Device for conveying viscous material
By using a double-acting conveying piston and valve mechanism in the conveying cylinder, combining the force transfer element and the piezoelectric actuator, the problems of discontinuous and difficult pressure adjustment in the prior art are solved, and efficient and continuous conveying of the adhesive material is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380055192.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-21
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing viscous material conveying devices for industrial production are usually large and heavy, difficult to achieve continuous conveying, and unable to perform active pressure adjustment, resulting in insufficient conveying of viscous material.
By providing a double-acting conveying piston in the conveying cylinder, the material is extruded by pressure loading, and switching between the two chambers through the valve mechanism, the continuous conveying of the adhesive material is achieved. At the same time, a force transmission element and a piezoelectric actuator are used to accurately adjust the opening and closing of the valve to ensure the continuity of material flow.
Almost continuous conveying of viscous material with minimized downtime is achieved, reducing the volume and weight of the device, and improving conveying efficiency and accuracy.
Smart Images
Figure CN119585525A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a device for delivering viscous material to an applicator according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a regulating device according to the preamble of claim 10 preferably for use with said device. Background Art
[0002] Such devices are mostly used in industrial production, especially in the automotive industry, in which workpieces are coated with viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, insulating materials, thermal interface materials (TIM) or thermal pastes. The devices are used to convey the viscous material to an applicator, which then meters the viscous material and applies it to the respective workpiece. Such devices are usually large and very heavy, but the viscous material can often only be conveyed in an insufficiently continuous manner. In addition, conventional devices of the type mentioned at the outset often do not allow active pressure regulation. Summary of the invention
[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to develop a device and an applicator of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the above-mentioned disadvantages are at least partially avoided to a large extent.
[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a regulating device having the features of claim 10 or claim 16. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0005] The conveying device according to the invention is based on the idea that by filling one chamber of the conveying cylinder under pressure, the material located in the corresponding other chamber is displaced and conveyed to the applicator via a material outlet leading directly or indirectly to the applicator. Once the latter chamber is emptied, the principle is reversed and the emptied chamber is filled under pressure with viscous material, so that the material is displaced from the previous chamber and conveyed to the applicator. This method enables almost continuous conveying with minimal downtime.
[0006] Preferably, the valve mechanism has a valve housing and a slide valve that can reciprocate in the valve housing, and the valve housing and the slide valve define a closable and releasable flow channel for each material inlet and each material outlet. In the first switching position of the valve mechanism, the slide valve releases the flow channel of the material inlet of the first chamber and the flow channel of the material outlet of the second chamber and closes the flow channel of the material inlet of the second chamber and the flow channel of the material outlet of the first chamber. In the second switching position of the valve mechanism, the slide valve releases the flow channel of the material inlet of the second chamber and the flow channel of the material outlet of the first chamber and closes the flow channel of the material inlet of the first chamber and the flow channel of the material outlet of the second chamber. With the slide valve, only one movable component needs to be provided and moved during operation, so that the device can be constructed smaller or lighter than a conventional device. The control of the valve mechanism is also simpler than in a conventional device of the type described at the beginning, because in principle, only the slide valve needs to be reciprocated between its positions defining the two switching positions of the valve mechanism.
[0007] Preferably, the slide valve has a cylindrical shape and in particular a cylindrical shape, i.e., has a circular cross-section that is conducive to smooth mobility. It is further preferred that the valve mechanism has a sleeve inserted into the valve housing, into which the slide valve is inserted with precise fit. The slide valve is inserted into the sleeve with precise fit to achieve a satisfactory seal, so that other sealing elements between the slide valve and the sleeve can be omitted if necessary. Such sealing elements, in particular elastomeric sealing rings, are suitably inserted between the sleeve and the housing and seal the flow channels relative to each other. Since the sleeve is immovably accommodated in the valve housing, the sealing ring is not subject to wear caused by movement. In addition, the valve housing is suitably multi-piece and has a plurality of housing parts that are abutted against each other in the axial direction, and these housing parts are preferably fixedly connected to each other. This measure simplifies installation, in particular the insertion of the sealing ring between the valve housing and the sleeve when assembling the valve mechanism.
[0008] Advantageously, a displacement measuring sensor is provided for detecting the position of the delivery piston in the delivery cylinder. The displacement measuring sensor can be a mechanical sensor that measures the movement of the piston rod extending from the delivery cylinder. However, the displacement measuring sensor preferably has a permanent magnetic element fixedly connected to the delivery piston and a magnetostrictive element fixedly connected to the delivery cylinder. An evaluation unit is provided, which evaluates the magnetostriction generated by the permanent magnetic element in the magnetostrictive element. In this design, it is not necessary to lead the piston rod out of the delivery cylinder under costly sealing, and the position of the delivery piston in the delivery cylinder can be measured with high accuracy. Measuring the position of the delivery piston in the delivery cylinder is advantageously used to control the valve mechanism and / or the delivery pump of the delivery mechanism so that the viscous material is metered before it is delivered to the applicator. For this purpose, a control unit is appropriately provided, which obtains position data from the displacement measuring sensor and controls the valve mechanism and / or the delivery pump according to the position data to achieve a material flow that is as continuous as possible. In particular, the displacement measuring sensor can recognize when one of the chambers is almost completely emptied, so that the control unit can control the valve mechanism so that the valve mechanism is sent to another switching position by the movement of the slide valve.
[0009] It can also be provided that the valve mechanism at least partially releases two material outlets and / or two material inlets in at least one intermediate position. In this case, in particular, one of the material outlets has been opened, and the other material outlet is not yet completely closed, thereby further minimizing downtime.
[0010] The regulating device according to the invention according to claim 10 is based on the idea that by providing an actuator for acting on the closing element, the regulating valve can be opened and closed precisely and with a high time resolution. Since conventional actuators are often either able to exert a large force but only a small stroke or a small force but a large stroke, a force transmission element is provided, which is connected to the closing element at a connection point and is acted upon by the actuator at an acting point.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the force transmission element is a lever, which is pivotally supported in or on the housing about a pivot axis. The actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator, which can apply a large force but can only apply a small stroke. In order to increase the stroke of the closing element, the loading position is then closer to the pivot axis than the connection position, and the distance between the connection position and the pivot axis is preferably at least five times and further preferably at least eight times the distance between the loading position and the pivot axis. The lever may be single-arm or double-arm. In the latter case, the connection position is arranged on or near the free end of the longer lever arm, while the loading position is arranged on the shorter lever arm. If the lever is single-arm, the connection position is located on or near the free end of the lever arm, while the loading position is located on the same lever arm near the pivot axis.
[0012] According to another possible design, the actuator has a moving coil or voice coil, which can exert a large stroke but only a small force. In order to increase the force acting on the closing element, the connection point is then closer to the pivot axis than the loading point, the distance between the loading point and the pivot axis is preferably at least five times and more preferably at least eight times the distance between the connection point and the pivot axis. In this case, the lever can also be single-armed or double-armed, preferably a double-armed design.
[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the force transmission element is a hydraulic element and the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator. By means of corresponding cross sections of the hydraulic element at the connection point and at the loading point, the high force applied by the piezoelectric actuator can be converted into sufficient travel on the closing element.
[0014] Alternatively or in addition to this measure according to the invention, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the viscous material can be provided in the material line of the regulating device. The pressure sensor is advantageously arranged downstream of the valve seat and thus measures the pressure of the viscous material flowing out of the regulating valve. Based on this pressure measurement, the pressure of the viscous material can be regulated to a setpoint value. For this purpose, the pressure sensor is preferably connected to a regulating unit, which regulates the pressure of the viscous material at the pressure sensor to a setpoint value by controlling an actuator according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor.
[0015] The regulating device according to the invention preferably forms a device for applying a viscous material to a workpiece together with a device according to the invention for conveying a viscous material and an applicator having a nozzle (the nozzle having at least one outlet for the viscous material), wherein the material outlet of the device for conveying a viscous material is connected to the material pipeline of the regulating device on the inlet side, and the material pipeline is connected to the applicator on the outlet side. According to a preferred method, the device is operated in such a way that the regulating unit for controlling the actuator adjusts the pressure of the viscous material on the pressure sensor to a setpoint value according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor. In addition or as an alternative to the above method steps, it is provided that the control unit controls the valve mechanism and / or the conveying pump to achieve a continuous material flow. If a multi-component material is to be applied, a device according to the invention for conveying a viscous material and a regulating device according to the invention are provided for each component, the material outlet of the device for conveying a viscous material is connected to the material pipeline of the regulating device on the inlet side, and the material pipeline is connected to a common applicator on the outlet side, which also has a mixer for mixing the components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments schematically shown in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows:
[0017] Figure 1A schematic diagram showing an apparatus for applying a viscous material;
[0018] Figure 2a , Figure 2b A device for conveying viscous materials is shown as follows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the components of the device and a cross-sectional view of a portion of the valve mechanism in the first and second switching positions;
[0019] Figure 3 The cross-sectional diagram shows Figure 2a , Figure 2b A partial view of the device; and
[0020] Figure 4 The cross-sectional diagram shows Figure 1 The regulating device of the equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The device 10 for applying a viscous material to a workpiece, referred to as the coating device 10 in short, shown in the drawings comprises a device 12 for conveying a viscous material, referred to as the conveying device 12, an applicator 14, and a regulating device 15, the conveying device 12 conveys the viscous material to the applicator and the applicator applies the viscous material to the workpiece, and the regulating device regulates the material flow and / or material pressure from the conveying device 12 to the applicator 14. Different from what is shown in the drawings, the regulating device 15 and the applicator 14 can also be integrated together in one housing and form one assembly.
[0022] The coating device 10 shown in the drawings is used for applying a single-component viscous material to a workpiece. If a multi-component material is to be applied to a workpiece, the corresponding coating device is equipped with a number of conveying devices 12 and regulating devices 15 corresponding to the number of components, which respectively convey one of the components to a common applicator 14, which then also has a mixer for mixing the components.
[0023] The conveying device 12 has a conveying cylinder 16 in which a conveying piston 18 can reciprocate. The conveying piston 18 divides the inner cavity of the conveying cylinder 16 into a first chamber 20 and a second chamber 22 sealed relative to the first chamber by the conveying piston 18, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are respectively variable in size based on the mobility of the conveying piston 18. The first chamber 20 has a first material inlet 24, and the second chamber 22 has a second material inlet 26. The two material inlets 24, 26 are connected to a conveying mechanism 30 via a conveying line 28, and the conveying mechanism has a conveying pump 32 and a pressure regulator 34. The conveying pump 32 provides energy potential for the coating device 10. A first pressure sensor 36 for measuring the pressure of the viscous material is arranged in each chamber 20, 22. The first chamber 20 also has a first material outlet 38, and the second chamber 22 has a second material outlet 40, and an input pipeline 42 leads from each material outlet 38, 40 to the coater 14 via the regulating device 15.
[0024] By moving the delivery piston 18, viscous material can be squeezed out of the chamber 20, 22 that is reduced in size by the movement of the delivery piston 18, so that the material can be delivered from the relevant material outlet 38, 40 into the supply line 42. In the present case, this movement of the delivery piston 18 is achieved by introducing the viscous material under pressure into the respective other chamber 20, 22. For this purpose, a valve mechanism 44 is provided, which in a first switching position ( Figure 2a ) releases the first material inlet 24 and blocks the second material inlet 26 and simultaneously blocks the first material outlet 38 and releases the second material outlet 40. In the second switching position ( Figure 2b ), the principle is reversed and the valve device 44 releases the second material inlet 26 and the first material outlet 38 and blocks the first material inlet 24 and the second material outlet 40. In this way, the viscous material is always introduced (at most interrupted by a short downtime) via the relevant material inlet 24, 26 into one of the chambers 20, 22 under pressure and the viscous material located in the respective other chamber 20, 22 is conveyed via the associated material outlet 38, 40 into the supply line 42 and thereby to the applicator 14.
[0025] and Figure 1 , Figure 2a , Figure 2b In contrast to the schematic diagram in FIG. 1 , the material inlets 24, 26 and the material outlets 38, 40 are not arranged on different sides of the conveying cylinder 16, but on one side, or the corresponding pipelines extend to one side, so that the valve mechanism 44 can correspond to Figure 2a , Figure 2b , Figure 3 The valve mechanism 44 has only Figure 3The valve housing 46 shown in FIG. 1 is a valve housing in which a slide valve 48 is guided to move back and forth. Figure 3 As can be seen from the detailed diagram of the valve housing 46 and the slide valve 48, a sleeve 50 is inserted between the valve housing 46 and the slide valve 48. Figure 2a , Figure 2b , and the sleeve is immovably received in the valve housing 46, and the slide valve 48 is received in the sleeve in a precisely movably matched manner. The valve housing 46, the slide valve 48 and the sleeve 50 define a through-channel 52 for each material inlet 24, 26 and for each material outlet 38, 40, which can be blocked or released by corresponding positioning of the slide valve 48 in the valve housing 46 and in the sleeve 50. Figure 2a In the first switching position of the valve mechanism 44, the through-flow channel 52 of the first material inlet 24 and the second material outlet 40 is released, while the through-flow channel 52 of the second material inlet 26 and the first material outlet 38 is closed. Figure 2b In the second switching position of the valve member 44 , the through-channel 52 of the second material inlet 26 and the first material outlet 38 is released, while the through-channel 52 of the first material inlet 24 and the second material outlet 40 is closed.
[0026] Although the slide valve 48 is already sufficiently sealed by its precise insertion into the sleeve 50, five sealing rings 54 are inserted between the sleeve 50 and the valve housing 46, which seal the flow channels 52 relative to each other and to the environment. As not shown in detail in the drawings, the valve housing 46 consists of a plurality of housing parts, which are joined to each other in the axial direction and are fixedly connected to each other. The sleeve 50 is two-piece and has two sleeve parts that are joined to each other in the axial direction, while the slide valve 48 is one-piece and has a circular cross section.
[0027] The conveying device 12 also has a displacement measuring sensor 56, by means of which the position of the conveying piston 18 relative to the conveying cylinder 16 can be determined. The conveying piston 18 is guided on a piston rod 58 which extends centrally and axially through the conveying cylinder 16 and passes axially through the conveying piston 18. The conveying piston 18 is provided with a permanent magnetic element 60, and the piston rod 58 has a magnetostrictive element 62, in which the permanent magnetic element 60 produces magnetostriction. In addition, an evaluation unit 64 is provided, which evaluates the magnetostriction produced and transmits the data to a control unit not shown in detail. The displacement measuring sensor 56 can, for example, detect when one of the chambers 20, 22 is empty, so that the control unit can control the valve mechanism 44 in order to bring the valve mechanism into another switching position. In addition, the displacement measuring sensor 56 can measure the speed of the conveying piston 18 in the conveying cylinder 16, so that the control unit can also control the flow of the conveyed material.
[0028] The adjustment device 15 ( Figure 4 ) has a housing 70, through which a material line 72 connected to an inlet line 42 extends to an applicator 14. The applicator 14 has a nozzle 74 with an outlet 76 for a viscous material. The applicator may also have a shut-off valve, which imparts a switching function to it or is controllable or adjustable. In addition, a regulating valve 78 is provided in the housing 70, whose shut-off element 80 in the form of a valve needle can close and release the material line 72 on a valve seat 82. An actuator 84, which is configured as a piezoelectric actuator in the illustrated embodiment, is also provided in the housing 70, which acts on a lever 88 at a loading position 86, and the lever can be pivoted around a pivot axis 90 fixed relative to the housing. The lever 88 is a single-arm lever, and a return spring 92 configured as a pressure spring acts on the lever 88 away from the loading position 86, and the piezoelectric actuator 84 can pivot the lever 88 against the return force of the return spring. The loading position 86 is arranged very close to the pivot axis 90. A connection point 94 is located near the free end of the lever 88, far away from the pivot axis 90, at which the lever 88 is connected to the closing element 80. The loading of the lever 88 by the piezoelectric actuator 84 against the force of the return spring 92 causes the closing element 80 to be lifted from the valve seat 82, while when the force of the piezoelectric actuator 84 is removed, the return spring 92 presses the closing element 80 back onto the valve seat 82 by loading the lever 88. A second pressure sensor 96 is arranged in the material line 72 downstream of the valve seat 82, which measures the pressure of the viscous material leaving the regulating valve 78. The pressure measurement value is transmitted to the regulating mechanism 98, which regulates the pressure of the viscous material to a predetermined setpoint value by opening the regulating valve 78 further or less by actuating the piezoelectric actuator 84 as a function of the pressure measurement value measured by the second pressure sensor 96.
[0029] In summary, it should be pointed out that the present invention relates to a device 12 for conveying a viscous material to an applicator 14, the device comprising a conveying cylinder 16, in which a double-acting conveying piston 18 can reciprocate, the conveying cylinder 16 having a first and a second chamber 20, 22, which are separated from each other by the conveying piston 18, each chamber 20, 22 having a material inlet 24, 26 and a material outlet 38, 40, the device comprising a conveying mechanism 30 connected to the material inlet 24, 26 for introducing the viscous material into the chamber 20, 22 of the conveying cylinder 16 under pressure, and a valve mechanism 44 for closing and releasing the material inlet 24, 26 and the material outlet 38, 40. According to the present invention, the valve mechanism 44 releases the material inlet 24 of the first chamber 20 and the material outlet 40 of the second chamber 22 in a first switching position and closes the material inlet 26 of the second chamber 22 and the material outlet 38 of the first chamber 20, and releases the material inlet 26 of the second chamber 22 and the material outlet 38 of the first chamber 20 in a second switching position and closes the material inlet 24 of the first chamber 20 and the material outlet 40 of the second chamber 22.
Claims
1. A device for conveying a viscous material to an applicator (14), the device comprising a conveying cylinder (16) in which a double-acting conveying piston (18) can reciprocate, the conveying cylinder (16) comprising a first and a second chamber (20, 22), the first and second chambers being separated from each other by the conveying piston (18), each chamber (20, 22) comprising a material inlet (24, 26) and a material outlet (38, 40), the device comprising a conveying mechanism (30) connected to the material inlet (24, 26) for introducing the viscous material into the chamber (20, 22) of the conveying cylinder (16) under pressure, and a valve mechanism (44) for closing and releasing the material inlet (24, 26) and the material outlet (38, 40), characterized in that: The valve mechanism (44) releases the material inlet (24) of the first chamber (20) and the material outlet (40) of the second chamber (22) in a first switching position and closes the material inlet (26) of the second chamber (22) and the material outlet (38) of the first chamber (20); and releases the material inlet (26) of the second chamber (22) and the material outlet (38) of the first chamber (20) in a second switching position and closes the material inlet (24) of the first chamber (20) and the material outlet (40) of the second chamber (22).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The valve mechanism (44) comprises a valve housing (46) and a slide valve (48) which can reciprocate in the valve housing (46), the valve housing (46) and the slide valve (48) defining a closable and releasable through-flow channel (52) for each material inlet (24, 26) and each material outlet (38, 40), and in a first switching position of the valve mechanism (44), the slide valve (48) releases the through-flow channel (52) of the material inlet (24) of the first chamber (20) and the material outlet (40) of the second chamber (22). The valve mechanism (44) opens the through-channel (52) of the material inlet (26) of the second chamber (22) and closes the through-channel (52) of the material outlet (38) of the first chamber (20), and in a second switching position of the valve mechanism (44) releases the through-channel (52) of the material inlet (26) of the second chamber (22) and the through-channel (38) of the material outlet (38) of the first chamber (20) and closes the through-channel (52) of the material inlet (24) of the first chamber (20) and the through-channel (40) of the material outlet (40) of the second chamber (22).
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The slide valve (48) has a cylindrical shape, in particular a circular cylindrical shape.
4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The valve housing (46) is multi-part and has a plurality of housing parts which abut against one another in the axial direction.
5. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The valve mechanism (44) has a sleeve (50) which is inserted into a valve housing (46) and into which a slide valve (48) is inserted with an exact fit.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that A displacement measuring sensor (56) is provided for detecting the position of the delivery piston (18) in the delivery cylinder (16).
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that The displacement measuring sensor (56) has a permanent magnetic element (60) fixedly connected to the delivery piston (18), a magnetostrictive element (62) fixedly connected to the delivery cylinder (16), and an evaluation unit (64) for evaluating the magnetostriction generated by the permanent magnetic element (60) in the magnetostrictive element (62).
8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that A control unit is provided, which controls the valve mechanism (44) and / or the delivery pump (32) of the delivery mechanism (30) based on position data obtained from the displacement measuring sensor (56).
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The valve mechanism (44) at least partially releases two material outlets (38, 40) and / or two material inlets (24, 26) in at least one intermediate position.
10. A regulating device for regulating the flow and / or pressure of a viscous material, the regulating device comprising a housing (70), a material line (72) extending through the housing (70), a regulating valve (78) arranged in the housing (70) for closing the material line (72) by placing a closing element (80) on a valve seat (82) and for releasing the material line (72) by lifting the closing element (80) from the valve seat (82), and an actuator (84) arranged in the housing (70) for applying pressure to the closing element (80), characterized in that: A force transmission element is provided, which is connected to the closing element (80) at a connection point (94), and the actuator (84) acts on the force transmission element at an action point (86).
11. The adjustment device according to claim 10, characterized in that The force transmission element is a lever (88) which is mounted in or on the housing (70) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (90).
12. The adjustment device according to claim 11, characterized in that The actuator (84) is a piezoelectric actuator, and the loading site (86) is closer to the pivot axis (90) than the connection site (94).
13. The adjustment device according to claim 11, characterized in that The actuator (84) has a movable coil, and the connecting portion (94) is closer to the pivot axis (90) than the loading portion (86).
14. The adjustment device according to claim 10, characterized in that The force transmission element is a hydraulic element and the actuator (84) is a piezoelectric actuator.
15. The adjusting device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that A pressure sensor (96) for measuring the pressure of the viscous material is arranged in the material line (72).
16. A regulating device for regulating the flow and / or pressure of a viscous material, the regulating device comprising a housing (70), a material line (72) extending through the housing (70), a regulating valve (78) for closing the material line (72) by placing a closing element (80) on a valve seat (82) and for releasing the material line (72) by lifting the closing element (80) from the valve seat (82), and an actuator (84) for loading the closing element (80), characterized in that A pressure sensor (96) for measuring the pressure of the viscous material is arranged in the material line (72).
17. The adjusting device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The pressure sensor (96) is disposed downstream of the valve seat (82).
18. The adjusting device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that A regulating unit (98) is provided, which is connected to the pressure sensor (96) and regulates the pressure of the viscous material at the pressure sensor (96) to a setpoint value by actuating an actuator (84) according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor (96).
19. A device for applying a viscous material to a workpiece, comprising a device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a regulating device (15) according to any one of claims 10 to 18, and an applicator (14), the applicator having a nozzle (74) having at least one outlet (76) for the viscous material.
20. Method for applying a viscous material to a workpiece using an adjusting device (15) according to claim 18, wherein: The regulating unit (98) regulates the pressure of the viscous material at the pressure sensor (96) to a setpoint value according to the pressure measured by the pressure sensor (96) by controlling the actuator (84).
21. The method for applying a viscous material according to claim 20, using the device (10) according to claim 19, wherein: The control unit controls the valve mechanism (44) and / or the delivery pump (32) to achieve a continuous material flow.
22. Method for conveying viscous materials using a device (12) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: The control unit controls the valve mechanism (44) and / or the delivery pump (32) to achieve a continuous material flow.