FILLING TORN

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a filling device in the form of a filling dome for filling bulk material from flexible bulk material containers.

[0002] A flexible bulk container is a large bag made of fabric or plastic, known as a big bag. To quickly and completely empty the big bag, it is usually lifted and its bottom cut open with a knife. To control the emptying process, spike-shaped filling devices are used. These filling devices are inserted point-first into the plastic fabric from below, allowing them to penetrate the bulk material. The bulk material can be emptied from the flexible bulk container through openings in the filling device. The filling device has a locking mechanism to start and stop the emptying process.

[0003] In the search report of the Austrian Patent Office on the priority application, the documents FR 2895728 A3, EP2937291A1, CH409670A and US3831814A are cited as A documents, which relate to the general state of the art.

[0004] FR2895728A3 shows a filling device in the form of a filling dome for big bags. The filling dome has a cylindrical hollow body, at the upper end of which several struts converge to a point. Spaced from the struts, the filling dome has barbs that protrude from the cylindrical hollow body. Above the barbs, the cylindrical hollow body has openings. At the lower end, the cylindrical hollow body has a closure formed from two adjacent plates, wherein the upper plate is firmly connected to the cylindrical hollow body and has a central opening, and the lower plate is full-surface and pivotally attached to the upper plate with a threaded bolt. The tip of the filling dome is pierced into the big bag until the barbs penetrate the big bag. The filling dome is then retracted slightly so that the barbs rest against the fabric of the big bag from the inside.Bulk material can now enter the cylindrical hollow body between the struts and through the openings above the barbs. By pivoting the lower plate around the threaded bolt, the closure is opened, and the bulk material flows downward through the cylindrical hollow body. Both plates are equipped with handles to allow manual pivoting.

[0005] EP 2937291 A1 shows an extension of the device of FR 2895728 A3 by adding a filling nozzle, which can be screwed to the top plate from below if necessary, once the filling dome has already been inserted. Otherwise, the devices are identical, although neither the filling dome nor the filling nozzle have a satisfactory base. Documents US1871359A and DE202014003411U1 disclose further opening means in the form of a tip.

[0006] WO 2018009952 A1 shows a filling dome with an improved base to prevent damage to the plates or handles of the closure. While the devices of EP 2937291 A1 and FR 2895728 A3 appear to be welded sheet metal devices, the parts of the device of WO 2018009952 A1 are plastic parts.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved filling dome.

[0008] To solve the problem, a filling dome according to claim 1 is proposed for filling material from a flexible bulk material container.

[0009] The filling dome for filling material from a flexible bulk material container comprises a hollow body which has an upper and a lower opening surface, wherein a tip adjoins the upper end of the hollow body, which tip leaves the upper opening surface of the hollow body at least partially free, wherein the tip is formed by at least three struts, which are flat, radially aligned elements, each of which rests with its lower outer edge on the inner surface of the hollow body and meets at the upper end of the filling dome to form a tip, wherein at least one transverse strut protrudes from each strut, which transverse strut rests with its lower edge on the hollow body.

[0010] Preferably, cross braces are attached to each strut on both sides.

[0011] The cross braces are flat elements in the form of triangles, the shortest leg of which rests on the hollow body and the second shortest leg of which rests on the respective brace.

[0012] Preferably, the cross struts are attached below the upper opening surface of the hollow body to the inner surface of the hollow body.

[0013] Preferably, the cross braces extend over at least a quarter of the height of the braces.

[0014] Preferably, the cross braces extend at least over half the height of the braces.

[0015] Preferably, the cross struts are offset inwards relative to the outer surface or the upper outer edge of the hollow body.

[0016] Preferably, the cross struts are offset inwards relative to the outer edge of the respective strut, which runs upwards and inwards.

[0017] Preferably, at the lower end of the hollow body, there is a closure comprising an upper plate and a lower plate which lie flat against one another, wherein the upper plate adjoins the lower opening surface of the hollow body and itself has an opening extending from the lower opening surface of the hollow body, and wherein the lower plate is fastened to the upper plate with a bolt, and the lower plate can be pivoted about the axis of this bolt between a first position in which it completely closes the opening of the upper plate and a second position in which the opening of the upper plate is at least partially open. Preferably, the struts and the cross struts are a monolithic plastic injection-molded part.

[0018] Preferably, the filling dome comprises a hollow body having an upper and a lower opening surface, wherein the upper end of the hollow body protrudes into the interior of the flexible bulk material container so that material from the flexible bulk material container can penetrate into the latter through the upper opening surface of the hollow body, wherein at the lower end of the hollow body there is a closure which comprises an upper plate and a lower plate which lie flat against one another, wherein the upper plate adjoins the lower opening surface of the hollow body and itself has an opening in extension of the lower opening surface of the hollow body, and wherein the lower plate is fastened to the upper plate with a bolt and the lower plate can be pivoted about the axis of this bolt between a first position in which it completely closes the opening of the upper plate and a second position,in which the opening of the upper plate is at least partially exposed, wherein the lower plate has a structure which forms at least part of the base of the filling device, wherein the bolt or its head or the nut of the bolt preferably does not protrude downwards from the base.

[0019] The invention is illustrated by drawings: Fig. 1: shows the filling dome known from WO 2018009952 A1 in a side view. Fig. 2: shows the filling dome known from WO 2018009952 A1 in a perspective view obliquely from above with the closure closed. Fig. 3: shows a filling dome according to the invention in a side view. Fig. 4: shows an injection-molded body of a filling dome according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from above. Fig. 5: shows a tip of a filling dome according to the invention in a sectional view. Fig. 6: shows a detailed view of a strut with preferred cross struts in the transition region to the hollow body of the filling mandrel.

[0020] The Fig. 1 and 2 show a filling dome 1 known from WO 2018009952 A1. The filling dome of WO 2018009952 A1 preferably serves as the starting point for the present invention, so that a filling dome according to the invention preferably comprises the features of the filling dome of WO 2018009952 A1. However, the improvement according to the invention is also applicable to other filling domes.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a filling dome according to the invention. The following paragraphs describe Fig. 1-2 the already known features of the filling dome 1.

[0022] The filling dome 1 has a hollow body 2, which preferably has a cylindrical shell. At the upper end of the hollow body 2, several struts 3 converge to form a tip. For stability reasons and due to the preferred production using the plastic injection molding process, four struts 3 evenly distributed around the circumference of the cylinder have proven to be the technically most advantageous variant, since three struts 3 would require a very complex injection mold. At the lower end, the hollow body 2 merges into the upper plate 4, which adjoins the cylinder on the outside and preferably leaves the inner opening of the hollow body 2 completely open. The hollow body 2, the upper plate 4, and the struts 3 forming the tip are preferably manufactured as a monolithic plastic body using the injection molding process. The slight curves present on the struts 3 at the upper edge of the hollow body 2 are due to the injection molding process.

[0023] In order to make the lower opening of the hollow body 2 or the upper plate 4 closable, a pivotable lower plate 5 is provided. The upper plate 4 is provided with a handle 6 and the lower plate 5 is provided with a handle 7, which are preferably diametrically opposite one another when the closure is closed. The upper plate 4 and the lower plate 5 each have a bore through which the bolt 8 extends, with the bolt 8 being pivotally held in at least one of these bores. The lower plate 5 can be pivoted about the axis of the bolt 8 to release the opening of the hollow body 2 downwards.

[0024] Between the struts 3 and the upper plate 4, the hollow body 2 has barbs 9 on the outside. These barbs are made of elastic material so that when they are pierced through the fabric of the big bag, they are pressed downwards against the hollow body 2 in order to avoid enlarging the opening in the fabric. If the barbs 9 are moved completely through the fabric, they return to their original position and spread out against the inside of the fabric when retracted. Slightly above the barbs 9, openings 10 are provided in the outer surface of the hollow body 2 in order to enable almost complete emptying of the big bag. Alternatively, it would also be possible to attach the barbs 9 higher up on the hollow body 2 in order to do without the openings 10.The barbs 9, as is known in the art, are strips of flexible, elastic material and are guided inward through slots in the hollow body 2 and secured above the slots to the inside of the hollow body 2 by rivets. However, the barbs 9 can also be secured using a screw and nut. Relatively strong rubber is a suitable material.

[0025] It can be provided to provide the upper plate 4 with a structure which forms part of the standing surface of the filling dome 1. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided to provide the lower plate 5 with a structure which forms part of the standing surface of the filling dome 1. The head of the bolt 8 protrudes at most as far as the standing surface and is preferably received in a recess in the structure of the lower plate 5. It is sufficient to design the structures as webs on the edge of the respective plate 4, 5. Alternatively, almost the entire surface of the lower plate 5 can be provided with a structure, with the exception of the recess for the head of the bolt 8. Particularly good stability is achieved if the standing surface formed by the structure has an approximately square circumference. The undersides of the handles 6, 7 can form a flat surface with the standing surface, i.e. can be coplanar with the structure.

[0026] At least one of the handles 6, 7, preferably the handle 6, can be attached in a foldable manner. As shown, the handle 6 is pivotally attached via a bolt between two parallel tabs 11 in the transition area between the upper plate 4 and the hollow body 2. The handle 6 can rest on the upper plate 4 in the lower position and be pivoted upwards against the force of weight or against a spring force, for example a hinge spring. Alternatively, the handle 6 can also lock into the lower position and be pushed upwards out of this position with some resistance. The folding mechanism prevents the handle 6 from breaking under excessive stress.

[0027] Particularly good stability is achieved when the base of the lower plate 5 formed by the structure has an approximately square circumference. The upper plate 4 preferably has an approximately rectangular or preferably square circumference, wherein the lower plate 5, in the closed state, covers at least the opening of the upper plate 4 and the corner regions of the at least approximately square circumference and is provided with a structure at least in these corner regions which forms the base or four support legs of the filling dome 1. The design of the base as a polygon, in particular as a triangle or square, results in a significant improvement over round or circular bases. The illustrated circumference with rounded corners is also to be understood as an approximately square circumference, in particular the circumference with rounded corners, in which the side edges of the square are also curved outwards.More generally, the base of the filling mandrel 1, or the shape of the structure, has a shape other than circular.

[0028] The structure running around the circumference increases the rigidity or bending resistance of the lower plate 5, so that bending of the lower plate 5 is prevented.

[0029] As can be seen from the Fig. 3 to 6As can be seen, the improvement according to the invention consists in providing additional cross struts 12 on the struts 3 which form the tip of the filling dome 1. At least one cross strut 12 projects from each strut 3, which rests with its lower edge 13 on the hollow body 2, preferably merging into it. Each cross strut 12 rests against the respective strut 3 with an edge 14 which runs upwards and inwards. The struts 3 are each flat or plate-shaped elements whose surfaces are radially aligned. Each strut 3 is connected to the inner surface 16 of the hollow body 2 via a vertical outer edge 15. Each strut 3 runs upwards and inwards from the hollow body 2, so that the struts 3 meet at the upper end of the filling dome 1 to form a tip. The tip preferably has an acute angle.Preferably, a triangular connecting surface 17 extends between each two consecutive struts 3, connecting the two struts 3 below the tip in the circumferential direction. The connecting surfaces 17 preferably adjoin the inner edge 18 of the respective strut 3. Preferably, three, particularly preferably four, struts 3 are present.

[0030] At least one strut 3, preferably each strut 3, is connected at least on one side, preferably on both sides, to a cross strut 12, which projects from the flat strut 3 and connects it to the hollow body 2. The cross struts 12 are designed as flat elements in the shape of acute triangles, the shortest leg of which rests on the hollow body 2 and the second shortest leg of which rests on the respective strut 3. The cross struts 12 preferably start below the upper opening of the hollow body 2 on the inner surface 16 of the hollow body 2. The cross struts 12 preferably run over at least a quarter of the height of the struts 3, preferably at least half the height of the struts 3. The cross struts 12 are preferably offset inwards relative to the outer surface 19 or the upper outer edge 20 of the hollow body 2. The cross struts 12 are preferably offset inwards relative to the outer edge 21 of the respective strut 3, which runs upwards and inwards.Preferably, the cross struts 12 merge at the lower end into both the edge 22 of the hollow body 2 and the inner surface 16 of the hollow body 2. Preferably, there is a rounded portion 23 at the edge between the cross strut 12 and the edge 22.

[0031] Preferably, two mirror-symmetrical cross struts 12 are provided on each strut 3.

[0032] Preferably, the cross struts 12 protrude vertically and / or circumferentially from the struts 3. Preferably, the hollow body 2, the struts 3 forming the tip, and the cross struts 12 are manufactured as a monolithic plastic body using an injection molding process. Preferably, the monolithic plastic body also includes the connecting surfaces 17 between the struts 3 and / or the tabs 11. The claimed technical features according to the invention of the described embodiments can be combined as desired within the scope of expert practice. The claimed scope of protection is based exclusively on the combination of features defined in the independent claim.

Claims

1. A filling mandrel (1) for filling material from a flexible bulk container, the filling mandrel (1) comprising a hollow body (2) which has upper and lower opening surfaces, a tip being linked to the upper end of the hollow body (2), leaving clear at least in part the upper opening surface of the hollow body (2), wherein the tip is formed by at least three struts (3), which are planar, radially oriented elements each abutting the inner surface (16) of the hollow body (2) with its lower outer edge (15) and coinciding at the upper end of the filling mandrel (1) to form a tip, characterised in that from each strut (3) protrudes at least one transverse strut (12), which at its lower edge (13) abuts the hollow body (2).

2. The filling mandrel (1) of claim 1, characterised in that transverse struts (12) are linked to both sides of each strut (3).

3. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) are present as planar elements in the shape of triangles, each having their shortest leg abutting the hollow body (2) and their second shortest leg abutting the respective strut (3).

4. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) begin below the upper opening of the hollow body (2) at the inner surface (16) of the hollow body (2).

5. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) run across at least one quarter of the height of the struts (3).

6. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) run across at least half of the height of the struts (3).

7. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) are set off towards the inside with respect to the outer surface (19) or the upper outer edge (20), respectively, of the hollow body (2).

8. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the transverse struts (12) are set off towards the inside with respect to the outer edge (21) of the respective strut (3) that runs upwards and inwards.

9. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a seal is present at the lower end of the hollow body (2), which seal has an upper plate (4) and a lower plate (5), which planarly contiguous, wherein the upper plate (4) adjoins the lower opening surface of the hollow body (2) and has itself an opening in extension of the lower opening surface of the hollow body (2) and wherein the lower plate (5) is fixed to the upper plate (4) with a bolt (8) and the lower plate (5) can be pivoted about the axis of said bolt (8) between a first position, in which it completely seals the opening of the upper plate (4), and a second position, in which the opening of the upper plate (4) is at least partly clear.

10. The filling mandrel (1) of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the hollow body (2), the struts (3) and the transverse struts (12) are one monolithic, injection-moulded plastic part.