DISTRIBUTOR DEVICE, METHOD OF GUIDING MATERIALS AND METHOD OF CLEANING A DISTRIBUTOR DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a distributor device, to a method for guiding materials, and to a method for cleaning a distributor device. The distributor device for guiding materials, in particular particulate pharmaceutical solids, comprises: a process chamber (2) having at least one inlet opening (3) and having at least two outlet openings (4), a distributor element (5) for distributing the materials, wherein the distributor element (5) extends through the process chamber (2) in order to connect the inlet opening (3) to one of the outlet openings (4), wherein the distributor element (5) is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation (6), and a cleaning apparatus (7) which is configured to clean the process chamber (2) and the distributor element (5).

Claims

1. A distributor device for guiding materials, the device comprising: a process chamber (2) having at least one inlet opening (3) and having at least two outlet openings (4), a distributor element (5) for distributing the materials, wherein the distributor element (5) extends through the process chamber (2) in order to connect the inlet opening (3) to one of the outlet openings (4), wherein the distributor element (5) is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation (6), and a cleaning apparatus (7) which is configured to clean the process chamber (2) and the distributor element (5).

2. The distributor device according to claim 1, wherein the process chamber (1) has exactly one inlet opening (3), wherein the distributor element (4) is connected to the inlet opening (3), and wherein the axis of rotation (6) runs through the inlet opening (3).

3. The distributor device according to claim 1, wherein the process chamber (2) has at least two inlet openings, wherein the distributor element (5) comprises a first distributor element portion (5a), a second distributor element portion (5b) and a rotary coupling (54), and wherein the rotary coupling (54) is arranged between the first distributor element portion (5a) and the second distributor element portion (5b), for rotatably connecting the two distributor element portions (5a, 5b).

4. The distributor device according to claim 1, wherein the process chamber (2) has a drainage floor (8), configured to guide liquid out of the process chamber (2) through the outlet openings (4).

5. The distributor device according to claim 4, wherein the drainage floor (8) is arranged rotatably about the axis of rotation (6) and is connected to the distributor element (5).

6. The distributor device according to claim 1, further comprising a seal (9) which is arranged at a free end of the distributor element (5), wherein the seal (9) is configured to produce a material-tight sealing of the distributor element (5) at the outlet opening (4), or at the outlet opening (4) and at the inlet opening (3).

7. The distributor device according to claim 6, wherein the seal (9) is inflatable and is configured, by pressurization with compressed air via a compressed air inlet (10), to produce a material-tight seal of the distributor element (5) at the outlet opening (4), or at the outlet opening (4) and at the inlet opening (3).

8. The distributor device according to claim 7, wherein the distributor element (5) is double-walled, and wherein compressed air is supplied to the seal (9) via an annular channel (50), which is formed by the double wall of the distributor element (5).

9. The distributor device according to claim 1, wherein the distributor element (5) is a curved section of pipe or a hose.

10. The distributor device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus (7) has at least one nozzle (70), and wherein the nozzle (70) is arranged on the process chamber(2), for introducing a cleaning agent into the process chamber (2).

11. A method for distributing materials by means of a distributor device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: rotating the distributor element (5) about the axis of rotation (6), for connecting an inlet opening (3) to one of the outlet openings (4), and conveying the materials via the inlet opening (3) and by means of the distributor element (5) through the process chamber (2) and via the outlet opening (4) out of the process chamber (2).

12. A method for collecting materials by means of a distributor device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: rotating the distributor element (5) about the axis of rotation (6), for connecting an inlet opening (3) to one of the outlet openings (4), and conveying the materials via the outlet opening (4) and by means of the distributor element (5) through the process chamber (2) and via the inlet opening (3) out of the process chamber (2).

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: inflating a seal (9) that is arranged at a free end of the distributor element (5) by means of compressed air in order to produce a material-tight seal of the distributor element (5) at the outlet opening (4), or at the outlet opening (4) and at the inlet opening (3).

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the materials are conveyed gravimetrically and/or pneumatically.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: conveying a cleaning agent into the distributor element (5) via an inlet opening (3), alternately conveying the cleaning agent by means of the distributor element (5) via the outlet openings (4) out of the process chamber (2), conveying the cleaning agent through the nozzle (70) into the process chamber (2), and conveying drying air into the process chamber (2) and into the distributor element (5), wherein the distributor device is cleaned without dismantling the distributor device and without manual intervention.

16. The distributor device according to claim 4, wherein the drainage floor (8) is at least partially spherical.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: inflating a seal (9) that is arranged at a free end of the distributor element (5) by means of compressed air in order to produce a material-tight seal of the distributor element (5) at the outlet opening (4), or at the outlet opening (4) and at the inlet opening (3).

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the materials are conveyed by negative pressure or positive pressure.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the materials are conveyed gravimetrically and/or pneumatically.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the materials are conveyed by negative pressure or positive pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The invention is described below on the basis of embodiments in conjunction with the figures. In the figures, functionally identical components are identified with the same reference signs. In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of a distributor device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0041] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of a distributor device according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

[0042] FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic view of a distributor device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a distributor device 1 according to a first embodiment.

[0044] A process chamber 2 is formed by an essentially spherical housing 20 with a cover 21 and a curved drainage floor 8. The process chamber 2 has a single inlet opening 3. In the first embodiment, the process chamber 2 has a first outlet opening 4a and a second outlet opening 4b, which are situated opposite one another. Further outlet openings can also be provided.

[0045] A distributor element 5 is connected to the inlet opening 3. Through the inlet opening 3 runs an axis of rotation 6, about which the distributor element 5 is rotatably arranged. The distributor element is curved in FIG. 1 and arranged in such a way that it connects the inlet opening 3 to the first outlet opening 4a. The outlet openings 4a and 4b lie on the circumference of a circle which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 6. Thus, the distributor element 5 can be optionally connected to the first outlet opening 4a or to the second outlet opening 4b by rotation about the axis of rotation 6.

[0046] The distributor element 5 has an inflatable seal 9 at its free end in order to produce a material-tight seal with the outlet opening 4a. The inflatable seal 9 is formed, for example, from a rubber or rubber-like material and shaped like a bellows. If the seal 9 is pressurized with compressed air, its volume increases until the seal 9 rests against the inside of the housing 20 and thus produces the material-tight seal between the distributor element 5 and the outlet opening 4a. This state is shown in the figures. Compressed air is released to loosen the seal, as a result of which the volume of the seal 9 is reduced again. A rotation of the distributor element 5 is then possible without, for example, the seal 9 rubbing against the inner wall of the housing 20.

[0047] Thus, only very low driving forces are necessary for the distributor element 5 to rotate.

[0048] In the first embodiment in FIG. 1, the distributor element 5 is a rigid, curved section of pipe and, at the apex of the elbow, is fixedly connected to a drive shaft 15 which drives the distributor element 5. A drive motor, which is not shown, can transmit a torque to the drive shaft 15 and thus cause the distributor element 5 to rotate.

[0049] Furthermore, the distributor element 5 is double-walled. An inner wall 51 defines a circular channel through which the materials to be transported are guided. An annular channel 50 is enclosed by the inner wall 51 and an outer wall 52, wherein the cross-sectional area of the annular channel 50 is significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the circular channel delimited by the inner wall 51. The inflatable seal 9 is supplied with compressed air via the annular channel 50. The annular channel 50 is connected to a compressed air inlet 10, which is close to the inlet opening 3 and extends through the cover 21. For example, the compressed air inlet 10 can be a borehole which extends through the cover 21 and always has a connection to the annular channel 50, even when the distributor element 5 rotates.

[0050] To seal the process chamber 2 as well as the annular channel 50, a seal 19 is provided in the cover 21, wherein the compressed air inlet 10 leads past the seal 19.

[0051] Furthermore, a bearing 17 is provided for mounting the distributor element 5 in the cover 21. A further seal 18 and a further bearing 16 are arranged on the side opposite the inlet opening 3, for sealing the process chamber 2 or for mounting the drive shaft 15. The seal 18 and the bearing 16 are provided in the drainage floor 8.

[0052] The curved drainage floor 8 has a partially spherical design and allows liquid to drain completely out of the process chamber 2 through the outlet openings 4a, 4b. For this purpose, the drainage floor 8 is arranged in such a way that there is a continuous transition from the drainage floor 8 to the outlet openings 4a, 4b. With a vertical alignment of the distributor device 1, that is to say when the axis of rotation 6 runs in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 1, a smooth transition from the lowest points of the drainage floor 8 to the outlet openings 4a, 4b is thus provided. As a result, liquid can run out of the process chamber 2 unhindered, and liquid or residues of the materials to be transported, in particular during cleaning, are prevented in a simple manner from accumulating at undercuts in the interior of the process chamber 2.

[0053] Thus, the prerequisites for a complete cleaning of the distributor device 5, in particular its surfaces in contact with the product, are met without dismantling the distributor device 1 and without manual intervention. The other elements and steps for carrying out the cleaning process are described below.

[0054] For complete and automatic cleaning, the distributor device 1 comprises a cleaning apparatus 7, which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is implemented as nozzles 70, 71 that can introduce a cleaning agent. Two nozzles 70 are arranged on the housing 20 adjacent to the cover 21 and opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotation 6 in order to achieve the best possible distribution of the cleaning agent within the process chamber 2. The cleaning agent can, as described, drain completely via the outlet openings 4a, 4b by means of the drainage floor 8. The material guiding parts, that is to say the inlet opening 3, the inner circular channel of the distributor element 5 and the outlet openings 4a, 4b, can be cleaned by introducing the cleaning agent into the inlet opening 3. For this purpose, a further nozzle 71 is provided near the inlet opening 3 in the illustrated embodiment. However, it is also possible to introduce the cleaning agent directly into a feed line (not shown) via which the materials to be guided are also fed to the inlet opening 3. In this case, the nozzle 71 is not necessary for injecting into the distributor element 5. The cleaning agent is supplied to the nozzles 70, 71 by means of a pump 90, which draws the cleaning agent from a cleaning agent tank 91.

[0055] By alternately conveying the cleaning agent through the distributor element 5 and through each of the outlet openings 4a, 4b out of the process chamber 2, these parts can also be cleaned completely and automatically.

[0056] After cleaning the distributor device 5 with the cleaning agent, the distributor device 5 is supplied with drying air which is as warm (in the range of 30-90 C.) and dry (in the range of 1-10 g of water per kg of air) as possible. Like the cleaning agent, the drying air can be introduced, for example, via nozzles 70 on the housing 20 and a further nozzle 71 near the inlet opening 3 or via a feed line (not shown) to the inlet opening 3.

[0057] A second embodiment of the distributor device 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in particular by a shortened shaft 15, a rotatable drainage floor 8 and an alternative fastening of the distributor element 5. The distributor element 5 is firmly connected to the rotatable drainage floor 8 by means of a connecting element 55, in particular in the form of an arm. The further configuration is essentially the same as the first embodiment.

[0058] In the second embodiment, the rotatable drainage floor 8 is connected directly to the shortened drive shaft 15. The drive shaft 15 is supported in a further base 22 which is fixedly connected to the housing 20 by means of a bearing 16.

[0059] The distributor element 5 is fixedly connected to the drainage floor 8 by means of the connecting element 55 near its free end at which the inflatable seal 9 is arranged. Such a design is particularly advantageous if the distributor element 5 is a hose. Due to the fastening near the free end, the distributor element 5 is always positioned relative to the outlet openings 4a, 4b in such a way that, despite the flexibility of the hose, a leak-free connection of the distributor element 5 to the outlet openings 4a, 4b is possible.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the distributor device 1 according to the invention. This shows a possibility of guiding materials from a plurality of inlet openings 3a, 3b to a plurality of outlet openings 4a, 4b. In FIG. 3, two inlet openings 3a, 3b and two outlet openings 4a, 4b are shown as examples. The distributor element 5 is designed in two parts, with a first distributor element portion 5a and a second distributor element portion 5b, which are rotatably connected to one another by means of a rotary coupling 54. The two distributor element portions 5a, 5b are rotatable independently of one another by means of separate drives via two drive shafts 15a, 15b. The distributor element 5 has two free ends, each of which has an inflatable seal 9a, 9b, for material-tight sealing with one of the inlet openings 3a, 3b and with one of the outlet openings 4a, 4b.

[0061] Thus, the distributor device 1 is substantially symmetrical to a plane E, which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 6 and which is situated centrally on the rotary coupling 54, wherein nozzles 70, 71 are arranged only on the process chamber 2 and near the inlet openings 3a, 3b and not near the outlet openings 4a, 4b.

[0062] In the third embodiment, the two drive shafts 15a, 15b are each mounted in the drain floors 8a, 8b by means of two bearings 16a, 16b and 16c, 16d. In addition, alternative configurations of the compressed air supply and the connection of the drive shafts 15a, 15b to the distributor element portions 5a, 5b are shown. Compressed air is supplied via a borehole 11a, 11b within the drive shafts 15a, 15b. The distributor element portions 5a, 5b are connected to the drive shafts 15a, 15b via radially extending pipe elements 11a, 11b, which also allow compressed air to be supplied to the ring channels 50a, 50b of the distributor element portions 5a, 5b.

[0063] It should be noted that these alternative possibilities of mounting by means of two bearings, the compressed air supply via the drive shaft and the fastening of the distributor element by means of pipe elements can also be implemented in the first and second embodiments. Likewise, the third embodiment can have only one bearing for mounting the drive shafts, for example.