Conveying device for bulk material, system having such conveying device, and method for cleaning conveying device

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing device for bulk material, to a system having such a dosing device and to a method for cleaning a dosing device.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device for bulk materials, a system having such a conveying device, and a method for cleaning the conveying device. Background Art

[0002] Conveying devices for bulk materials and conveying devices as part of metering devices for metering bulk materials are known from the prior art. Here, the bulk material to be conveyed or metered enters from a receiving unit, such as a container, into a discharge area located downstream of the receiving unit in the main conveying direction, from where the bulk material to be conveyed or metered is discharged from the device by means of a discharge element. In metering devices, the discharge is carried out in a defined quantity, which is usually divided into weight metering and volume metering. Here, it is usually necessary to clean the device mainly when changing the type of bulk material in order to avoid cross-contamination of the bulk materials.

[0003] However, the cleaning of such conveying devices and their components is both time-consuming and costly. Therefore, the cleaning measures are carried out as few times as possible, and frequent changes of the type of bulk material are avoided to avoid cross-contamination. However, this may damage the production capacity of the device and it is difficult to achieve the highest possible utilization rate of the device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a means for efficiently and economically cleaning a conveying device for bulk materials or a conveying device as part of a metering device for metering bulk materials.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the first aspect of the present invention in such a way that a conveying device for bulk materials having the features of claim 1 is provided. The conveying device has at least one receiving unit for receiving the bulk material to be conveyed and at least one discharge area, which is located downstream of the receiving unit in the main conveying direction, and / or the bulk material can in particular be transferred from the receiving unit into the discharge area via the bulk material discharge opening of the receiving unit. In addition, the conveying device has a discharge element arranged in the discharge area, which is designed to discharge the bulk material from the discharge area in the direction of the discharge opening of the device. According to the invention, nozzles for injecting fluid are provided in the area surrounding the discharge element.

[0006] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the discharge element is arranged in a suspended manner in the discharge area. In addition, the discharge element can be or have a screw connection, a groove, a screw, a helix, a cleaning arm, a sluice wheel, a cell wheel, a cell wheel sluice, a sluice, and / or a roller.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the amazing recognition that, with the assistance of the fluid flow formed in the area of the discharging element, the deposition of bulk material and / or the adhering residue can be separated from the components of the metering device in contact with the bulk material in a particularly reliable and simple manner and transported out along the main conveying direction. By spraying fluid through a nozzle and thus separating the consolidated bulk material, it is possible to clean very inaccessible areas of the metering device for the residue of the bulk material.

[0008] This can advantageously shorten the cleaning time and / or also clean the device for a larger amount of deposited and / or adhering bulk material in the same or even shorter time.

[0009] The inventors have mainly recognized that the application of the proposed cleaning solution can be carried out without manual intervention. Thus, the cleaning can also be carried out in a program-controlled and self-operating manner when needed. This can not only achieve flexible cleaning cycles, but also significantly reduce the relatively high costs and long downtime associated with the cleaning of the conveying and metering devices.

[0010] Mainly due to the proposed solution, the conveying device no longer needs to be opened by the cleaning personnel and even manually cleaned of the deposited and / or adhering bulk material. This enables the conveying device for transporting or metering harmful health bulk materials to be safely cleaned. This can in turn improve the work safety of the personnel involved. Since there is no need to protect personnel from contact with bulk materials during cleaning, there are no additional high safety requirements or only fewer high safety requirements in terms of cleaning. Through all these advantages, the maintenance and operation costs of the conveying and metering devices can be significantly reduced.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveying device has nozzles at different positions around the discharging element. For example, it can be arranged to spray fluid into the coupling area where the discharging element is connected to a driving element, such as a drive shaft.

[0012] One or more other nozzles can be provided for spraying fluid into the dead zone below the discharging element and / or for spraying fluid into the radially existing area between the shaft (possibly a hollow shaft) of the discharging element and the inner surface of the housing forming the discharging area.

[0013] Advantageously, one or more nozzles may be arranged at or in a support element for supporting the discharge element, and / or at or in the shaft of the discharge element. Depending on their arrangement and orientation, the fluid can be ejected in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity or parallel to the main extension direction of the discharge element. Additionally, the fluid can be ejected in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction of the discharge element and / or deflected into a direction parallel to the main extension direction.

[0014] Another embodiment provides that one or more nozzles eject the fluid in a direction radial to the main extension direction of the discharge element.

[0015] Here, what is mainly astonishing is that the discharge element can advantageously remain assembled during cleaning and be used to agitate the fluid flow introduced by one or more nozzles. Thus, due to the presence of the discharge element, the cleaning effect can be significantly enhanced in a very astonishing manner.

[0016] The connection area can be an area separate from and / or at least partially separated from the discharge area. Even in this case, with the proposed nozzles, cleaning can still be achieved in an efficient, particularly simple, and thorough manner. Mainly when bulk material that may solidify in the connection area cannot be discharged through the discharge element, the proposed solution is particularly suitable for efficient and thorough cleaning.

[0017] The connection area can be part of the support element for supporting the discharge element.

[0018] Furthermore, by providing one or more of the proposed nozzles, damage to the discharge element, precisely the discharge element in the connection area, caused by solidified bulk material can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0019] In one embodiment, it can also be advantageous if the device is further configured to at least temporarily actuated, in particular rotated, the discharge element during the ejection of the fluid jet through one or more nozzles. In this way, favorable cleaning effects are observed both in the discharge area and with respect to the receiving unit individually.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, in the first aspect and / or the second aspect of the present invention, it can also be provided that at least two nozzles are provided, with which the fluid can be sprayed into the area around the discharge element, in particular the dead zone, in two opposite directions, wherein preferably at least one nozzle is provided at each of the two ends of the discharge area.

[0021] Thereby, the extended discharge area can also be cleaned in a particularly advantageous manner.

[0022] Another preferred embodiment provides a conveying device for bulk materials, which device has at least one receiving unit for receiving the bulk materials to be metered and at least one further nozzle for at least temporarily ejecting a fluid jet into the receiving unit, wherein the further nozzle is oriented such that the fluid jet can be directed at least regionally against the inner surface of the receiving unit, in particular to at least construct a swirling fluid flow, which is a cleaning fluid flow, at least within the receiving unit and / or at least regionally.

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention is based on the surprising recognition that, with the aid of the fluid flow constructed within the receiving unit, deposits and / or adhering residues of bulk materials can be separated from the components of the conveying device that come into contact with the bulk materials in a particularly reliable and simple manner and transported out in the main conveying direction. By forming such a swirling fluid flow, which is referred to as the cleaning fluid flow, within the receiving unit, a particularly high efficiency can be achieved in a surprising manner when cleaning the metering device and its components. This can advantageously shorten the cleaning time and / or also clean the device for a larger amount of deposited and / or adhering bulk materials in the same or even shorter time.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveying device has at least two or more than two further nozzles, each for at least temporarily ejecting a fluid jet into the receiving unit, wherein advantageously each of these further nozzles is oriented such that the respective fluid jet can be directed at least regionally against each of a plurality of regions of the inner surface of the receiving unit, in order to at least regionally construct a swirling fluid flow, which is a cleaning fluid flow, within the receiving unit.

[0025] When discussed in connection with the cleaning fluid flow in the present application, the "swirling" is preferably understood as: (a) the cleaning fluid flow (i) exhibits in particular a three-dimensional and / or turbulent eddy and / or (ii) rotates about the central axis of the receiving unit; and / or (b) the fluid components separated due to the centripetal force (in particular the denser fluid components, such as cleaning particles) move along the inner surface of the receiving unit (in particular in contact with the inner surface of the receiving unit), thereby preferably enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0026] Accordingly, the present invention also serves to enable residues of bulk materials located at the inner surface of the receiving unit to be transported out and separated in a particularly reliable manner by means of a fluid flow or eddy. The separated bulk material residues can then be discharged from the device. The residues can be removed from the device, for example, by mechanically moving the residues by means of a discharge element or by applying a negative pressure and sucking the separated bulk material residues.

[0027] This allows for the replacement of the type of bulk material to be carried out in a short time, thereby improving the utilization rate of the conveying equipment. In particular, cross-contamination can be avoided or at least significantly reduced. The proposed solution can also be used to effectively separate electrostatically adsorbed residues of bulk materials.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, ejection is carried out from the nozzle for a period of 1 second or longer, preferably 10 seconds or longer, preferably 30 seconds or longer, preferably 60 seconds or longer, and / or for a period of 100 seconds or shorter, preferably 60 seconds or shorter. Optionally, the nozzle is set for a correspondingly long fluid ejection.

[0029] Preferably, the bulk material to be metered is a powdery, granular or lumpy mixture that exhibits a pourable form or can exhibit a pourable form.

[0030] Examples of advantageous bulk materials are rocks, construction materials (especially topsoil, sand, gravel and / or cement), raw materials (especially ores, coal, clay and / or de-icing salt), foodstuffs (especially grains, sugar, salt, coffee and / or flour) and / or powdery materials (especially pigments, fillers, granules and / or pellets).

[0031] The fluid of the fluid jet ejected by the nozzle can for example be or contain alcohol, water, a gas (especially an inert gas or hydrogen) or a gas mixture (such as air, especially compressed air).

[0032] The fluid can advantageously be ejected from the first nozzle at an absolute pressure greater than 5 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, preferably greater than 20 bar.

[0033] The main conveying direction advantageously extends from the receiving unit in the direction of the bulk material discharge opening.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the receiving unit has in particular a removable cover, and the bulk material supply opening is preferably provided in this cover.

[0035] The receiving unit can be safely closed by the cover. And the metering device can be safely operated through the bulk material supply opening provided in the cover, because the interior of the receiving unit will not be accidentally touched during metering and / or cleaning operation. For example, when carrying out maintenance work on the equipment, the cover can be removed in a simple manner so that the interior of the receiving unit can be better accessed.

[0036] It can also be provided that the bulk material discharge opening is opposite the bulk material supply opening, or that the bulk material discharge opening and the bulk material supply opening have a common central axis. Alternatively, the central axes of the bulk material discharge opening and the bulk material supply opening can be different and preferably extend parallel or inclined relative to each other.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the receiving unit is configured to be rotationally symmetric, at least regionally.

[0038] Thereby, the receiving unit can be applied in a particularly simple manner. And it can be configured particularly advantageously to form a swirling fluid flow.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the receiving unit can be or is presented as a container, and / or is configured to be hollow frustoconical, at least regionally (e.g., the inner part of the receiving unit).

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the inner surface of the receiving unit is in contact with and / or can be in contact with the bulk material, at least temporarily, during the metering operation of the device, and / or that the inner surface is configured in the form of the circumferential surface of a frustum, at least regionally.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the receiving unit has a diameter that tapers along the direction of gravity, especially the inner diameter, at least in sections.

[0042] By configuring the receiving unit to be hollow frustoconical and / or having a reduced diameter, distinct eddies can be formed in the receiving unit in a particularly efficient and reliable manner, and the helical extension of the fluid flow mentioned above can be achieved.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that other nozzles are oriented relative to the receiving unit, preferably relative to the inner surface of the receiving unit, such that the fluid jet that can be ejected from the other nozzle can be deflected by means of the impact area of the inner surface of the receiving unit.

[0044] Advantageously, the deflection can be carried out at least partially along the bending direction of the inner surface, which corresponds to the circumferential direction of the receiving unit.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the inner surface has a curved extension, at least regionally and preferably entirely, along at least one circumferential direction of the receiving unit, and preferably the extension of the impact area is determined, at least in part or completely, by this curved extension.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that other nozzles are oriented relative to the receiving unit, preferably relative to the inner surface of the receiving unit, such that the fluid jet ejected from the other nozzle has a tangential, horizontally extending first velocity component at the impact point on the inner surface, especially in the impact area, and especially that this first velocity component is greater than the second velocity component of the fluid jet ejected from the first nozzle that is parallel to the direction of gravity.

[0047] Thus, a swirling configuration can advantageously be achieved through the interaction between the other nozzles (especially their position and orientation) and the receiving unit (especially the inner surface of the receiving unit).

[0048] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the other nozzles at least partially and / or temporarily extend into the receiving unit during the conveying, metering, and / or cleaning operation of the device.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the other nozzles are arranged at the lid of the receiving unit, especially arranged such that in the case of a closed lid, the other nozzles at least partially extend into the receiving unit.

[0050] Thus, existing conveying and metering devices can also be retrofitted in a particularly economical and low-cost manner because only the lid needs to be provided with corresponding other nozzles. By arranging the other nozzles at the lid, the improvements required for the existing conveying device are limited to a small number of easily retrofittable components.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the other nozzles are arranged at the inner surface of the receiving unit, especially arranged such that the other nozzles at least partially extend into the receiving unit.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the other nozzles are especially arranged in the receiving unit at least during the conveying, metering, and / or cleaning operation of the device such that they are positioned above a defined level relative to the maximum allowable filling height of the bulk material in the receiving unit during the metering operation of the metering device.

[0053] This is particularly advantageous because thereby contamination of the other nozzles by the bulk material during the conveying operation of the device can be avoided or at least significantly reduced. Thereby, manual intervention for cleaning the other nozzles themselves can be avoided or at least limited to a minimum.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the residues of the bulk material can be separated from the discharge area and / or the inner surface of the receiving unit by a fluid flow and a cleaning fluid flow, and / or the residues separated from the discharge area and / or the inner surface of the receiving unit of the bulk material can be transported in the direction of the bulk material discharge opening and / or the discharge port.

[0055] Thereby, the residues of the bulk material can be removed from the device in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the device has a storage container for receiving a cleaning agent, especially a granular cleaning agent such as cleaning granules, and / or is connected or connectable to such a storage container.

[0057] The cleaning action of the cleaning fluid stream can be further enhanced and the cleaning effect improved by the application of a cleaning agent. Advantageously, therefore, the device has a corresponding storage container.

[0058] For example, in particular low-elasticity, organic and / or inorganic particles, such as particles having polyethylene and / or polypropylene or consisting of polyethylene and / or polypropylene, can be used as the cleaning agent. Particularly advantageously, materials that have been otherwise processed in the process and are thus available can be used as the cleaning agent.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the device has a cleaning agent supply port, particularly in the lid of the receiving unit, for supplying the cleaning agent, in particular from the storage container, into the interior of the receiving unit.

[0060] Thereby, the cleaning agent can be supplied to the metering device in a particularly reliable manner. For example, the cleaning agent can be supplied from the storage container to the interior of the receiving unit via a connecting hose that leads to or passes through the cleaning agent supply port.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that other nozzles and / or cleaning agent supply ports are arranged offset relative to a defined or definable vertical central plane of the receiving unit.

[0062] Thereby, other nozzles can be positioned particularly close to the inner surface / impact area. In this way, the cleaning fluid stream can be formed particularly reliably.

[0063] The central plane can, for example, have the vertical central axis of the receiving unit.

[0064] Of course, it can be understood that the central plane can be a purely conceptual auxiliary structure and does not necessarily have to exist as a physical feature.

[0065] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the device is configured to supply the cleaning agent, preferably after a swirling cleaning fluid stream has been stably formed, particularly from the storage container and / or via the bulk material supply port and / or the cleaning agent supply port, to the fluid stream.

[0066] In particular, the cleaning agent is thus supplied after the fluid has started to be supplied into the interior of the receiving unit. Through this two-stage process, on the one hand, the fluid stream can be reliably formed, and on the other hand, the easily separable residues of the bulk material can be separated first, and then the remaining residues can be separated under the action of the cleaning agent.

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the device is configured to supply the cleaning agent to the ejected fluid jet and / or the cleaning fluid stream, which can preferably be carried at least temporarily and / or at least sectionally by the cleaning fluid stream.

[0068] Thus, in the case of the first option, the cleaning agent has been mixed into the fluid ejected from the other nozzles here. This enables a particularly compact configuration of the device, since no additional openings are required for supplying the cleaning agent to the receiving unit. Here, the cleaning agent can be permanently or at least temporarily mixed into the fluid to be ejected as a fluid jet. For example, the cleaning agent can be mixed with the fluid in a time-delayed manner, so that the above-described two-stage process can be achieved.

[0069] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning agent can be supplied to the receiving unit via a separate opening and / or via the same opening as the bulk material.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the lid of the receiving unit has a cleaning agent supply port.

[0071] Alternatively or additionally, in the above aspects of the present invention, it can also be provided that the discharge opening leads to a tipping element, which particularly has a sleeve, a vertical tipping part and / or a downpipe, wherein preferably the bulk material can be discharged from the metering device via the tipping element in a direction parallel to or inclined to, in particular at an angle of less than 90° to the direction of gravity.

[0072] Via the tipping element, the bulk material metered by the metering device can be reliably supplied to the subsequent process. For example, the bulk material can be supplied to an extruder in a metered manner.

[0073] Similarly, the cleaning agent can also be reliably discharged from the metering device via the tipping element.

[0074] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the tipping element has a suction port for sucking fine parts (Feinanteil), in particular dust, and / or the suction port and / or the discharge opening are or can be operatively connected to a suction device for sucking dust.

[0075] In this way, an amazingly simple but reliable solution is achieved for hitting fine parts such as bulk material residues with the cleaning agent during the cleaning process.

[0076] When the cleaning agent is granular, for example, the cleaning agent can pass through the tipping element during the cleaning process and be guided downward along the direction of gravity, while the dust part and / or the substantially powdery bulk material residue can be at least partially sucked out of the metering device via the suction port.

[0077] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the suction port faces upward against the direction of gravity.

[0078] Thereby, it is ensured in a particularly simple but reliable manner that during cleaning no or as little as possible of the cleaning agent, in particular in granular form, reaches in the direction of the suction unit.

[0079] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the conveying device is a component of a metering device, such as a differential metering scale.

[0080] The functional principle of a differential metering scale is known to the person skilled in the art. The differential metering scale advantageously has at least one weight sensor, such as at least one weighing unit, so that the weight of the weighed system can be ascertained at different points in time. The amount of bulk material discharged can be ascertained from the weight difference between two consecutive points in time. This value can in turn be used within the framework of a control loop to discharge a specific amount of bulk material per unit time from the metering device, thereby metering the bulk material to be metered. Advantageously, the weighed system here has at least a receiving unit and preferably also a discharge area and / or discharge element, the receiving unit containing the bulk material to be metered therein.

[0081] This object is achieved according to a third aspect of the invention, namely, a system is proposed having a conveying device according to the first aspect and / or the second aspect of the invention and at least one extruder, wherein preferably (i) the extruder is arranged behind the device in the main conveying direction, in particular behind the receiving unit, the discharge opening and / or the tipping element; and / or (ii) the bulk material can be supplied from the conveying device, in particular in a metered manner, to the extruder, in particular via the tipping element.

[0082] Surprisingly, it has been found that in this system it can be particularly advantageous that the cleaning agent for cleaning the conveying device can also be used to rinse the extruder. In particular, this can be achieved in the process by, after discharging the cleaning agent from the conveying device, for example via the tipping element, supplying it directly to the extruder. Thus, the bulk material to be metered by the conveying device can advantageously be directly supplied to the receiving part of the extruder to supply the bulk material to the extruder (and then the cleaning agent can also be supplied on the same path).

[0083] Thus, the extruder is advantageously connected to the conveying device in terms of process technology, in particular the extruder is located downstream of the conveying or metering device in the process chain.

[0084] The replacement of bulk materials can thus be achieved in a particularly simple and rapid manner, since the conveying or metering device and the extruder (i.e., in particular the components in contact with the bulk materials) can be cleaned in a very simple and reliable manner. Therefore, the proposed system can operate in a particularly efficient and economical manner even when using different bulk materials. A particularly high utilization rate of the system can be achieved through a feasible solution for the rapid replacement of bulk materials.

[0085] For other related advantages, reference can be made to the foregoing descriptions of the first and second aspects of the present invention. The same applies here in an exactly corresponding manner.

[0086] This object is achieved by the present invention according to the fourth aspect, that is, a closure, in particular a lid, is proposed for closing the main opening of the receiving unit of the metering device according to the first and / or second aspects of the present invention, wherein nozzles in the form of other nozzles of the metering device are arranged at or in the closure.

[0087] By providing a closure with corresponding other nozzles, an existing metering device can also be retrofitted in an astonishingly simple manner to have the function of efficiently cleaning, in particular efficiently cleaning the receiving unit.

[0088] For related advantages, reference can be made to the foregoing descriptions of the first and second aspects of the present invention. The same applies here in an exactly corresponding manner.

[0089] This object is achieved by the present invention according to the fifth aspect, that is, a support element is proposed for supporting the discharging element of the conveying device according to the first and / or second aspects of the present invention, wherein nozzles of the conveying device are arranged at or in the support element.

[0090] By providing a support element with one or more nozzles arranged radially and / or axially in a corresponding manner, an existing conveying device can also be retrofitted in an astonishingly simple manner to have the function of efficiently cleaning, in particular efficiently cleaning the discharging area.

[0091] This object is achieved by the present invention according to the sixth aspect, that is, the use of a cleaning agent, in particular a granular cleaning agent such as cleaning granules, is proposed for cleaning at least some components and / or areas of the conveying device that come into contact with or can come into contact with the bulk material to be metered during the conveying or metering operation of the device, for example, at least one receiving unit of the conveying device suitable for receiving the bulk material, in particular the inner surface of the receiving unit, and the cleaning agent is used to clean and / or rinse the extruder downstream of the conveying device along the main conveying direction during the process.

[0092] It has surprisingly been found that the conveying device and the extruder can be cleaned in a particularly simple and economical manner by using the cleaning agent both for cleaning the conveying device, such as for separating deposited and / or adhering residues of bulk material, and for cleaning and / or rinsing the extruder, which is advantageously filled or fillable with bulk material by the conveying device.

[0093] Furthermore, the technical object stated at the beginning is achieved by the method according to claim 17. In a method for cleaning a conveying device, in particular the aforementioned conveying device, at least regionally constructing a fluid flow in the discharge region, the receiving unit, and / or the connection region of the discharge element separates and / or conveys at least part of the residues of bulk material deposited and / or adhering on the inner surface of the discharge region or the receiving unit of the conveying device in the direction of the discharge opening.

[0094] Advantageously, in the discharge region, the support region, or the connection region, the residues of bulk material are separated in particular from the dead zones by the fluid flow.

[0095] Furthermore, the method for cleaning the conveying device provides that at least regionally constructing a downwardly directed fluid flow as a cleaning fluid flow in the receiving unit separates and / or conveys at least part of the residues of bulk material deposited and / or adhering on the inner surface of the receiving unit in the direction of the bulk material discharge opening of the receiving unit. The conveying device has a receiving unit for receiving bulk material to be metered, and the bulk material can preferably be supplied via the bulk material supply opening of the receiving unit and / or can be transferred out of the receiving unit via the bulk material discharge opening in the direction of the main conveying direction towards the discharge opening of the device.

[0096] By constructing the fluid flow in a corresponding manner, the residues of bulk material can be separated from the receiving unit and discharged from the metering device in a particularly efficient manner.

[0097] Furthermore, as long as there is no contrary statement in the context, all the alternatives in the description of the foregoing aspects of the present invention can be provided in this method either individually or in any combination. In particular, the physical features of the conveying device described therein can also be provided in the conveying device here in a corresponding manner. The features for which the conveying device or its components are set or constructed can also be specified as method features.

[0098] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that a swirling cleaning fluid flow is constructed.

[0099] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning fluid flow is configured in the receiving unit along a flow path, wherein preferably the flow path extends at least sectionally and / or at least regionally along a spiral trajectory, in particular a spiral trajectory with a decreasing diameter and / or extends from top to bottom with reference to the direction of gravity.

[0100] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the fluid flow is introduced into the receiving unit by fluid jets ejected from other nozzles, and wherein the fluid jets preferably point obliquely to the inner surface of the receiving unit, and preferably at least partially deflect the fluid flow in the circumferential direction of the receiving unit.

[0101] The impact area of the inner surface can be the impact area described above.

[0102] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that a swirling fluid flow is formed in at least part of the receiving unit by the interaction between the fluid jets and / or the fluid flow and the inner surface of the receiving unit.

[0103] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that a cleaning agent, in particular a granular cleaning agent such as cleaning granules, is supplied to the fluid flow, and the cleaning agent can preferably be transported at least temporarily and / or at least partially along the inner surface of the receiving unit by the fluid flow, and in particular separate residues of bulk material from the inner surface here.

[0104] For example, the cleaning agent can be supplied via the bulk material supply opening and / or the cleaning agent supply opening of the receiving unit.

[0105] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning agent is supplied to the fluid flow in a spaced-apart manner from other nozzles.

[0106] For example, the other nozzles are arranged to be spaced apart from the cleaning agent supply opening for this purpose.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning granules are supplied to the fluid flow through the same opening that also supplies bulk material to the receiving unit.

[0108] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning agent is supplied to the fluid flow after a swirling flow is stably formed.

[0109] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning agent is introduced into the receiving unit together with the fluid jets as a mixture, in particular as a fluid-cleaning agent mixture, especially via other nozzles.

[0110] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the cleaning agent and the fines are separated from each other after being discharged from the conveying device, in particular by sucking the fines and / or discharging the cleaning granules in a direction parallel to or inclined to the direction of gravity.

[0111] Reference can also be made to the foregoing for this.

[0112] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that, in particular by guiding the cleaning agent discharged from the conveying device through the extruder, the extruder downstream of the conveying or metering device in the main conveying direction is rinsed with the cleaning agent discharged from the conveying device.

[0113] Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the device has at least one discharge area and a discharge element arranged in the discharge area, the discharge area being downstream of the receiving unit in the main conveying direction and / or in which the bulk material is transferred out of the receiving unit, in particular via the bulk material discharge opening of the receiving unit, and the discharge element being used to discharge the bulk material out of the discharge area in the direction of the discharge opening of the device.

[0114] Preferably, in particular simultaneously with or before or after constructing the cleaning fluid flow in the receiving unit, (i) for example, the fluid is sprayed from a nozzle into the discharge area, in particular the area around the discharge element, in an area located below the discharge element in the direction of gravity; and / or (ii) the fluid is sprayed from a nozzle into the connection area in which the discharge element is connected to a drive element, such as a drive shaft.

[0115] In one embodiment, it can also be advantageous if the device is set to actuate, in particular rotate, the discharge element at least temporarily during the ejection of the fluid jet by means of the nozzle. In this way, a favorable cleaning effect is also observed with respect to the receiving unit alone.

[0116] Alternatively, the fluid can be sprayed, for example, from a second nozzle into the discharge area, in particular the area around the discharge element, in an area located below the discharge element in the direction of gravity, and / or the fluid can be sprayed into the connection area in which the discharge element is connected to a drive element, such as a drive shaft.

[0117] This is based on the amazing recognition that the fluid can be sprayed into the discharge area and / or the connection area and thereby separate the consolidated bulk material, and in this way, the residues of the bulk material can be cleaned in areas of the metering device that are difficult to access.

[0118] Thereby, the cleaning process can be carried out in a particularly efficient and low-cost manner. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to disassemble the metering device to clean the areas that are difficult to access.

[0119] Here, what is mainly amazing is that the discharge element can advantageously remain assembled during cleaning and be used to agitate the introduced fluid flow. Therefore, due to the presence of the discharge element, the cleaning effect can be significantly improved amazingly.

[0120] Furthermore, by providing one or more of the proposed first and second nozzles, damage to the discharge element, and precisely the discharge element in the connection area, caused by the consolidated bulk material can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0121] It has also been recognized that applying (one or more) fluid flows together with a cleaning fluid flow enables amazing synergistic effects. Thus, a cleaning effect can be obtained by the combined application that is superior to the case of applying the individual fluid flows in sequence.

[0122] Furthermore, according to the method of the invention, the control of the bulk material supply opening, the discharge element of the conveying device, one or more nozzles, one or more other nozzles, the cleaning agent supply device, the extruder, and / or the suction device can be set individually and in a defined time sequence.

[0123] Thereby, the mechanical discharge movements for discharging the bulk material residues by means of the discharge element and the fluid flow, and (if necessary) the suction process can be tuned to each other in terms of time and logic in order to obtain an optimal cleaning effect depending on the type of bulk material. Description of the Drawings

[0124] Other features and advantages of the invention result from the following description, in which preferred embodiments will be illustrated with the aid of the drawings.

[0125] In the drawings:

[0126] Figure 1a A schematic view of a conveying device according to the invention is shown;

[0127] Figure 1b Shows Figure 1a A schematic top view of the conveying device;

[0128] Figure 1c Shows Figure 1a A schematic view of the receiving unit of the conveying device with the drawn swirling cleaning fluid flow;

[0129] Figure 1d Shows Figure 1a A schematic view of the connection area of the conveying device;

[0130] Figure 2 A schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the conveying device according to the invention is shown; and

[0131] Figure 3 A schematic view of a system according to one aspect of the invention is shown. Detailed Description

[0132] Figure 1aFig. shows a schematic view of a conveying device 1 according to an aspect of the present invention. In Figure 1b the conveying device 1 is shown schematically from above.

[0133] The conveying device 1 has a receiving unit 3, the main opening 5 of which can be closed by a detachable cover 7. The bulk material to be conveyed or metered out by the conveying device 1 can be received in the receiving unit 3, and the bulk material can be supplied to the receiving unit 3 via a bulk material supply port 9 provided in the cover 7. The receiving unit 3 is shaped like a cone and has an inner diameter that decreases along the direction of gravity (which extends along the negative Y-axis direction in Figure 1a ). The bulk material discharge port 11 is opposite to the bulk material supply port 9 and is located below the bulk material supply port 9 along the direction of gravity.

[0134] The bulk material can be transferred from the receiving unit 3 to the discharge area 13 of the device 1 via the bulk material discharge port 11. A discharge element 15, for example in the form of a screw, is provided in the discharge area 13 for discharging the bulk material from the discharge area 13 in the direction of the discharge opening 17.

[0135] The discharge opening 17 leads to a vertical tipping section 19. The bulk material can be discharged from the conveying device 1 via the vertical tipping section 19 in a direction parallel to the direction of gravity. The vertical tipping section 19 has a suction port 21, which is operatively connected to a suction device 23 for sucking dust.

[0136] During the conveying or metering operation of the device 1, i.e., during the conveyance of the bulk material, residues 27 of the bulk material to be metered out may deposit and / or adhere over time on the inner surface 25 of the discharge area 13 and / or the receiving unit 3 and other components of the device 1. When planning to change the type of bulk material, these bulk material residues 27 may cause unwanted cross-contamination and therefore must first be removed.

[0137] Therefore, in order to be able to clean the device 1, for example, when about to change the type of bulk material, the conveying device 1 has a plurality of nozzles 29, 39, 45, 52.

[0138] A fluid jet 43 can be ejected from the nozzle 39 arranged in the connection area 47 into the dead zone 41 below the discharge element 15. The fluid jet 43 is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the discharge element 15. More precisely, the fluid 43 can be ejected along a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity, i.e., parallel to the main extension direction of the discharge element 15 (i.e., along the direction parallel to the X-axis) using the second nozzle 39.

[0139] On the one hand, it is suitable for discharging bulk materials from the usually difficult-to-access support area or connection area 47 of the discharge element 15. On the other hand, the same fluid jet 43 can remove bulk materials from the dead zone between the discharge element 15 and the housing wall of the discharge area 13.

[0140] The fluid jet 31 can be ejected from the other nozzle 29 into the receiving unit 3. Here, the other nozzle 29 is oriented such that the ejectable fluid jet 31 can at least regionally flow towards the inner surface 25 of the receiving unit 3, so that a swirling fluid flow can be formed at least regionally within the receiving unit 3 as a cleaning fluid flow. The device 1 is thus particularly configured such that the ejected fluid jet 19 interacts with the inner surface 25 to form the cleaning fluid flow.

[0141] As can be learned especially from Figure 1b it can be seen that the ejected fluid jet 31 flows obliquely (along the curvature of the inner surface 25 extending in the circumferential direction of the receiving unit 3) towards the region of the inner surface 25. (Of course, in Figure 1b the nozzles 27, the fluid jets 29 and the inner surface are actually invisible due to the closed cover 7. This is not considered here for the purpose of illustration.)

[0142] Due to the conical shape of the receiving unit 3, the fluid flow is restricted to a spiral trajectory 33 with a decreasing diameter. Thereby, the velocity of the fluid flow continuously increases. Therefore, a vortex is formed especially through the interaction between the ejected fluid jet and the receiving unit 3 (especially the curved inner surface). Through this cleaning fluid flow, the bulk material residue 27 can be separated from the inner surface of the receiving unit in a particularly simple manner.

[0143] A cleaning agent supply port 35 is provided in the cover 7 of the receiving unit 3, through which the cleaning agent can be supplied to the interior of the receiving unit 3. Thereby, especially after a swirl is formed within the receiving unit 3, the cleaning agent can be supplied to the cleaning fluid flow. The cleaning agent can exist, for example, in granular form and be carried temporarily and / or sectionally along the spiral trajectory 33 by the cleaning fluid flow. The cleaning agent can also reliably separate the strongly adhering bulk material residue 27 from the inner surface 25.

[0144] The cleaning agent supply port 35 is spaced apart from the other nozzle 29, and the other nozzle 29 and the cleaning agent supply port 35 are arranged offset with respect to the vertical central plane (which can be defined by the plane E, for example, in Figure 1b ).

[0145] Figure 1cSchematic view of the receiving unit 3 of the metering device 1 with a drawn swirling fluid flow is shown. Here, the viewing direction is chosen to observe the receiving unit 3 from above, where the line of sight into the interior of the receiving unit 3 is unobstructed in terms of the fluid flow anyway. In addition, the particles 37 of the cleaning agent are shown, which are carried by the cleaning fluid flow on a downward-pointing spiral trajectory 33 (and at least partially along the inner surface 25).

[0146] In the case of powdery bulk material, the bulk material residue 27 is, for example, entrained by the cleaning fluid flow and, due to its inertia and / or after the supply of the fluid jet is stopped, deposited in the discharge area 13 of the device 1. The bulk material residue can be removed from there from the device 1, for example, by suction. For example, the dust portion can be suctioned upward by the suction device 23, while the cleaning agent falls downward (i.e., along the direction of gravity) in the discharge section 19.

[0147] Generally, the entrained or detached bulk material is discharged from the device 1 via the discharge opening 17, especially by suction. The fluid 43 ejected from the nozzle 39 can also be additionally agitated by the discharge element 15, so that the movement of the discharge element 15 additionally supports the cleaning action of the fluid 43.

[0148] In addition, the conveying device 1 also has a nozzle 45 for spraying fluid into the coupling area 47, in which the discharge element 15 is connected to a drive element 49 (for example, a drive shaft). The bulk material accumulating in the coupling area 47 cannot be transferred by the discharge element 15 and will therefore remain in the device 1 without additional measures. By spraying fluid 51 into the coupling area 47, the bulk material located there can be entrained and / or discharged from the device 1 via the discharge opening 17, especially by suction.

[0149] Both the nozzle 39 and the nozzle 45 are located in a support element 53 for supporting the discharge element 15, which also has the coupling area 47. Figure 1d A detailed schematic view of the area of the device 1 identified as B in Figure 1a is shown. In it, mainly the support element 53 together with the coupling area 47 and the nozzles 39 and 45 can be seen.

[0150] Figure 2 Schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the conveying device according to the invention is shown.

[0151] Figure 2The discharge element 15 shown shows a conveying screw with a shaft 16 in the form of a hollow shaft. The hollow shaft has a plurality of nozzles 52 which eject a fluid stream 53 in a direction radial to the shaft 16. Here, the nozzles 52 are arranged at intervals from one another in the main extension direction of the conveying screw and in the circumferential direction of the shaft 16. Advantageously, the conveying screw rotates when the fluid 53 flows out, so that in the case of a possibly basin-shaped discharge area 13, the area below the conveying screw is agitated and purged. The shaft 16 of the conveying screw is provided with a connection for the fluid 52 in the support or coupling area 47 for this purpose.

[0152] Figure 3 A schematic view of a system according to another aspect of the invention is shown.

[0153] The system 101 has a conveying device 103 according to the first aspect of the invention. For example, the conveying device is the conveying device 1 described with reference to Figures 1a to 1d Thus, the features of the conveying device 103 are exemplarily provided with the reference numerals of the conveying device 1 described with reference to Figures 1a to 1d described.

[0154] Furthermore, the system 101 has an extruder 105. Bulk material can be supplied from the conveying device 103 to the extruder 105 via a vertical tipping section.

[0155] After cleaning the conveying device 103, in the system 101, a cleaning agent can be supplied to the extruder 105 and used there to rinse the extruder 105. In this way, reliable cleaning of the conveying device 103 and rinsing of the extruder 105 can be achieved in the process.

[0156] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, drawings and claims are of essential significance for the various embodiments of the invention either individually or in any combination.

[0157] Explanation of reference numerals

[0158] 1 Conveying device

[0159] 3 Receiving unit

[0160] 5 Main opening

[0161] 7 Cover

[0162] 9 Bulk material supply port

[0163] 11 Bulk material discharge port

[0164] 13 Discharge area

[0165] 15 Discharge element

[0166] 16 Shaft, hollow shaft

[0167] 17 Discharge outlet

[0168] 19 Vertical tipping section

[0169] 21 Suction port

[0170] 23 Suction device

[0171] 25 Inner surface

[0172] 27 Bulk material residue

[0173] 29 Other nozzles

[0174] 31 Fluid jet

[0175] 33 Spiral trajectory

[0176] 35 Cleaner supply port

[0177] 37 Particle

[0178] 39, 45, 52 Nozzles

[0179] 41 Dead zone

[0180] 43, 51, 53 Fluids

[0181] 47 Connection area

[0182] 49 Driving element

[0183] 101 System

[0184] 103 Conveying equipment

[0185] 105 Extruder

[0186] Area B

[0187] E Definable plane

[0188] X, Y, Z coordinate axes

Claims

1. A conveying device (1) for bulk materials, wherein the device - has at least one receiving unit (3) for receiving bulk materials to be metered and dispensed, and - has at least one discharge area (13), -- the discharge area is located downstream of the receiving unit (3) in the main conveying direction, and / or -- bulk materials can be transferred from the receiving unit (3) to the discharge area, in particular via the bulk material discharge opening (11) of the receiving unit (3), and -- has a discharge element (15) provided in the discharge area (13) for discharging the bulk materials from the discharge area (13) in the direction of the discharge opening (17) of the device, - wherein at least one nozzle (39, 45, 52) is provided for spraying a fluid into the area (13) surrounding the discharge element (15).

2. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle (39, 45, 52) (i) is arranged to spray a fluid (51) into a connection area (47) in which the discharge element (15) is connected to a drive element (49), which drive element is, for example, a drive shaft, or (ii) is arranged to spray a fluid (43) into a dead zone (41) below the discharge element (15); or (iii) is arranged to spray a fluid (53) into a radially existing area between the shaft (16) of the discharge element (15) and the inner surface of the housing forming the discharge area (13).

3. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle (39, 45) is arranged at or in a support element for supporting the discharge element (15), in particular in the connection area.

4. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle (52) is arranged at or in the shaft (16) or hollow shaft of the discharge element (15).

5. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid (43) can be sprayed by means of the nozzle (39) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity or parallel to the main extension direction of the discharge element (15).

6. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid (51) can be sprayed by means of the nozzle (45) in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction of the discharge element (15) and / or deflected into a direction parallel to the main extension direction.

7. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid (43) can be sprayed by means of the nozzle (52) in a direction radial to the main extension direction of the discharge element (15).

8. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is at least one further nozzle (29) for ejecting a fluid jet (31) into the receiving unit (3) at least temporarily, wherein the further nozzle (29) is oriented such that the fluid jet (31) can be directed at least regionally against the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3) to at least regionally form a swirling fluid flow as a cleaning fluid flow.

9. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving unit (3) has a cover (7), which is in particular removable, and preferably a bulk material supply opening (9) is provided in the cover (7), and / or wherein the receiving unit (3) is in particular at least regionally constructed rotationally symmetrically.

10. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving unit (3) has a diameter, in particular an inner diameter, which tapers along the direction of gravity in at least sections.

11. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further nozzle (29) is in particular oriented relative to the receiving unit (3) or relative to the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3) such that the fluid jet (31) ejectable from the further nozzle (29) can be deflected by the impact area of the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3).

12. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further nozzle (29) is arranged at the cover (7) of the receiving unit (3), in particular arranged such that in the case of a closed cover (7) the further nozzle (29) projects at least partially into the receiving unit (3).

13. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has a storage container for receiving a cleaning agent, the cleaning agent being in particular a granular cleaning agent, such as cleaning granules, and / or the device is connected or connectable to such a storage container.

14. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has a cleaning agent supply opening for supplying the cleaning agent into the interior of the receiving unit (3).

15. The conveying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge opening (17) leads to a tipping element (19), wherein (i) bulk material can be discharged from the conveying device (1) via the tipping element (19) in a direction parallel to or inclined to the direction of gravity; and / or (ii) the tipping element (19) has a suction opening (21) for sucking up fine parts; and / or the suction opening (21) and / or the discharge opening (17) are or can be operatively connected to a suction device (23) for sucking up dust.

16. A system having a conveying device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and at least one extruder (105), wherein (i) the extruder (105) is arranged behind the device in the main conveying direction, in particular behind the receiving unit (3), the discharge opening (17) and / or the tipping element (19); and / or (ii) it is possible to supply bulk material from the conveying device (1) to the extruder (105), in particular in a metered manner, especially via the tipping element (19).

17. A method for cleaning a conveying device (1), in particular the conveying device (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein - a fluid flow is at least regionally configured as a cleaning fluid flow in the discharge area (13), the receiving unit (3) and / or the connection area (47) of the discharge element (15); - at least part of the residues of the bulk material deposited and / or adhering on the inner surface of the discharge area (13) or the receiving unit (3) is separated; - and / or conveyed in the direction of the discharge opening (17).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein in the discharge area (13) the residues of the bulk material are separated from the dead zones in particular by the fluid flow.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein (i) the cleaning fluid flow is configured as a swirl flow; (ii) the fluid flow is introduced into the receiving unit (3) by fluid jets (31) ejected from other nozzles (29), and wherein the fluid jets (31) preferably point obliquely to the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3) and preferably at least partly deflect the fluid flow in the circumferential direction of the receiving unit (3); (iii) a swirl fluid flow is configured in at least part of the receiving unit (3) by the interaction between the fluid jets (31) and / or the fluid flow and the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3); (iv) a cleaning agent is supplied to the fluid flow, in particular a granular cleaning agent such as cleaning granules, and the cleaning agent is preferably transported at least temporarily and / or at least partly along the inner surface (25) of the receiving unit (3) by the fluid flow and in particular separates the residues of the bulk material from the inner surface (25); (v) the cleaning agent is supplied to the fluid flow after a swirl has been stably configured; (vi) the cleaning agent and the fines are separated from each other after being discharged from the conveying device (1), in particular by sucking off the fines and / or tipping the cleaning granules parallel to or at an angle to the direction of gravity; and / or (vii) the extruder (105) is rinsed with the cleaning agent discharged from the conveying device (1), in particular by guiding the cleaning agent discharged from the conveying device (1) through the extruder (105) located downstream of the conveying device in the main conveying direction.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the control of the bulk material supply opening (9), the discharge element (15) of the conveying device (1), the nozzles (39, 45, 52), the other nozzles (29), the cleaning agent supply device (35), the extruder (105) and / or the suction device (23) is set in a defined chronological order.

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