Dosing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dosing apparatus for dosing a good, in particular a good to be dried such as a fermentation substrate or dung, comprising a conveyor for conveying a good to be dried in a conveying direction, wherein the good to be dried may be fed onto the conveyor by a feeding system and wherein the conveyor may deliver the good to be dried to a downstream unit such as a drying apparatus, and a control unit designed to control a conveying speed of the conveyor, wherein the conveyor is pivotally arranged about a vertical swivel axis, characterized in that the control unit is arranged and designed to control an oscillating movement, preferably a speed, in particular an angular speed, and/or a frequency of the oscillating movement, of the conveyor about the swivel axis.

Claims

1. A dosing apparatus for dosing a good, in particular a good to be dried such as a fermentation substrate or dung, comprising: a conveyor for conveying the good to be dried in a conveying direction, wherein the good to be dried may be fed onto the conveyor by a feeding system and wherein the conveyor may deliver the good to be dried to a downstream unit such as a drying apparatus, and a control unit designed to control a conveying speed of the conveyor, wherein the conveyor is pivotally arranged about a vertical swivel axis, and wherein the control unit is arranged and designed to control an angular speed or a frequency of a side-to-side oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis.

2. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to control the angular speed or the frequency of the oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis based on the conveying speed.

3. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the control unit is designed to change the angular speed of the oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis along a path of motion of the conveyor.

4. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to control the conveying speed of the conveyor based on the angular speed or the frequency of the oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis.

5. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to control the conveying speed of the conveyor based on the conveying speed of the conveyor along a path of motion to the conveyor.

6. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to control the angular speed of the oscillating movement of the conveyor such that the angular speed of the oscillating movement of the conveyor is greater in the area of a pair of reversal points of a path of motion of the oscillating movement than between the reversal points at one point halfway of the path of motion between the reversal points.

7. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to determine the speed of the oscillating movement of the conveyor for the remaining path of motion based on a set of speeds that have been indicated for specific points of the path of motion.

8. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus comprises a weighing apparatus arranged and designed to determine the weight of the good to be dried that is located on the conveyor.

9. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conveyor has a plurality of load cells.

10. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conveyor has four load cells, wherein preferably two load cells each are arranged crosswise to the conveying direction spaced apart at a first and at a second end of the conveyor.

11. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to control the angular speed or the frequency of the oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis based on the weight of the good that is to be dried and that is located on the conveyor.

12. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to provide default speeds with a weight-dependent offset based on the weight of the good that is to be dried and that is located on the conveyor and to consider such offset when determining the speed of the oscillating movement of the conveyor for the remaining path of motion.

13. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged and designed to receive one or more signals and to control the conveying speed of the conveyor about the swivel axis based on the signal or signals received.

14. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the signal comprises information on one or more downstream units such as on their conveying speed(s).

15. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus has two side walls that substantially extend parallel to the conveying direction and that are substantially aligned vertically, at least in sections, or that are tilted by less than 30 degrees to the vertical.

16. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus has two side walls that substantially extend parallel to the conveying direction and that are substantially aligned vertically, at least in sections, or that are tilted by less than 10 degrees to the vertical.

17. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus has two side walls extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction each open by less than 5 degrees in the conveying direction.

18. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus has two side walls extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction each open by less than 1 degree each in the conveying direction.

19. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus has a control flap arranged substantially crosswise to the conveying direction.

20. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the control flap is affixed to the two side walls.

21. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the control flap is pivotable about a horizontal adjusting axis and fixable in various swivel positions.

22. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the adjusting axis is arranged such that a lower end of the control flap is pivotable about the adjusting axis so that the adjusting axis can assume one or more swivel positions in which the control flap is tilted from an upper end to a lower end in the conveying direction.

23. The dosing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control flap is designed and arranged such that a minimum distance between the control flap and the conveyor is not undercut or a maximum distance between the control flap and the conveyor is not exceeded.

24. A method for dosing a good, in particular, a good to be dried such as a fermentation substrate or dung, comprising: conveying a good to be dried, which has been fed onto a conveyor, in a conveying direction; controlling a conveying speed of the conveyor; and controlling an angular speed or an oscillating frequency of an oscillating movement of the conveyor about a vertical swivel axis of the conveyor.

25. A dosing apparatus for dosing a good, in particular a good to be dried such as a fermentation substrate or dung, comprising: a conveyor for conveying the good to be dried in a conveying direction, wherein the good to be dried may be fed onto the conveyor by a feeding system and wherein the conveyor may deliver the good to be dried to a downstream unit such as a drying apparatus, and a control unit designed to control a conveying speed of the conveyor, wherein the conveyor is pivotally arranged about a vertical swivel axis, and wherein the control unit is arranged and designed to control an angular speed or a frequency of an oscillating movement of the conveyor about the swivel axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described based on the enclosed Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 is a lateral view of an exemplary embodiment of a dosing apparatus according to the invention (rotated 180 degrees in relation to the other drawings);

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a graph depicting characteristic curves for the angular speed for various oscillating frequencies of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of an enlarged section of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1 at a first stage;

(7) FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1 at a second stage;

(8) FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1 at a third stage;

(9) FIG. 8a is a cross section of one part of a dosing apparatus with a first configuration of side walls;

(10) FIG. 8b is a cross section of one part of a dosing apparatus with a second configuration of side walls;

(11) FIG. 9 is another top view of one part of a dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1; and

(12) FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the dosing apparatus pursuant to FIG. 1 with a diagramed depiction of the good's flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

(14) The dosing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and its properties show an exemplary design of a possible dosing apparatus according to the invention. The lateral view in FIG. 1 is rotated 180 degrees in relation to the other drawings. Equal elements or elements with substantially the same function have been given the same reference numbers in the drawings.

(15) The shown exemplary dosing apparatus 1 for dosing a good G, in particular a good to be dried such as a fermentation substrate or dung, has a conveyor 100 for conveying the good G to be dried in a conveying direction R. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 5 to 7 and 10, the good G to be dried may be fed into the dosing apparatus 1, in particular, onto the conveyor 100, by a feeding system 200. The dosing apparatus 1 or the conveyor 100 deliver the good, for example, to a downstream unit that may be designed, for example, like a drying apparatus, via an end 101 of the conveyor 100, which may be also referred to as discharge end and which is located downstream of the conveying direction R.

(16) Conveyor 100 is designed as a conveyor belt with an endless belt that is located on several rolls 111 and deflected via two deflection sheaves 120, with preferably at least one of the deflection sheaves 120 being designed as a driven roll or belt drive to drive the upper run 110, on which the good is conveyed, in conveying direction R. The system is preferably driven by an electric motor. The conveying speed of the conveyor 100 can be controlled with a control unit (not shown), in particular by changing the drive speed of the belt drive.

(17) The dosing apparatus 1 has two side walls 140 that substantially extend parallel to the conveying direction R. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 8, the two walls extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction R open slightly in the conveying direction R, namely each by 1 degree as can be seen in the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. Numeral I in FIG. 9 is an example of how the side walls 140 would run if they did not open slightly in the conveying direction R. Said slight opening of the side walls 140 has the advantage that it reduces or even prevents the good G to be conveyed from jamming or banking up towards the discharge end 101.

(18) FIGS. 8a and 8b show a cross section of two different designs of the side walls 140′, 140. In FIG. 8a, the side walls 140′ are tilted to the vertical, wherein in FIG. 8b the side walls 140 are aligned vertically, at least in sections, namely in the lower section. The variant shown in FIG. 8b has the advantage that weight determination of the good G located in the conveying direction 100 between the side walls 140 is improved.

(19) To determine the weight of the good G to be dried that is located in the conveying direction 100, the dosing apparatus 1 is equipped with a weighing apparatus in form of four load cells 160, with two load cells 160 each arranged at the discharge end 101 of the conveyor 100 and disposed crosswise to the conveying direction R and two further load cells 160 arranged at an end of the conveyor 100 opposite to the discharge end 101 and also disposed crosswise to the conveying direction R.

(20) This arrangement of several load cells 160 has the advantage that the weight of the good G to be dried that is located in the conveying direction 100 can be determined in a reliable manner even if the good G is distributed unevenly and/or varyingly on the conveyor 100, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 to 7: In FIG. 5, good G is fed onto the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100 by feeding system 200. In FIG. 6, the good G is then located on a section of the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100 that is substantially located upstream of the conveying direction R and is then conveyed further in the conveying direction R, as shown in FIG. 7, to a section of the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100 that is located downstream of the conveying direction R. A new feeding of good G via the feeding system 200 will again change the center of mass of the good G located on the conveyor 100. Providing several load cells has the advantage that the weight of the good G on the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100 can be determined in a reliable manner, irrespective of how the good G is distributed on the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100.

(21) The conveyor 100 is pivotally arranged about a vertical swivel axis X. The vertical swivel axis X is aligned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis Y of the conveyor 100 and intersects the longitudinal axis. The vertical swivel axis X is furthermore arranged in such area of the conveyor 100 that approximately corresponds to one fourth of the extension of the conveyor 100 in the conveying direction R based on an end that lies opposite to the discharge end 101. This way, the oscillating movement of the conveyor 100 facilitates, in particular, an oscillating movement of the discharge end 101 of the conveyor 100 along a path of motion, which corresponds to a 90 degree circular arc section—as can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 2.

(22) The pivotable mounting about the swivel axis X is realized by means of a corresponding mounting device 131. The oscillating movement of the discharge end 101 is supported by a roll 132 that is preferably driven by an electric motor 133.

(23) The control unit is arranged and designed to control the oscillating movement of the conveyor 100, wherein, for example, the drive 133 for driving the wheel 132 can be used for control purposes. Preferably, the control unit is designed, in particular, such as to change the speed, in particular the angular speed, and/or the oscillating frequency of the oscillating movement of the conveyor 100 about the swivel axis X, for example based on the conveying speed of the conveyor 100, based on information, such as conveying speeds, of one or more downstream units, such as drying apparatuses, and/or based on the weight of the good G located on the conveyor 100. The frequency of the oscillating movement can also be controlled by the control unit.

(24) Here, the control unit is designed, in particular, such as to control the speed, in particular the angular speed, of the oscillating movements of the conveyor 100 such that the speed, in particular, the angular speed, of the oscillating movement of the conveyor 100 is greater in the area of the reversal points P1 and P5, in particular, greater by a multiple, than between the reversal points P1 and P5, in particular, at a point P3 half way of the path of motion between the reversal points P1 and P5, as can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the speeds, in particular, angular speeds, preferred for certain points of the path of motion, such as for the points P1-P5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are determined empirically and provided in the control unit. The control unit can then, for example by means of interpolation, determine the speed for the remaining path of motion based on the speeds, in particular the angular speeds, provided for such certain points or areas to preferably generate a speed profile for the entire path of motion.

(25) In FIG. 3, the angular speed is indicated as a percentage on the vertical axis while the angle is indicated in degrees on the horizontal axis. V1, V2 and V3 in FIG. 2 show the speed profiles over the path of motion of the circular arc section over 90 degrees for various oscillating frequencies, namely speed curve V1 for oscillating speed 70 Hz, speed curve V2 for oscillating speed 50 Hz and speed curve V3 for oscillating frequency 30 Hz.

(26) When the direction changes, the angular speed of the conveyor will briefly drop to zero at reversal points P1 and P5 (not shown in FIG. 3). Deceleration of the conveyor and/or reversal of the direction of oscillating movement can be effected, for example, by a mechanical stop at the reversal points. The dosing apparatus 1 may, for example, show a sensor such as a roller sensor or roller lever on each side in the area of the discharge end 101, which will detect that the reversal point has been reached and which is preferably designed to then change the drive direction of the drive 133 of the conveyor 100 to achieve the oscillating movement, for example, via a reversing contactor control.

(27) Here in FIG. 3, the angular speed in percent in the area of the reversal points is understood to mean, in particular, the angular speed which the conveyor has in its oscillating movement shortly before deceleration (value shortly before the reversal point P5 in FIG. 3) and after (re-)acceleration following the change in direction shortly after the reversal point (value shortly after the reversal point P1 in FIG. 3).

(28) However, controlling can be preferably also performed by providing target (angular) speeds at the reversal points, which the control unit will then use as target (angular) speeds in the area of the reversal points, i.e., shortly before deceleration and after (re)acceleration following the change in direction.

(29) For example, if the oscillating frequency is to be changed due to the weight present on the dosing apparatus 1, the speed curve may be adjusted accordingly, for example, by providing the default speeds at the points P1-P5 with a specific offset and by having the control unit calculate a new speed curve based on such changed default values.

(30) This way, one can achieve a particularly precise dosing with a particularly even distribution of the good to be dried on the downstream units.

(31) Furthermore, the dosing apparatus 1 has a control flap 150 with a control flap wall 151 that is attached to the two side walls 140 at its upper end 1510 and whose lower end 151u shows a spacing from the upper run 110 of the conveying direction 100 and thus defines a discharge opening through which good G can be discharged by the conveyor 100.

(32) The control flap wall 151 is tilted to the horizontal between the upper end 1510 and the lower end 151u in the conveying direction R. The control flap 150 is pivotable about a horizontal adjusting axis at the upper end 1510, which also allows for changing the spacing of the lower end 151u of the control flap 150 from the upper run 110 of the conveyor 100. The handling and fixing section 152 of the control flap 150 serves, inter alia, to move the control flap 150 and, in particular, the control flap wall 151 in different swivel positions and fix them there.

(33) As can be seen in FIG. 10, in particular, the control flap 150 and, in particular, the tilt of the control flap wall 151 to the horizontal in the conveying direction R has a positive impact on the flow of the good that is shown in FIG. 10. The good G is fed onto the conveyor 100 by a feeding system 200 where it initially moves substantially along the conveying direction R to the discharge end 101, as shown by the arrows marked with 1.

(34) The control flap 150 applies pressure on the good G, as shown by the arrow marked with 2 in FIG. 10. Excess good G that cannot be discharged at the discharge end 101 is returned to the conveying process thanks to the tilted control flap 150 and is picked up by new good G in the direction of the discharge opening 101, as shown by the arrows marked with 3 in FIG. 10. This facilitates a continuous flow of good in the dosing apparatus.

(35) It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible, e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc. without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown in multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of the wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of the wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

(36) It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

(37) It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure and method without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(38) 1 Dosing apparatus 100 Conveyor 101 Discharge end 110 Upper run 111 Rolls 120 Deflection sheave 131 Mounting device 132 Roll 133 Drive/electric motor 140 Side wall 150 Control flap 151 Control flap wall 1510 Upper end of control flap 151u Lower end of control flap 152 Handling and fixing section 160 Load cell 200 Feeding system G Good I Course of side walls w/o opening in conveying direction P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 Reversal point R Conveying direction V1, V2, V3 Speed profile X Swivel axis Y Longitudinal axis