the housing 15 connects to the bottom side of the check valve 17 as an additional component of the extraction head 4. The upper part of the connection segment 18 runs in the housing segment 15a; the lower part of the connection segment 18 projects downwards beyond the open lower side of the housing segment 15a.

(15) Both the fluid connection 4a as well as the connection segment 18 form hollow cylindrical bodies in the inner cavities of which fluid can be transported out of the container 3.

(16) A threaded connection 19 opens out sideways from the housing 15. The former serves to connect a line 7 through which pressure equalization and ventilation of the container 3 is possible.

(17) The optical sensor 12 in the form of a fork light barrier is arranged in a side wall of the housing 15. The optical sensor 12 is arranged to the side of a borehole 20 which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 15 and which opens out at the lower edge of the housing segment 15a. In the borehole 20 running along a straight line, a pin 21 is introduced as a positioning element, the longitudinal axis of which also runs along a straight line and which is displaceably arranged in the borehole 20 with little play.

(18) FIG. 2 shows the pin 21 in its starting position, in which the lower end of the pin 21 projects downwards out of the borehole 20. The starting position can be secured by suitable positioning means, such as a return spring.

(19) The optical sensor 12 is positioned relative to the borehole 20 such that the pin 21 in its starting position lies outside the detection range.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the pin 21 in its end position, in which the pin 21 is completely inserted into the borehole 20. In this case, the upper part of the pin 21 projects into the detection range of the optical sensor 12, such that the latter detects the pin 21.

(21) The switching states of the switching signal of the optical sensor 12 therefore indicate whether the pin 21 is located in the detection range or not, i.e. the optical sensor 12 detects whether the pin 21 is in the starting position or in the end position.

(22) FIG. 2 shows the extraction head 4 when the dip tube 5 is not yet fastened to the connection segment 18. The pin 21 is then in the starting position.

(23) For fastening the extraction head 4 to the dip tube, the connection segment 18 is pushed into the inner cavity of the dip tube 5 until the upper edge of the dip tube 5 abuts the stop 16. The connection segment 18 is then borne in the dip tube by form-locking or force-locking and thus is securely fastened to the extraction head 4.

(24) By positioning the upper edge of the dip tube 5 at the stop 16, the pin 21 is pushed from its starting position to its end position. The pin 21 is then located in the detection range of the optical sensor, which then generates a switching signal by which means a correct fastening of the extraction head 4 on the dip tube 5 is reported.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(25) (1) removal system (2) container closure (3) container (4) extraction head (4a) fluid connection (5) dip tube (6) bung head (7) line (8) pump (9) control unit (10) cable (11) cable (12) optical sensor (13) cable (14) warning signal generator (15) housing (15a) housing segment (16) stop (17) check valve (18) connection segment (19) threaded connection (20) borehole (21) pin