Coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for bulk materials

Abstract

Coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for pourable materials for selectively conveying bulk material from at least two storage containers to at least one processing machine, comprising at least two coupling pipes (2), each connected to a discharge line (3), wherein at least two inlet lines (5) are arranged for connection to a respective storage container, which are connected to each coupling pipe (2) of the at least two coupling pipes (2) via an inlet connection (4) which is provided with a valve (6) via which it can be closed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for bulk materials according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Suction conveyor systems are regularly used to feed plastics processing machines with plastic granules. These systems feed plastic granules stored in storage bins to the individual plastics processing machines via pipes. To connect each plastics processing machine to each storage bin, so-called coupling stations are used. These are permanently connected to the storage bins via inlet pipes. These inlet pipes can be connected to the suction pipes connected to the plastics processing machines via couplings. Flexible hoses are used as suction pipes, which are equipped with a mating coupling at the end, via which they can be connected to the couplings. In practice, thirty or more storage bins can be arranged, which, depending on the batch to be produced, must be connected to a variety of plastics processing machines.The challenge is to supply the various plastics processing machines with the required material flows as needed.

[0003] DE 10 2020 125 392 A1 discloses a coupling station comprising a number of material lines, each connected to a storage container, and a number of suction lines connectable to a processing machine. The coupling station comprises a plurality of coupling pieces, wherein a respective coupling piece can selectively connect a material line to one of several different suction lines and / or a suction line to one of several different material lines. An actuator is arranged, which can be moved in the x-direction via a first motor and in the y-direction via a second motor, and which is configured to connect a material line and / or a suction line to a corresponding coupling piece.

[0004] A disadvantage of the previously known coupling station is that it has a complex structure. In addition, the mechanical connection of coupling parts by the actuators can lead to malfunctions during operation, for example due to contamination by plastic particles.

[0005] The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention is based on the object of providing a coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for bulk materials for selectively conveying bulk material from at least two storage containers to at least one processing machine, which coupling station has a simple design and avoids operational disruptions caused by plastic particles. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a coupling station having the features of claim 1.

[0006] The invention provides a coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for pourable materials for selectively conveying bulk material, in particular plastic granulate, from at least two storage containers to at least one processing machine, which coupling station has a simple design and in which operational disruptions caused by plastic particles are avoided. The arrangement of at least two coupling pipes, each connected to a discharge line, and at least two inlet lines for connection to a respective storage container are arranged, each of which is connected to each coupling pipe of the at least two coupling pipes via an inlet connection provided with a valve by means of which it can be closed, enables simple and reliable control of the processing machines connected to the discharge lines.Through the valves of the inlet connections, any desired material flow - or in the case of material mixtures, any desired partial material flow - can be fed to the associated processing machine via the respective coupling pipe.

[0007] In a further development of the invention, a frame is arranged in which the at least two coupling tubes are fastened. This results in a rigid coupling station module.

[0008] In an embodiment of the invention, the valves are solenoid valves connected to a valve control device configured to control the valves for selectively connecting one or more supply lines to one or more discharge lines. This enables the automatic compilation and / or selection of material flows. By connecting the valve control device to the control system of a processing machine, the control system of the processing machine can directly request a material flow according to quantity and composition.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least two coupling tubes have, at least in some areas, a rectangular, preferably square, cross-section.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the coupling tubes are arranged with their longitudinal sides parallel to one another, preferably adjacent to one another, and particularly preferably connected to one another in the frame. This results in a compact design of the coupling station.

[0011] In a further development of the invention, the inlet connections of each coupling pipe are arranged on a first side wall. Preferably, the inlet connections of the coupling pipes arranged in the frame are each arranged parallel to the inlet connections of a respective adjacent coupling pipe, with the inlet connections of each coupling pipe preferably being arranged at equal spacing from one another. This creates a matrix of arranged inlet connections in the arrangement of the coupling pipes, thereby increasing the clarity of the connections.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the supply lines have a tubular, rigid section, with which they are each connected to an inlet connection of each coupling pipe. This allows each supply line to be connected to all of the arranged coupling pipes, thus minimizing the number of lines and thus reducing complexity. Furthermore, the required installation space is reduced.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control connections of the solenoid valves are each arranged on the second side wall of the respective coupling pipe opposite the respective inlet connection. This creates a matrix of control connections of the solenoid valves corresponding to the inlet connections, which further increases the clarity of the control connections and their assignment to the inlet connections.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the drain line of each coupling pipe is arranged at its end face in the direction of gravity. This ensures a continuous supply of plastic material by gravity, thus avoiding air volumes in the respective supply line.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, each coupling pipe is preferably provided with a vent valve on its end opposite the discharge line. This allows the coupling pipe to be flushed with air following a material flow conveyed through the coupling pipe, thus ensuring complete discharge of the material.

[0016] Further developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail below. They show: Fig. 1: the schematic spatial representation of a coupling station Fig. 2: the schematic representation of the coupling station from Fig. 1 in another view; Fig. 3: the schematic representation of the coupling station from Fig. 1 in a third view; Fig. 4: a detailed view of the coupling station from Fig. 1.

[0017] The coupling station chosen as an exemplary embodiment essentially consists of a frame 1 in which coupling pipes 2 are arranged, each of which is connected to a discharge line 3 for connection to a processing machine (not shown), and each of which is connected via an inlet connection 4 to a number of twenty inlet lines 5, each of which can be connected to a storage container (not shown). Each inlet connection 4 is connected to a valve 6, via which it can be closed.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment, the frame 1 has a rectangular frame formed from rectangular profiles 11, which is provided with two feet 12 on its side facing the floor.

[0019] The coupling pipes 2 are identical in the exemplary embodiment. They have a square cross-section and, on their side facing the ground (i.e., in the direction of gravity), merge into a hollow cylindrical end section connected to a connecting line 3. The connecting line 3 in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a rigid pipe curved at an angle of approximately 90°. A vent valve 7 is arranged on the coupling pipe 2 at its end opposite the connecting line 3.

[0020] On the first side wall 21 facing the curved course of the connecting line 3, a number of twenty inlet connections 4 are arranged in the coupling pipe 2, evenly spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction, each of which is connected to a valve 6. The valves 6, designed as solenoid valves, each have a control connection 61, which is arranged on the side wall 22 opposite the first side wall 21.

[0021] The coupling pipes 2 thus formed are fixed at regular distances from one another in the rectangular frame of the frame 1, so that a 20x20 matrix of inlet connections 4 is arranged on a first side and a 20x20 matrix of control connections 61 of the valves 6 is arranged on the opposite, second side. The inlet connections 4 of the coupling pipes 2, each arranged horizontally next to one another in a row, are each connected to a common tubular straight section 51 of an inlet line 5, which extends across the entire width of the frame 1 and then merges into an arcuate section 52, which is bent by approximately 45° in the direction opposite to the outlet lines 3. The inlet lines 5 are arranged parallel to one another in the exemplary embodiment.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment, the control connections 61 of the valves 6 are connected to a control device (not shown) via which they can be controlled.

[0023] The coupling station according to the invention is characterized by its simple yet compact and well-structured design with a small installation space. By controlling the matrix-like control connections 62 of the valves 6, an extremely variable and simple supply of the desired material mixtures to processing machines is possible. This even allows the material feed of a processing machine to be controlled by the machine itself (or by its control system). QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 125 392 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Coupling station for a pneumatic conveying system for pourable materials for selectively conveying bulk material from at least two storage containers to at least one processing machine, comprising at least two coupling pipes (2) each connected to a discharge line (3), wherein at least two inlet lines (5) are arranged for connection to a respective storage container, which are connected to each coupling pipe (2) of the at least two coupling pipes (2) via an inlet connection (4) which is provided with a valve (6) by means of which it can be closed. [2] Coupling station according to claim 1, characterized by that a frame (1) is arranged in which the at least two coupling tubes (2) are fastened. [3] Coupling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the valves (6) are solenoid valves which are connected to a valve control device which is designed to control the valves (6) for the selective connection of one or more arbitrary supply lines (5) to one or more discharge lines (3). [4] Coupling station according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized by that the at least two coupling tubes (2) have a rectangular, preferably a square cross-section, wherein the coupling tubes (2) are advantageously arranged with their longitudinal sides parallel to one another, preferably adjacent to one another, particularly preferably connected to one another in the frame (1). [5] Coupling station according to claim 4, characterized by that the inlet connections (4) of each coupling pipe (2) are arranged on a first side wall (21). [6] Coupling station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the drain line (3) of each coupling pipe (2) is arranged on its front side in the direction of gravity. [7] Coupling station according to claim 6, characterized by that each coupling pipe (2) is preferably provided with a vent valve (7) on its end face opposite the drain line (3). [8] Coupling station according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by that the inlet connections (4) of the coupling pipes (2) arranged in the frame (1) are each arranged parallel to the inlet connections (4) of a respective adjacent coupling pipe (2), wherein the inlet connections (4) of each coupling pipe (2) are preferably arranged at a uniform distance from one another. [9] Coupling station according to claim 8, characterized by that the inlet lines (5) have a tubular, straight section (51) with which they are each connected to an inlet connection (4) of each coupling pipe (2). [10] Coupling station according to claims 3 to 9, characterized by that the control connections (61) of the solenoid valves (6) are each arranged on the second side wall (22) of the respective coupling pipe (2) opposite the respective inlet connection (4).

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