DEVICE FOR PUMPING VISCOUS MATERIAL

Abstract

An apparatus for the conveying of viscous material from a container has a conveyor pump, which has a conveyor cylinder and a conveyor piston that can be moved forward and back in the conveyor cylinder, and has a measuring device for measurement of the speed of the conveyor piston. The measuring device has a control unit for control of the conveying of the viscous material in dependence on the measured speed of the conveyor piston and a waste line is branched off from a conveying line for the viscous material, which is connected to the conveyor pump, and using the control unit the conveying line can be blocked and the waste line can be released.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the conveying of viscous material from a container, with a conveyor pump (16), which has a conveyor cylinder (20) and a conveyor piston that can be moved forward and back in the conveyor cylinder (20), and with a measuring device (24) for measurement of the speed of the conveyor piston, wherein the measuring device (24) has a control unit (32) for control of the conveying of the viscous material in dependence on the measured speed of the conveyor piston and wherein a waste line (36) is branched off from a conveying line (18) for the viscous material, which line is connected to the conveyor pump (16), and by means of the control unit (32) the conveying line (18) can be blocked and the waste line (36) can be released.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device (24) has a distance-measuring unit (26) for time-independent measurement of the distance traveled by the conveyor piston.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor piston is connected mechanically to the distance-measuring unit (26).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the conveyor pump (16) has a piston rod (28), which projects from the conveyor cylinder (20), is connected in fixed manner to the conveyor piston and is connected rigidly by way of connecting means (30) to a movable element of the distance-measuring unit (26).

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance-measuring unit (26) is an absolute-value transmitter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste line (36) leads to a waste container (38).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a follower plate (12) for sealing of the container on an open upper side of the container, which has a material outlet to which the conveyor pump (16) is attached.

8. A method for conveying of viscous material from a container by use of the apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the viscous material is conveyed in the conveying line (18) when the measured speed of the conveyor piston lies in a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target speed, and wherein the viscous material is conveyed in the waste line (36) when the measured speed of the conveyor piston lies outside the tolerance range.

Description

[0010] The invention will be explained in more detail in the following on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated schematically in the drawing, wherein

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conveyor apparatus and

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the conveyor apparatus according to FIG. 1.

[0013] The apparatus 10 illustrated schematically in the drawing is used for the conveying of viscous material such as adhesive, sealing compound or insulating compound from a drum-like container, not illustrated in more detail. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the conveyor apparatus 10 has a follower plate 12, which is designed to seal a container that is open on an upper side of the container. During the conveying process, the follower plate 12 additionally bears in annularly sealing manner on the inside face of a circumferential container wall extending to the upper side of the container. In addition, the follower plate 12 bears on the material surface in the container. It is mounted on a lifting device 14, with which it may be lowered in a manner following the descending material level in the container as well as, after emptying of the container, be raised and removed therefrom. In the follower plate 12, a material outlet is disposed, which is not illustrated in more detail in the drawing, and on which a conveyor pump 16 connected in fixed manner to the follower plate 12 is attached in order to convey material from the container via the material outlet into a conveying line 18 leading to a processing station. The conveyor pump 16 has a conveyor cylinder 20 mounted in fixed manner on the follower plate 12 as well as a conveyor pistonnot illustrated in the drawingwhich can be moved forward and back in the conveyor cylinder 20, and the linear movement of which in the conveyor cylinder 20 sucks material through the material outlet into the conveyor cylinder 20 and forces the material from the conveyor cylinder 20 into the conveying line 18.

[0014] The conveyor apparatus 10 additionally has a measuring device 24, with which the speed of the conveyor piston during the delivery stroke may be measured. The measuring device 24 has a distance-measuring unit in the form of an absolute-value transmitter 26, the housing of which is mounted on the lifting device 14. A piston rod 28 connected in fixed manner to the conveyor piston is guided upwardly out of the conveyor cylinder 20 and by means of connecting rods 30 is connected rigidly to a movable element of the absolute-value transmitter 26. The distance-measuring device 24 additionally has a control unit 32, which controls the conveying of the viscous material in dependence on the measured speed of the conveyor piston. The control unit 32 recognizes when the measured speed of the conveyor piston lies outside a tolerance range by a predesignated target speed, which suggests that the consistency of the material being conveyed has changed so much that its suitability is in question. In this case, the control unit 32 operates a valve 34, so that the material being conveyed is conveyed not to the processing station but instead into a waste line 36, which is branched off from the conveying line 18 and leads to a waste container 38. If the control unit 32 recognizes that the speed of the conveyor piston again lies within the tolerance range, it operates the valve 34 yet again and the viscous material is again conveyed via the conveying line 18 to the processing station.

[0015] In summary, the following is to be stated: The invention relates to an apparatus 10 for the conveying of viscous material from a container, with a conveyor pump 16, which has a conveyor cylinder 20 and a conveyor piston that can be moved forward and back in the conveyor cylinder 20. According to the invention, a measuring device 24 is provided for measurement of the speed of the conveyor piston.