Apparatus for emptying a flexible liner

Abstract

An apparatus for emptying a flexible line of a packaging container, having a pulling unit, which has a movable pulling element, onto which a fastening section of the liner can be fasted, wherein the fastening section of the liner can be pulled up and let down by means of the pulling element of the pulling unit, to empty the liner, a stripping device, which comprises one or more stripping bodies, which are set up for stripping a section of the liner so as to empty the liner, and a lifting device, which is set up for moving the stripping device in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for emptying a flexible liner of a packaging container, the apparatus comprising: a pulling unit comprising a movable pulling element, a fastening section of the liner fastened to the movable pulling element, wherein the fastening section of the liner can be pulled up and let down by the pulling element of the pulling unit to empty the liner; a stripping device comprising one or more stripping bodies for stripping a section of the liner to empty the liner; a lifting device for moving the stripping device in the vertical direction; and a control device for controlling the drive of the pulling unit or the drive of the lifting device independent of one another; wherein the control device is set up for controlling the drive of the lifting device in such a manner that the stripping device is automatically moved upward and downward by means of the lifting device during emptying of the liner; wherein the control device is set up for controlling the drive of the pulling unit and the drive of the lifting device in such a manner that (i) simultaneously pulling up the fastening section of the liner and downward movement of the stripping device, brought about by the lifting device, or (ii) simultaneously letting down the fastening section of the liner and upward movement of the stripping device, brought about by the lifting device, is prevented during emptying of the liner.

2. An apparatus for emptying a flexible liner of a packaging container, the apparatus comprising: a pulling unit comprising a movable pulling element, a fastening section of the liner fastened to the movable pulling element, wherein the fastening section of the liner can be pulled up and let down by the pulling element of the pulling unit to empty the liner; a stripping device comprising one or more stripping bodies for stripping a section of the liner to empty the liner; and a lifting device for moving the stripping device in the vertical direction; wherein the pulling unit comprises a non-manual drive, the non-manual drive for moving the pulling element to pull up and let down the fastening section of the liner; further comprising a control device for controlling the drive of the pulling unit or the drive of the lifting device independent of one another, wherein the control device is set up for controlling the drive of the lifting device in such a manner that the stripping device is automatically moved upward and downward by means of the lifting device during emptying of the liner; wherein the control device is set up for controlling the drive of the pulling unit and the drive of the lifting device in such a manner that (i) pulling up the fastening section of the liner simultaneously with the upward movement of the stripping device, brought about by means of the lifting device, or (ii) letting down the fastening section of the liner simultaneously with the downward movement of the stripping device, brought about by means of the lifting device, takes place during emptying of the liner.

3. An apparatus for emptying a flexible liner of a packaging container, the apparatus comprising: a pulling unit comprising a movable pulling element, a fastening section of the liner fastened to the movable pulling element, wherein the fastening section of the liner can be pulled up and let down by the pulling element of the pulling unit to empty the liner; a stripping device comprising one or more stripping bodies for stripping a section of the liner to empty the liner; and a lifting device for moving the stripping device in the vertical direction; a filling level detection device, which is set up for detecting the filling level of the liner during emptying of the liner; wherein the filling level detection device has a guide fastened to the lifting device, in locally fixed manner, and a contact device guided within the guide, which can be moved in the vertical direction relative to the guide, wherein a contact section of the contact device is set up for coming into contact with the liner during the downward movement of the lifting device, wherein as a result of the contact with the liner and of the further downward movement of the lifting device, a relative movement of the contact device and of the guide is brought about.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained and described in greater detail, making reference to the attached drawings. In this regard, the figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention in a perspective representation;

(3) FIG. 2 the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a side view;

(4) FIG. 3 the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a top view;

(5) FIG. 4 a stripping device of an apparatus according to the invention in a perspective representation;

(6) FIG. 5 a filling level detection device of an apparatus according to the invention in a perspective representation;

(7) FIG. 6 the filling level detection device shown in FIG. 5 in a side view;

(8) FIG. 7 an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention during emptying of a liner in a first state;

(9) FIG. 8 the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 during emptying of a liner in a second state; and

(10) FIG. 9 the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 during emptying of a liner in a third state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 show an apparatus 10 for emptying a flexible liner 106 of a packaging container. The liner 106, not shown, is positioned within a container 100. The liner 106 to be emptied has an outlet tap that extends through the outlet opening 104 in the side wall 102 of the container 100. A pumping device can be, connected with the outlet tap of the liner 106, by means of which device the flowable material situated in the liner 106 can be pumped out to empty the liner 106. The liner 106 can be configured as a film sack or film bag, for example, and is protected against damage by the container 100. The flowable material situated within the liner 106 can be a fluid, for example, in particular a highly viscous fluid. The apparatus 10 has a base frame 12, onto which a frame structure 14 is set. The frame structure 14 can be displaced in the horizontal direction by way of the rails 16a, 16b, of the base frame 12. By means of the horizontal displacement of the frame structure 14, the apparatus 10 can be switched from a setup state to a working state, wherein in the setup state of the apparatus 10, the liner 106 can, be positioned in the apparatus 10 in a suitable manner and fastened to it. In the working state of the apparatus 10, emptying of the liner 106 can then take place. The horizontal displacement of the frame structure 14 takes place by way of a drive 30, wherein the drive 30 can be a pneumatic or hydraulic setting cylinder. An appropriate pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure can be made available to the apparatus 10 by way of connectors 18. Furthermore, a housing 20 is fastened to the base frame 12, wherein the housing 20 comprises the power supply and the control device 40.

(12) A pulling unit 22 is arranged on the frame structure 14, which unit has a movable pulling element 26 configured as a pulling cable. The pulling element 26 can be fastened onto a fastening section 108 of the liner 106, wherein the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 usually comprises the inlet tap of the liner 106, by way of which the liner 106 was filled with the flowable material. The fastening section 108 of the liner 106 can be pulled up and let down by means of the pulling element 26 of the pulling unit 22, so as to empty the liner 106. For this purpose, the pulling element 26 is connected with the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22, which drive is configured as a setting cylinder. By means of a linear movement of the drive 24, a movement of the pulling element 26 is implemented, wherein pulling up and letting down the liner 106 can be implemented by way of the deflection rollers 36a, 36b, over which the pulling element 26 runs.

(13) Furthermore, the apparatus 10 comprises a stripping device 28, by means of which the liner 106 can be stripped empty, section by section, during the emptying process. For this purpose, the liner 106 must be inserted into the apparatus 10, before the emptying process, in such a manner that it extends along a stripping region of the stripping device 28, wherein the stripping region can be formed, in particular, by means of a stripping opening 54 of the stripping device 28. The apparatus 10 furthermore comprises a lifting device 32, by means of which the stripping device 28 can be moved in the vertical direction. The lifting device 32 has a non-manual drive 34a, 34b, which is implemented by means of two setting cylinders that are arranged essentially parallel. The setting cylinders 34a, 34b can be hydraulic or pneumatic setting cylinders or electric cylinders.

(14) Furthermore, the apparatus 10 comprises a filling level detection device 38, by means of which the filling level of the liner 106 can be detected during emptying of the liner 106. The filling level detection device 38 is also fastened to the lifting device 32, so that both the stripping device 28 and the filling level detection device 38 can be moved in the vertical direction by means of the lifting device 32. The control device 40 of the apparatus 10 is set up for controlling the drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32 as a function of the filling level of the liner 106, as detected by the filling level detection device 38.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a stripping device 28, which serves for stripping the liner 106 during emptying of the liner 106. The stripping device 28 has two stripping bodies 46a, 46b configured as stripping rollers, which have axes of rotation that are essentially parallel. The stripping bodies 46a, 46b have a curved outer mantle surface, wherein the cross-section decreases in the direction of the center of the body, in such a manner that a stripping opening 54 forms between the stripping bodies 46a, 46b. The stripping body 46a can be displaced in the horizontal direction by way of the setting cylinders 48a, 48b. The size of the stripping opening 54 can be changed by means of the displacement of the stripping body 46a. During the emptying process, the liner 106 extends through the stripping opening 54, so that the stripping bodies 46a, 46b strip the liner 106, section by section, during a relative movement of the liner 106 and of the stripping device 28. For positioning of the liner 106 before the emptying process, the stripping body 46a is displaced so as to maximize the opening size of the stripping opening 54, so that insertion of the liner 106 is simplified.

(16) Furthermore, the stripping device 28 has two opposite brackets 50a, 50b arranged below the stripping bodies 46a, 46b. The brackets 50a, 50b can be pivoted by way of the setting cylinders 52a, 52b, wherein the pivot axes of the brackets 50a, 50b are essentially arranged parallel to one another. The axes of rotation of the stripping bodies 46a, 46b configured as stripping rollers and the pivot axes of the brackets 50a, 50b lie in a horizontal plane, wherein the axes of rotation of the stripping bodies 46a, 46b are arranged at a right angle to the pivot axes of the brackets 50a, 50b.

(17) The stripping body 46a has material ridges 56a, 56b that run around the outer sides and engage into corresponding circumferential grooves 58a, 58b of the stripping body 46b. By means of the circumferential material ridges 56a, 56b and the circumferential grooves 58a, 58b, stabilization of the stripping bodies 46a, 46b takes place, on the one hand, and on the other hand, in this way reciprocal transfer of rotational movements of a stripping body 46a, 46b during stripping of the liner 106 is achieved.

(18) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a filling level detection device 38, by means of which the filling level of the liner 106 can be detected during emptying of the liner. Fastening of the filling level detection device 38 to the lifting device 32 takes place by way of the fastening frame 62. The filling level detection device 38 can thereby be moved in the vertical direction by way of the lifting device 32. A guide 42 is fastened to the fastening frame 62, within which guide a contact device 44 is guided, which can be moved in the vertical direction relative to the guide 42. The contact device 44 has a contact section 60, which is formed by two round bodies. The contact section 60 of the contact device 44 comes into contact with the liner 106 during the downward movement of the lifting device 32, wherein due to the contact with the liner 106 and the further downward movement of the lifting device 32, a relative movement of the contact device 44 and of the guide 42 is brought about. The filling level of the liner 106 can be detected by way of the relative movement of the contact device 44 and of the guide 42. If the path of the relative movement of the contact device 44 and of the guide 42 exceeds a limit value, the downward movement of the lifting device 32 is interrupted, and upward movement of the lifting device 32 is brought about. The relative movement between the contact device 44 and the guide 42 is detected by way of the sensors 66a, 66b. If a detection section of the contact device 44 reaches the sensor 66a, the downward movement of the lifting device 32 is interrupted and upward movement of the lifting device 32 is brought about. If the detection section of the contact device 44 is moved into the detection range of the sensor 66b, the upward movement of the lifting device 32 is interrupted and downward movement of the lifting device 32 is brought about.

(19) Furthermore, the contact device 44 can be moved in the vertical direction by means of the setting cylinders 64.

(20) FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 show an emptying process of a liner 106 by means of an apparatus 10 set up for emptying the liner 106. The control device 40 of the apparatus 10 shown is set up for controlling the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22 and the drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32. In this regard, the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22 is controlled in such a manner that the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 is constantly kept pulled during emptying of the liner 106. The drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32 takes place in such a manner that the stripping device 28 is automatically moved upward and downward by means of the lifting device 32 during emptying of the liner 106 multiple times, one after the other. This also results in the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 being pulled up and let down multiple times by means of the pulling unit 22. Pulling up and letting down the fastening section 108 of the liner 106, and the upward and downward movements of the stripping device 28 are specifically coordinated with one another, in that the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 is constantly kept pulled during emptying of the liner 106, on the one hand, and on the other hand letting down the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 is implemented, so as to prevent a pulling force limit value from being exceeded if an increase in pulling force results from the downward movement of the stripping device 28.

(21) The control device controls the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22 and the drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32 in such a manner that pulling up the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 and moving the stripping device 28 downward, brought about by means of the lifting device 32, is prevented from occurring simultaneously during emptying of the liner. Furthermore, control of the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22 and of the drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32 takes place in such a manner that letting down the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 and the upward movement of the stripping device 28, brought about by means of the lifting device 32, is prevented from occurring simultaneously during emptying of the liner 106.

(22) Furthermore, the drive 24 of the pulling unit 22 and the drive 34a, 34b of the lifting device 32 are controlled in such a manner that pulling up the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 takes place simultaneously with the upward movement of the stripping device, brought about by means of the lifting device 32, during emptying of the liner 106. Furthermore, letting down the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 takes place simultaneously with the downward movement of the stripping device 28, brought about by means of the lifting device 32, during emptying of the liner 106. The pulling path when pulling up the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 and the lift path of the upward movement of the stripping device 28 differ from one another multiple times during the emptying process. Furthermore, the release path when letting down the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 and the lift path of the downward movement of the stripping device 28 differ from one another multiple times during the emptying process.

(23) Between the states shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 was pulled up and let down multiple times by means of the pulling unit 22. Furthermore, the stripping device 28 moved upward in the vertical direction multiple times, and subsequently moved downward again in the vertical direction multiple times. Consequently, multiple stripping cycles and therefore also multiple pull-up cycles lie between the states shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

(24) Likewise, the fastening section 108 of the liner 106 was pulled up and let down multiple times by means of the pulling unit 22, between the states shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Furthermore, the stripping device 28 was moved upward in the vertical direction multiple times, and subsequently moved downward again in the vertical direction. Consequently, multiple stripping cycles and therefore also multiple pull-up cycles lie between the states shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(25) 10 apparatus 12 base frame 14 frame structure 16a, 16b rails 18 connectors 20 housing 22 pulling unit 24 drive 26 pulling element 28 stripping device 30 drive 32 lifting device 34a, 34b drive 36a, 36b deflection rollers 38 filling level detection device 40 control device 42 guide 44 contact device 46a, 46b stripping bodies 48a, 48b setting cylinders 50a, 50b bracket(s) 52a, 52b setting cylinders 54 stripping opening 56a, 56b material ridge 58a, 58b grooves 60 contact section 62 fastening frame 64 setting cylinders 66a, 66b sensors 100 container 102 side wall 104 outlet opening 106 liner 108 fastening section