Device for conveying a viscous material from a container

Abstract

Device (100) for conveying a viscous material (40) from a container (10), comprising a container (10) in which the viscous material (40) is arranged; a conveying tube (20) for conveying the viscous material (40) out of the container (10); a follower plate (30) for providing a pressure force on the viscous material (40) in the container (10), wherein the follower plate (30) has at least one sealing element (31) configured to seal a gap between the follower plate (30) and the side walls of the container (10), and wherein the follower plate (30) has at least one sealing element movement device (32) configured to press or space the at least one sealing element (31) against all side walls of the container (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for conveying a viscous material from a container. Technical background

[0002] Devices for conveying viscous materials, in particular devices for conveying viscous materials from a container, are used in numerous industrial applications, for example in the industrial storage of viscous materials. Devices for conveying viscous materials serve, for example, to convey or transfer viscous materials from a storage location to an application or processing location.

[0003] A typical device for conveying a viscous material typically includes a pump, especially a scoop pump, which has a high pneumatic drive power. Additionally, typical devices for conveying a viscous material from a drum may utilize follower plates that exert force on the viscous material, thus driving or pushing it out of the container through an outlet pipe. However, the use of follower plates has the disadvantage that adhesive forces occurring between the follower plates and the viscous material, as well as the occurrence of a vacuum when emptying the container, can make removing the conveying device impossible or only possible with considerable force. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide devices for conveying a viscous material from a container which require a significantly reduced effort to insert the conveying device, in particular the follower plate, into and / or remove it from a container.

[0005] At least one of the problems, or further problems, that arise for a person skilled in the art from the present disclosure are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a device for conveying a viscous material from a container is described. The device comprises a container in which the viscous material is arranged, a conveying tube for conveying the viscous material out of the container, and a follower plate for applying a pressure force to the viscous material in the container, wherein the conveying tube extends through the follower plate, wherein the follower plate has at least one sealing element configured to seal a gap between the follower plate and the side walls of the container, and wherein the follower plate has at least one sealing element movement device configured to press or space the at least one sealing element against all side walls of the container.

[0007] The term "viscous material" here refers to any fluid in a liquid or gaseous state. Viscous materials, such as adhesives, have a very high viscosity, requiring the subsequent plate to exert considerable force to be pressed downwards into the container.

[0008] The term "container" represents any device in which the viscous material can be arranged. For example, the container is a bucket, a barrel, a tub, or a tank, but is not limited to these. The container can have at least one side wall, a bottom plate, and an opening opposite the bottom plate, with the at least one side wall extending perpendicularly from the bottom plate. The container, and in particular the at least one side wall of the container, can have an outer diameter and an inner diameter, such that the container has a "hollow" internal volume in which the viscous material can be arranged. The container can be made of the same or a different material as the conveying tube.

[0009] The term "conveyor tube" refers to any device that has a hollow cylindrical shape and is designed and constructed to convey a viscous material from a container. The conveying tube may be made of metal or plastic, but is not limited to this material. The conveying tube has an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the inner diameter being smaller than the outer diameter. The conveying tube has an outer surface and an inner surface, both of which are surface-like. The conveying tube may be inserted into the container through the opening of the container. Alternatively, the conveying tube may extend through at least one side wall or bottom plate of the container. A gap may exist between the conveying tube and the bottom of the container to allow the viscous material to be drawn from the container into the conveying tube by the movement of the follower plate.A vacuum unit can be arranged on the conveying tube, configured to release any air present in the tube and use the resulting vacuum to assist the conveying of the viscous material. An additional advantage of the vacuum unit is that the viscous material is conveyed to the applicator largely without air, thus ensuring a continuous material flow. A valve, particularly a check valve, can be arranged in or within the conveying tube. The conveying tube can be rotated by a drive or motor. The drive for the conveying tube can be located outside the container. The conveying tube can have, at least partially, a multitude of evenly distributed teeth on its outer surface. In other words, a pinion gear can be formed on the outer surface of the conveying tube.In particular, the numerous evenly distributed teeth can be arranged in a region of the conveying tube that lies within the recess of the follower plate. The size and shape of the teeth evenly distributed on the outer surface of the conveying tube can be designed such that they interlock positively with teeth of the sealing element movement device.

[0010] The term "follower plate" refers to any plate that exerts or provides a pressure force on the viscous material in the container. The follower plate may be in direct contact with the viscous material. The follower plate may be made of the same or a different material as the conveying tube. The follower plate has a recess. The recess may extend completely through the follower plate, i.e., from a first side, in particular the top, to a second side opposite the first side, in particular the bottom (the side that may be in direct contact with the viscous material). The recess may be cylindrical, but is not limited to this shape. The conveying tube may be arranged within the recess. The follower plate may have the same shape as the internal volume or a cross-section of the internal volume of the container.The subsequent plate can have at least one side surface, wherein the side surface is opposite the recess. The side surface of the subsequent plate can have a sealing element.

[0011] The term "sealing element" refers to any seal that is arranged and configured to reliably prevent the escape / bypass of viscous material between the follower plate and an inner surface of the container's side wall. The sealing element may include a sealing element retaining device or recess that extends into the body of the follower plate. The sealing element may have a sealing element rubber with a higher elasticity or coefficient of elasticity than the material of the container, the conveying tube, and / or the follower plate. Alternatively or additionally, a sealing element may refer to any seal that is arranged and configured to reliably prevent the escape / bypass of viscous material between the follower plate and the conveying tube. The sealing element may include a sealing element retaining device or recess that extends into the body of the follower plate.The sealing element must have a recess that extends into the body of the follower plate. The sealing element may have a rubber seal with a higher elasticity or coefficient of elasticity than the material of the container, the conveying pipe, and / or the follower plate. The sealing element may be a continuous element or a segmented element, but is not limited to either. For example, the sealing element may be a wiper ring, but is not limited to that.

[0012] The term "sealing element moving device" represents any device configured to move the sealing element, in particular to press it against all side walls of the container or to move it away from all side walls of the container. The sealing element moving device can be, but is not limited to, a mechanical and / or electrical device. The sealing element moving device can have a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth. In other words, a pinion can be formed on a surface, in particular a side wall, of the sealing element moving device. The size and shape of the teeth uniformly distributed on the surface of the sealing element moving device can be configured such that they mesh positively with teeth of the conveying device.The sealing element movement device can be arranged completely or at least partially within the follower plate, but is not limited to this. For example, the sealing element movement device can be an inverted iris diaphragm mechanism, but is not limited to this.

[0013] The sealing element movement device and the sealing element itself reliably prevent the viscous material from escaping or flowing past the inner surface of the container's side wall between the follower plate and the container's side wall. Additionally, any air present in the container before the follower plate exerts pressure on the viscous material can be reliably vented. Furthermore, any vacuum that occurs during container emptying can be reduced or eliminated by the sealing element movement device's retraction, so that only the resulting adhesive forces need to be overcome to remove the follower plate from the container.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the conveying tube is axially rotatable, the conveying tube has at least partially an outer surface of the conveying tube a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth, the sealing element movement device has a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth, wherein the teeth of the conveying tube interlock with the teeth of the sealing element movement device in such a way that, when the conveying tube is rotated, the sealing element movement device presses the at least one sealing element against all side walls of the container or sets it apart from them.

[0015] According to this design of this sealing element movement device, a simple and low-wear mechanical seal of the gap between the container wall and the follower plate can be provided.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the sealing element movement device is an inverted iris diaphragm mechanism.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the container is a barrel.

[0018] The term "barrel" here represents a container that has a cylindrical shape with a single side wall and a bottom plate.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the follower plate is smaller than the inner diameter of the container.

[0020] By designing the follower plate so that its diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the container, it can be ensured that the follower plate can be inserted into the inner diameter of the container.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing element movement device is arranged within the follower plate.

[0022] This protects the mechanics of the sealing element movement device from external influences, leading to an increase in the longevity of the sealing element movement device and thus also to an increased longevity of the conveyor plate. Brief description of the characters

[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to a figure. Fig. Figure 1 shows a device for conveying a viscous material from a container. Fig. 2 shows a sealing element movement device of a follower plate of a device according to Fig. 1. Detailed description

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a device for conveying a viscous material from a container. The device 100 for conveying a viscous material 40 from a container 10 comprises a container 10, a conveying tube 20, and a follower plate 30. The viscous material 40 is arranged in the container 10. The conveying tube 20 is configured to convey the viscous material 40 out of the container 10. The follower plate 30 is configured to apply a pressure force to the viscous material 40 in the container 10. The conveying tube 20 extends through the follower plate 30. The follower plate 30 has at least one sealing element 31, which is configured to seal a gap between the follower plate 30 and the side walls of the container. The follower plate 30 has at least one sealing element movement device 32, which is configured to press or space at least one sealing element 31 against all side walls of the container 10.

[0025] Optionally, the conveying tube 20 is axially rotatable. The conveying tube 20 has, at least partially on an outer surface of the conveying tube 20, a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth 21, wherein the sealing element movement device 32 has a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth 33, wherein the teeth 21 of the conveying tube 20 engage with the teeth 33 of the sealing element movement device 32 in such a way that, when the conveying tube 20 rotates, the sealing element movement device 32 presses the at least one sealing element 31 against all side walls of the container 10 or sets it apart from them.

[0026] Optionally, the sealing element movement device 32 is an inverted iris diaphragm mechanism. The inverted iris diaphragm mechanism is characterized by the fact that

[0027] Optionally, the sealing element movement device 32 is arranged within the follower plate 30.

[0028] Optionally, container 10 is a barrel with a hollow cylindrical side wall, a base plate and an opening opposite the base plate.

[0029] Optionally, the diameter of the follower plate 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the container 10.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a sealing element movement device of a follower plate of a device according to Fig.1. The sealing device 32 is an iris diaphragm mechanism. The conveying tube 20 has a plurality of teeth 21 arranged on its outer surface. A plurality of teeth 33 of sealing element movement devices 34 are connected to and engage with these teeth 21 on the outer surface of the conveying tube 20. In other words, the sealing element movement devices 34 and the conveying tube 20 are coupled to each other via the interlocking teeth, so that rotation of the conveying tube 20 also results in rotation of the sealing element movement devices 34.The sealing element movement devices 34 are rotatably mounted and have a shape such that, by the rotation of the conveying tube 20 in a first direction and thus also by its own rotation, a sealing element 31, in particular a wiping ring, is pushed outwards, specifically that the diameter of the sealing element 31 increases. In addition, by rotating the conveying tube 20 in a direction opposite to the first direction, the diameter of the sealing element 31 can also be reduced again.

[0031] With the device according to the invention, it is possible to pump a fluid, in particular a liquid, from a first supply storage device, e.g., a drum, at a first pressure, particularly low pressure, and thus provide the fluid to at least one application system, which may have further pumping devices or pumps to supply the fluid to the product at a different pressure, e.g., high pressure, via an applicator. This allows one supply storage device or reservoir to supply several application systems with the same fluid in parallel. Furthermore, the device according to the invention, occasionally also referred to as a drum pump, can supply several cells, i.e., several application systems. A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is the extended operating time of the drum pump compared to previously known pressure pump systems.

Claims

[1] Device (100) for conveying a viscous material (40) from a container (10), comprising: a container (10) in which the viscous material (40) is arranged; a conveying tube (20) for conveying the viscous material (40) out of the container (10); a follower plate (30) for providing a pressure force on the viscous material (40) in the container (10), wherein the conveying tube (20) extends through the follower plate (30), wherein the follower plate (30) has at least one sealing element (31) configured to seal a gap between the follower plate (30) and the side walls of the container (10), and wherein the follower plate (30) has at least one sealing element movement device (32) which is configured to press or space the at least one sealing element (31) against the side wall of the container (10). [2] The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the conveying tube (20) is axially rotatable, the conveying tube (20) has at least partially on an outer surface of the conveying tube (20) a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth (21), wherein the sealing element movement device (32) has a plurality of uniformly distributed teeth (33), wherein the teeth (21) of the conveying tube (20) engage in the teeth (33) of the sealing element movement device (32) in such a way that, when the conveying tube (20) is rotated, the sealing element movement device (32) presses the at least one sealing element (31) against all side walls of the container (10) or sets it apart from them. [3] The device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element movement device (32) is an inverted iris diaphragm mechanism; and / or where the container (10) is a barrel, and / or wherein the diameter of the follower plate (30) is smaller than the inner diameter of the container (10), and / or wherein the sealing element movement device (32) is arranged within the follower plate (30).

Images