Withdrawal system

Abstract

The invention relates to a withdrawal system (1) for filling and emptying containers and involves a container closure (2) that is inserted into a container opening of a container seating a bung head. An immersion pipe (4) connected to the bung head has an extraction connector element connected to the immersion pipe (4) or the bung head. A transponder generating a transponder signal is provided; a monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the transponder signal that indicates whether there is a permissible connection of the extraction connector element to the container.

Claims

1. A withdrawal system (1) for filling and emptying containers with a container closure (2) that is inserted into a container opening of a container seating a bung head and that has an immersion pipe (4) connected to the bung head and an extraction connector element connected to the immersion pipe (4) or the bung head, wherein a transponder generating a transponder signal is included, and wherein a monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the transponder signal that indicates whether a permissible connection of the extraction connector element to the container exists, characterized in that said withdrawal system has a control unit (11) that controls the supply of liquid into the container and/or the withdrawal of liquid out of the container in dependence upon the monitoring signal and in that the control unit (11) controls a robot that is designed to connect the extraction connector element to the immersion pipe (4), wherein the robot is only allowed by the control unit (11) to effect this connection when the control unit (11) receives notification by the monitoring signal from the transponder that the connection of the extraction connector element to the container is permissible.

2. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transponder has a transmitter (6) that is firmly connected to the container and a receiver (7) assigned to the transmitter (6).

3. The withdrawal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmitter (6) of the transponder is integrated into the immersion pipe (4).

4. The withdrawal system according to claim 3, characterized in that the code stored in the transmitter (6) is read out into the receiver (7) and the monitoring signal is generated in dependence upon the code.

5. The withdrawal system according to claim 2, characterized in that a code identifying the container and/or the liquid contained in the container is stored in the transmitter (6) of the transponder.

6. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver (7) or an antenna (8) of the receiver (7) is connected to the extraction connector element, that a code identifying the extraction connector element is stored in the receiver (7) and that the monitoring signal is generated via a comparison of this code with the code stored in the transmitter (6).

7. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver (7) is spatially separated from the extraction connector element and that the extraction connector element is identified by the control unit (11).

8. The withdrawal system according to claim 7, characterized in that the monitoring signal is generated solely in dependence upon the code read out from the transmitter (6) of the transponder.

9. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (11) controls a pump for filling and emptying the container.

10. The withdrawal system according to claim 9, characterized in that the pump is only activated by the control unit (11) when the control unit (11) receives notification by the monitoring signal from the transponder that the connection of the extraction connector element to the container is permissible.

11. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that a warning signal transmitter is controlled by the monitoring signal that emits a warning signal when the monitoring signal reports that the connection of the extraction connector element is impermissible.

12. The withdrawal system according to claim 1, characterized in that information involving the container closure (2) or material contained in the container is stored in the transponder.

13. The withdrawal system according to claim 12, characterized in that the information stored in the transponder can be read out into the control unit (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained with the aid of the drawings below. The following are shown in the figures:

(2) FIG. 1: First example of the withdrawal system as per the invention.

(3) FIG. 2: Second example of the withdrawal system as per the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(4) FIG. 1 shows a first example of the withdrawal system 1 as per the invention. FIG. 1 shows, as an important component of the withdrawal system 1, a container closure 2 for a transportable container that is not shown, which is comprised of barrel or the like. A liquid is stored in the container. Liquids stored in containers of that type especially involve special liquid chemicals.

(5) The container closure 2 is comprised of an extraction connector element in the form of an extraction head 3 and an immersion pipe 4. The immersion pipe 4 is mounted in a bung head, not shown, that is seated in an opening of the container and is therefore firmly connected to the container. The immersion pipe 4 has at its upper end a head piece 4b that is broadened with respect to a hollow cylindrical pipe element 4a of the immersion pipe 4 for this. The pipe element 4a of the immersion pipe 4 projects into the interior of the container down to its base area.

(6) The extraction head 3 serves to withdraw liquids in the container. The extraction head 3 has a connection for liquids 3a at its upper end for that. A line, not shown, which leads to a pump, likewise not shown, can be connected to this connection for liquids 3a. A gas connection 3b via which the pressure can be balanced out in the container opens out laterally at the extraction head 3.

(7) The extraction head 3 is fastened via a screw connection to the immersion pipe 4. A locking nut 5 with an external thread is screwed into a thread in the immersion pipe 4 to form this screw connection.

(8) A transponder is used as per the invention to ensure a connection of the extraction head 3 to a container that rules out a mix-up. The transponder has a transmitter 6 that is designed in the form of a component encapsulated in plastic and a receiver 7 with an antenna 8.

(9) In the instant case, the transponder is designed to be a passive transponder, meaning that the transmitter 6 does not have its own voltage supply. The transmitter 6 draws its energy via an induction field built up by the receiver 7; transponder signals stored in the transmitter 6 in a contact-free way are also transmitted in a contact-free way to the receiver 7. Alternatively, the transponder can be designed as an active transponder with its own voltage supply like a battery, for instance.

(10) As is evident in FIG. 1, the transmitter 6 is integrated into the immersion pipe 4; the transmitter 6 is firmly arranged in the head piece 4b of the immersion pipe 4.

(11) The antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is fastened to the side of the extraction head 3. A cable 9 is routed from the antenna 8 to the receiver 7. The receiver 7 is connected via a further cable 10 to a control unit 11. In principle, the receiver 7 can also be integrated into the control unit 11.

(12) The extraction head 3, as shown in FIG. 1, is screwed onto the immersion pipe 4 for a withdrawal of liquid from the container or a supply of liquid into the container. The transmitter 6 is then within the range of the antenna 8, so data stored in the transmitter 6 is transmitted to the receiver 7.

(13) Data of that type can optionally be made up of information describing the containers or the liquid stored there, for instance the nature of the liquid or the components of the container, customer information, manufacturing date of the container or the liquid and the like. This information can be passed along via the receiver 7 to the control unit 11 and evaluated or stored there.

(14) A first code is stored in the transmitter 6 via which the liquid in the container is unambiguously identified. This first code is transmitted from the transmitter 6 to the receiver 7 and then compared with a second code stored in the receiver 7; the extraction head 3 that the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is arranged on is unambiguously identified in this way.

(15) After that, there is a comparison of both codes; a monitoring signal is generated with the aid of the comparison, and its signal spacing indicates whether the extraction head 3 is connected to a permissible or impermissible container. The monitoring signal can be generated in the receiver 7 in principle. The monitoring signal that is formed in that way is then read into the control unit 11. Alternatively, the monitoring signal can be directly generated in the control unit 11.

(16) A connection of extraction heads 3 to containers that rules out a mix-up is ensured with the aid of the monitoring signal generated via the transponder signal of the transponder, which means that it is ensured that an extraction head 3 is always correctly connected to the container assigned to it. An incorrect withdrawal of liquids from containers is therefore prevented, and a contamination of liquids due to the use of an incorrect extraction head 3 is also avoided.

(17) The monitoring signal forms a safety signal; the liquid withdrawal or supply is controlled by the control unit 11 in dependence upon that. The control unit 11 only allows the activation of the pump connected to it for the withdrawal or supply of liquid when an error-free, permissible connection of the respective extraction head 3 to a container is reported by the monitoring signal. To increase the safety, a warning signal transmitter that emits a warning signal when there is an impermissible connection of an extraction head 3 to a container can also be controlled with monitoring signals. The warning signal transmitter can be a lamp or a horn, for instance.

(18) Since there is automatic recognition of whether the connection of an extraction head 3 to a container is permissible or not with the monitoring signal, the extraction head 3 can also be physically connected to the immersion pipe 4 by a robot, wherein it is also controlled in dependence upon the monitoring signal.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a second example of the withdrawal system 1 as per the invention. This example only differs from the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 by the fact that the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is not firmly connected to the extraction head 3. Thus, there is no fixed spatial assignment between the receiver 7 and the extraction head 3.

(20) This embodiment is especially suitable for a withdrawal system 1 that only has one extraction head 3, but several containers that are to be correctly assigned to the extraction head 3. Since only one extraction head 3 is envisaged, mix-ups of different extraction heads 3 are ruled out, so there is also no code stored in the receiver 7 that identifies the extraction head 3 in this case. Accordingly, in this case, the monitoring signal is solely formed from the code stored in the transmitter 6 of the transponder. Otherwise, the operation of the withdrawal system 1 in accordance with FIG. 2 corresponds to that of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) (1) Withdrawal system (2) Container closure (3) Extraction head (3a) Connection for liquids (3b) Gas connection (4) Immersion pipe (4a) Pipe element (4b) Head piece (5) Locking nut (6) Transmitter (7) Receiver (8) Antenna (9) Cable (10) Cable (11) Control unit