Apparatus for delivering viscous material

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for conveying a viscous material from a tub-shaped container having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upward from the container bottom, the device having a follower plate (12) which is movable in a direction toward the container bottom and away from the container bottom in a manner that it lies against an inner surface of the container peripheral wall facing the interior of the container and which has a material outlet (26) and at least one air outlet (30) and / or at least one air inlet (30), the device having an air outlet device for drawing air from the interior of the container through the air outlet (30) and / or having an air inlet device for introducing compressed air into the interior of the container through the air inlet (30), the device having a lifting and lowering device (14) for lifting and lowering the follower plate (12), the device having a control device for alternately operating the lifting and lowering device (14) in a movement mode and operating the air outlet device or the air inlet device in an air outlet mode or an air inlet mode, wherein the lifting and lowering device (14) has at least one vertically extending holding rod (24) which is connected to an upper side (32) of the follower plate (12), wherein the follower plate (12) is limitedly vertically movable relative to the at least one holding rod (24), and the device having a sensor device (42) for detecting at least one upper end position and at least one lower end position of the follower plate (12) relative to the at least one holding rod (24) and for transmitting the detected positions to the control device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying viscous material from a drum-like container. Background Art

[0002] Such devices are used, for example, for applying adhesives, sealants, thermal insulation materials, or thermally conductive pastes to workpieces, particularly body parts in automotive construction. The viscous material is pumped from a container via a material outlet using a pump. A follower plate, which has the material outlet, is constantly held against the material surface in the container by means of a lifting and lowering device and follows the decreasing material level in the container by being lowered by the lifting and lowering device. The follower plate is sealed against the container's circumferential wall, preventing material from escaping the container and air from the surrounding environment from entering the container. When the container is emptied, it is replaced by a new, full container. The follower plate is first moved upward out of the empty container and then inserted into the full container located below it until the follower plate rests on the viscous material and the conveying process can begin. However, when the follower plate is inserted into a full container, air is inevitably trapped between the follower plate and the viscous material, which must be removed before the viscous material can be pumped out of the container. Furthermore, the follower plate rests sealingly with its periphery against the inner surface of the container's peripheral wall, which faces the container interior. Therefore, force must be applied when lowering the follower plate onto the surface of the viscous material. Manually inserting the follower plate into a full container requires considerable operator skill to pump out the air trapped inside the container and lower the follower plate onto the material surface. It is also known (see DE 10 2017 000 047 A1) to pump out the material before the viscous material begins to be conveyed and discarded as waste until the conveyed material no longer contains any trapped air. However, this practice is disadvantageous, particularly when the viscous material is very expensive. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to develop a device of the type mentioned at the outset which is able to automatically insert a follower plate into a container and / or automatically remove a follower plate from a container.

[0004] This object is achieved by a device having advantageous features.

[0005] The present invention is based on the concept of automatically switching between a movement mode (in which one or more holding rods are lowered, in particular motor-driven) and an exhaust mode (in which air is extracted from the container interior through an exhaust port) by means of an exhaust device. For this purpose, the follower plate is supported in a floating manner relative to the lifting and lowering device and is vertically movable relative to the lifting and lowering device to a limited extent. It is possible to arrange a floating bearing between the follower plate and at least one holding rod, enabling limited vertical movement relative to the at least one holding rod, or to arrange the follower plate between at least one holding rod of the lifting and lowering device and a vertically movable support element that supports the holding rod, enabling limited vertical movement relative to the support element. Thus, by generating negative pressure within the container, the follower plate is pulled further into the container interior, while the at least one holding rod or support element remains in position to allow tracking at the end of the air extraction. These steps are repeated alternately until the follower plate rests on the viscous material. Conversely, when removing the follower plate from an empty container, the system can alternately switch between a movement mode (in which the at least one retaining rod or the support element is raised) and a ventilation mode (in which compressed air is introduced into the container interior). The excess pressure within the container presses the follower plate upward until it reaches the upper end position relative to the at least one retaining rod, after which the introduction of compressed air is stopped and the at least one retaining rod or the support element of the follower plate is initially moved upward.

[0006] The follower plate is preferably connected to each retaining rod, or at least one retaining rod and the support element, via at least one pin guided in a vertically extending elongated hole. This provides a simple and reliable arrangement for floatingly supporting the follower plate on at least one retaining rod, thereby securing the follower plate with limited vertical movement relative to the at least one retaining rod. Preferably, the sensor device includes a path measuring device for detecting the position of the follower plate relative to the at least one retaining rod or the support element. The path measuring device measures the path covered by the follower plate relative to the at least one retaining rod or the support element, thereby enabling the position of the follower plate relative to the at least one retaining rod or the support element to be determined, and also the reaching of the upper and lower end positions to be determined with high precision. However, it is also possible for the sensor device to include at least one first sensor for detecting the pin or one of the pins when the follower plate reaches the upper end position, and at least one second sensor for detecting the pin or one of the pins when the follower plate reaches the lower end position. The sensors are preferably proximity switches. The proximity switch then switches when the pin or one of the pins reaches the lower or upper end position.

[0007] It is possible that the at least one bolt is fixedly connected to the follower plate and guided in a, in particular, vertically extending, elongated hole extending above the at least one retaining rod or a component fixedly connected to the retaining rod. However, it is preferred that each retaining rod be received at its lower end in a sleeve fixed to the upper side of the follower plate, and that at least one bolt project radially from each retaining rod and be guided in the elongated hole of the sleeve. The sleeve can, for example, be screwed onto the follower plate. It is also possible, and particularly advantageous for smaller devices, that each retaining rod be received at its upper end in a sleeve fixed to a vertically movable component of the raising and lowering device, in particular, the underside of a cross member. In this case, at least one bolt projects radially from the at least one retaining rod and is guided in the elongated hole of the sleeve. Furthermore, it is preferred that at least two bolts project radially from each retaining rod at equal angular distances from one another, each bolt being guided in an elongated hole of an associated sleeve. In particular, the two bolts may project radially from each retaining rod in opposite directions. This measure creates a symmetry that reduces the loading on the bolts due to the torques that occur. Furthermore, the raising and lowering device preferably has a plurality of retaining rods, which are preferably arranged concentrically around the center point of the follower plate and equidistant from one another. In other words, the retaining rods extend at equal distances from the central longitudinal axis of the essentially cylindrical follower plate. In particular, two retaining rods can be provided that are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the center point or center axis.

[0008] To detect when a container is empty, the follower plate can have a sensor for detecting when it is seated on the container bottom. This sensor has a pin protruding from the underside of the follower plate that can be moved into the follower plate against a restoring force. When the follower plate rests with its full weight on the container bottom and the pin is pressed into the follower plate, the pin triggers a sensor signal.

[0009] At least one vent and at least one exhaust port spaced apart from the vent may be provided. However, preferably, the vent and exhaust ports coincide, resulting in at least one opening in the follower plate for introducing and extracting air. The exhaust device may be, for example, a compressor or a Venturi nozzle. It is also possible to design the exhaust device so that it can operate in reverse and introduce compressed air into the container interior. However, the compressed air may also be supplied via a separate compressed air line.

[0010] In order to avoid the inhalation of viscous material when the air is extracted from the interior of the container, according to a preferred embodiment, a covering layer consisting of a material that is permeable to air and impermeable to liquids is arranged on the underside of the follower plate, said covering layer covering the ventilation opening and / or exhaust opening and releasing the material outlet. The covering layer can be adapted to the viscous material. The covering layer does not have to be impermeable to every liquid, but only to the viscous material to be conveyed from the container. In particular, the covering layer can be made of a foldable material, such as a thin layer of felt or commercially available grass fleece. In order to facilitate the application of the covering layer to the material surface below the follower plate, the covering layer can be connected to a rigid ring at its peripheral edge. However, it is possible that the covering layer is connected to a ring made of elastically stretchable material at its peripheral edge. The latter design can also be implemented independently of the floating support of the follower plate on the at least one retaining rod, wherein the vertical movement possibility of the follower plate relative to the at least one retaining rod or relative to the support element is limited. The covering layer is preferably made of polypropylene (PP), in particular thermally bonded continuous filaments. The polypropylene layer preferably has a weight of 60 g / m² according to DIN EN 29073 T.1. 2 ±10%, preferably, according to DIN EN 29073 T.2, the maximum tensile force in the longitudinal direction is 130 N / 5 cm, the maximum tensile force in the transverse direction is 90 N / 5 cm, respectively ±20%, according to DIN EN 29073 T.3, the longitudinal elongation is 88%, the transverse elongation is 87%, respectively ±20%. Such a material is, for example, available from p.glatzeder GmbH under the trade name PP-Spunbond Nonwoven 60 g / m 2 -LA sales. Other weights per unit area are also possible. When the follower plate is inserted, air is extracted from the interior of the container through the cover layer, while the viscous material is retained (contained) in the container, thereby reducing material waste. Before the follower plate is inserted into the container, the elastically stretchable ring can be stretched and pulled onto the surrounding edge of the container wall so that it is arranged around the container wall on the outside facing away from the container interior. When the follower plate is inserted into the container, it loads the cover layer so that the ring is pulled away from the container wall and arranged around the outer circumference of the follower plate. The ring can then form an additional seal between the follower plate and the container wall. When the container is emptied and the follower plate is removed from it, the cover layer together with the ring can be pulled off the follower plate and discarded. A new cover layer is then fixed to the container by pulling the ring of a new cover layer onto the surrounding edge of the container wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments schematically shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0012] Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus for conveying viscous material;

[0013] Figure 2 Show the basis Figure 1 A top view of the device;

[0014] Figure 3 Show the basis Figure 1 、 2 A cross-sectional view of the lower region of the device along line AA;

[0015] Figure 4 Show Figure 3 An enlarged part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The apparatus 10 shown in the figure is used for conveying viscous materials from a drum-shaped container. The apparatus comprises a follower plate 12 that can be raised and lowered by a raising and lowering device 14. The raising and lowering device 14 comprises a base plate 16 and a hydraulic cylinder 18 mounted thereon. The piston rods 20 of the hydraulic cylinders 18 extend upward and are interconnected by a support element 22 in the form of a crossbeam. Two retaining rods extend downward from the crossbeam 22, from which the follower plate is suspended.

[0017] The follower plate 12 has a central material outlet 26 through which the viscous material can be pumped out by the bucket piston when the follower plate 12 is placed on the viscous material with its lower side. 28 is transported out of the container. The follower plate also has a plurality of vents and exhaust ports 30, through which air can be pumped out of the container interior and compressed air can be introduced into the container interior. An exhaust device or a vent device (not shown in detail) can be optionally connected to the vents and exhaust ports 30.

[0018] The follower plate 12 is not rigidly connected to the retaining rod 24, but is supported on the retaining rod in a floating manner, i.e. the follower plate can move vertically to a limited extent relative to the retaining rod 24. For this purpose, two sleeves 34 are screwed onto the upper side 32 of the follower plate 12, each receiving the lower end of one of the two retaining rods 24. A pin 36 projects radially from each retaining rod and passes through a vertically extending elongated hole 38 in the associated sleeve 34 and is guided therein so as to be longitudinally movable in the vertical direction. The elongated holes 38 are each covered outwardly by a covering cap 40. The follower plate 12 can move vertically relative to the retaining rod 24. Figure 3 、 4The follower plate 12 moves between the lower end position shown, in which the pins 36 each rest against the lower end of the corresponding slot 38, and the upper end position, in which the pins each rest against the upper end of the associated slot 38. A sensor device in the form of a path measuring device 42 on each sleeve 24 detects the position of the follower plate 12 relative to the retaining rod 24 and, in particular, detects the arrival of the follower plate 12 in the upper end position and in the lower end position. When the follower plate 12 reaches the corresponding end position, the path measuring device 42 sends a signal to a control device (not shown in detail).

[0019] In order to be able to convey the viscous material from the container, the follower plate 12 is raised from the base plate 16 by the raising and lowering device 14, and the upwardly open container is placed on the base plate 16 below the follower plate 12. The covering element 50 is then arranged on the container in such a way as to cover the upwardly open container. The covering element 50 has a covering layer 52, which is permeable to air but impermeable to the viscous material. The covering layer 52 is thin and consists of a foldable material, such as commercially common weed fleece or a thin felt layer. An elastically stretchable ring 54 is looped around the covering layer 52 and is pulled onto the peripheral wall surface of the container so that it rests on the peripheral wall surface on the outside in the stretched state. The follower plate 12 is then lowered, pressed onto the covering layer 52, and thereby the elastic ring 54 is pulled away from the peripheral wall surface of the container until the elastic ring rests on the peripheral surface 56 of the follower plate 12, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 The cover 52 covers the vent and exhaust openings 30, but not the material outlet 26. The follower plate 12 is lowered by the raising and lowering device 14 until the wiper ring 58 surrounding its circumference 56 rests on the inner surface of the container wall, so that its friction prevents further insertion of the follower plate 12.

[0020] A further lowering of the holding bar 24 brings the follower plate 12 into its upper end position, triggering the path measuring device 42, and the control device activates the exhaust device and deactivates the lifting and lowering device 14. The follower plate 12 is pulled down by the negative pressure generated in the container until it reaches its lower end position, triggering the path measuring device 42, the control device deactivates the exhaust device and operates the lifting and lowering device 14, which lowers the holding bar 24. The switching between the movement mode, in which the exhaust device is deactivated and the lifting and lowering device moves the holding bar 24, and the exhaust mode, in which the holding bar 24 remains positionally fixed and air is pumped out of the container interior through the vent and exhaust openings 30 by the exhaust device, takes place as long as the follower plate 12 rests on the cohesive material and air is pumped out of the container. Then the conveying process begins, in which the shovel piston pump 28 pumps the cohesive material out of the container. Due to the negative pressure generated in the container, the follower plate 12 follows the material level until it reaches its lower end position, whereupon the control device again operates the lifting and lowering device 14 in accordance with the signal of the path measuring device 42, so that the holding bar 24 is lowered until the follower plate 12 reaches its upper end position and the path measuring device 42 transmits a corresponding signal to the control device. In order to prevent the container from being lifted from the floor 16 when there is a negative pressure in the container, at least one hold-down device can be provided, which is fixedly connected to the floor 16 and acts on the lower and / or upper container edge.

[0021] If the container is emptied, the follower plate 12 is removed from the container according to the method when it is inserted into the container. For this purpose, compressed air is introduced into the vent and exhaust openings 30 by the venting device, as a result of which the follower plate 12 is lifted from the container bottom by pressure loading. The follower plate then reaches its upper end position, the path measuring device 42 switches, the control device interrupts the supply of compressed air and activates the lifting and lowering device 14, which raises the holding bar 24 until the follower plate 12 reaches its lower end position again. The path measuring device 42 then switches again, the lifting and lowering device 14 stops, compressed air is introduced into the container interior again, and so on, until the follower plate 12 reaches the upper container rim and can be lifted.

[0022] In summary, it can be summarized as follows: According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus 10 for conveying viscous material from a barrel-shaped container having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upward from the container bottom, the apparatus having a follower plate 12, the follower plate being movable in a direction toward and away from the container bottom in a manner abutting against an inner surface of the container peripheral wall facing the container interior, and the follower plate having a material outlet 26 and at least one exhaust port 30 and / or at least one vent 30; having an exhaust device for extracting air from the container interior through the exhaust port 30 and / or having a vent device for introducing compressed air into the container interior through the vent 30; having a material outlet 26 and at least one exhaust port 30 and / or at least one vent 30; having an exhaust device for extracting air from the container interior through the exhaust port 30 and / or having a vent device for introducing compressed air into the container interior through the vent 30; having a material outlet 26 and at least one exhaust port 30 and / or at least one vent 30; having a material outlet 26 and at least one exhaust port 30 and / or at least one vent 30; having a material outlet 26 and at least one exhaust port 30; having ... A raising and lowering device 14 for raising and lowering the follower plate 12; having a control device for alternately operating the raising and lowering device 14 in a motion mode and operating the exhaust device or the ventilation device in an exhaust mode or a ventilation mode, wherein the raising and lowering device 14 has at least one vertically extending retaining rod 24, which is connected to the upper side 32 of the follower plate 12, wherein the follower plate 12 can be vertically moved relative to the at least one retaining rod 24 in a limited manner; and having a sensor device 42 for detecting at least one upper end position and at least one lower end position of the follower plate 12 relative to the at least one retaining rod 24 and for transmitting the detected positions to the control device.

Claims

1. A device for conveying viscous material from a barrel-shaped container having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upward from the container bottom, the device comprising a follower plate (12), the follower plate being movable in a direction toward and away from the container bottom by being in contact with an inner surface of the container peripheral wall facing the container interior, and the follower plate having a material outlet (26) and at least one exhaust port and / or at least one vent (30); the device having an exhaust device for extracting air from the container interior through the exhaust port and / or a ventilation device for introducing compressed air into the container interior through the vent (30); the device having a raising and lowering device (14) for raising and lowering the follower plate (12); the device having a control device for alternately controlling the raising and lowering device (14) in a movement mode and the exhaust device in an exhaust mode or the vent device in a ventilation mode, wherein The raising and lowering device (14) has at least one vertically extending retaining rod (24), which is connected to the upper side (32) of the follower plate (12) and extends downward from a carrier element (22) that can be moved in the vertical direction, wherein the follower plate (12) can be vertically moved to a limited extent relative to the at least one retaining rod (24) and / or relative to the carrier element (22); and the device has a sensor device (42) for detecting at least one upper end position and at least one lower end position of the follower plate (12) relative to the at least one retaining rod (24) or relative to the carrier element (22) and for transmitting the detected positions to the control device.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The follower plate (12) is connected to each holding rod (24) or each holding rod (24) is connected to the support element (22) via at least one bolt (36) guided in a vertically extending elongated hole (38).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The sensor device (42) has at least one path measuring device for detecting the position of the follower plate (12) relative to the at least one holding rod (24) or relative to the support element (22).

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The sensor device comprises at least one first sensor for detecting one of the at least one bolt (36) when the follower plate (12) reaches an upper end position and at least one second sensor for detecting one of the at least one bolt (36) when the follower plate (12) reaches a lower end position.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that The sensor is a proximity switch.

6. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that Each retaining rod (24) is received at its lower end in a sleeve (34) fixed to the upper side (32) of the follower plate (12) or at its upper end in a sleeve fixed to the support element (22), and at least one bolt (36) guided in a slot (38) of the sleeve (34) projects radially from each retaining rod.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that At least two bolts (36) project radially from each holding rod (24) at equal angular distances from one another, said bolts being guided in respective elongated holes (38) of associated sleeves (34).

8. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The raising and lowering device (14) has a plurality of retaining rods (24).

9. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The follower plate (12) has a sensor for detecting seating on the container bottom, the sensor having a pin protruding from the underside of the follower plate (12) and movable into the follower plate (12) against a restoring force.

10. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The vent (30) and the exhaust port coincide with each other.

11. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A covering layer (52) made of a material permeable to air and impermeable to liquids is arranged on the underside of the follower plate (12), said covering layer covering the air outlet (30) and / or the ventilation opening and releasing the material outlet (26).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that The covering layer (52) is made of a foldable material.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that The cover layer (52) is connected to a rigid ring at its peripheral edge.

14. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that The cover layer (52) is connected at its peripheral edge to a loop (54) made of elastically stretchable material.

15. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that The retaining rods are arranged concentrically around the center point of the follower plate (12) and equidistant from one another.

16. An apparatus for conveying viscous material from a barrel-shaped container having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upward from the container bottom, the apparatus comprising a follower plate (12) which is movable in a direction toward and away from the container bottom by being in contact with an inner surface of the container peripheral wall facing the container interior, and the follower plate having a material outlet (26) and at least one exhaust port and / or at least one vent (30); the apparatus having an exhaust device for extracting air from the interior of the container through the exhaust port and / or a ventilation device for introducing compressed air into the interior of the container through the vent (30); the apparatus having a raising and lowering device (14) for raising and lowering the follower plate (12); and the apparatus having a control device for alternately operating the raising and lowering device (14) in a movement mode and operating the exhaust device in an exhaust mode or operating the vent device in a ventilation mode, wherein A covering layer (52) made of a material permeable to air and impermeable to liquids is arranged on the underside of the follower plate (12), said covering layer covering the exhaust and / or vent openings (30) and releasing the material outlet (26), said covering layer being connected at its peripheral edge to a ring (54) made of an elastically stretchable material.

17. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that The cover layer (52) is made of polypropylene (PP).

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that The cover layer (52) is composed of thermally bonded continuous filaments.

19. A method for inserting a follower plate (12) of the device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 into a barrel-shaped container, the barrel-shaped container being open upward and having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upward from the container bottom, wherein: The follower plate (12) is lowered onto the container by means of a lifting and lowering device (14) until the follower plate rests sealingly against the inner surface of the container peripheral wall, wherein, by means of alternating switching between a movement mode and a venting mode, the follower plate (12) is lowered by venting the interior of the container after reaching its upper end position relative to the at least one retaining rod or relative to the supporting element, and the at least one retaining rod (24) or the supporting element (22) is lowered by the lifting and lowering device (14) after the follower plate (12) reaches its lower end position relative to the at least one retaining rod or relative to the supporting element.

20. Method for using the apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein: Before the follower plate (12) is lowered onto the container, the cover (52) is secured to the container by: The ring (54) is stretched and pulled onto the surrounding edge of the container wall so that the ring is arranged around the container wall on the outside facing away from the container interior, and the ring (54) is pulled away from the container wall by the cover layer (52) being loaded by the follower plate (12) when the follower plate is inserted into the container and is arranged around the outer peripheral surface (56) of the follower plate (12).

21. A method for removing a follower plate (12) of an apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 18 from a barrel-shaped container, the barrel-shaped container being upwardly open and having a container bottom and a container peripheral wall extending upwardly from the container bottom, wherein: By means of alternating switching between the movement mode and the ventilation mode, the at least one retaining rod (24) or the supporting element (22) is raised after the follower plate (12) reaches an upper end position relative to the at least one retaining rod or relative to the supporting element, and the follower plate (12) is raised by introducing compressed air into the interior of the container after reaching its lower end position relative to the at least one retaining rod or relative to the supporting element.

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