Powder suction device

Abstract

To disclose an example of a powder suction device having a simple configuration.SOLUTION: The powder suction apparatus 1 includes a pressing part 5 for forming the bottom B4 of the bag body B into a substantially conical shape projecting downward by pressing the bottom B4 downward from the inside of the bag body B. As a result, in the powder suction device 1, the powder stored in the bag B is easily collected at the bottom portion of the bag B having a substantially conical shape, that is, the bottom portion forming the top portion of the substantially conical portion. In other words, it is possible to peel off and collapse the powder adhering to the inner wall surface of the bag B. As a result, the powder in the bag B can be sucked by the suction nozzle 31 with a simple configuration without requiring a bag pushing means or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a powder suction device that sucks powder stored in a flexible bag. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the powder suction device disclosed in Patent Document 1 lifts a bag filled with powder using a lifting device so that it can be raised and lowered, and inserts a suction nozzle into the bag from above the inlet to suck the powder inside the bag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-86023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the powder suction device described in Patent Document 1, a bag pushing means presses both sides of the bag, causing powder adhering to the inner wall surface of the bag to peel off and collapse. Therefore, the powder suction device described in Patent Document 1 requires a bag pushing means, which makes the configuration of the powder suction device complex. The present disclosure discloses an example of a powder suction device that takes this into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] It is desirable that the powder suction device that sucks up the powder stored in the flexible bag (B) has at least one of the following constituent features, for example. That is, the constituent elements are a first elevator (2) that raises and lowers the bag body (B), a suction machine (3) having a suction nozzle (31) that sucks up the powder stored in the bag body (B), a second elevator (4) that raises and lowers the suction nozzle (31), and a pressing part (5) that presses the bottom part (B4) of the bag body (B) downward from inside the bag body (B) to make the bottom part (B4) into an approximately conical shape that is convex downward.

[0006] As a result, in the powder suction device, the powder stored in the bag body (B) tends to collect at the bottom of the approximately conical bag body (B), i.e., the bottom that forms the apex of the approximately conical part. In other words, it is possible to separate and break down the powder adhering to the inner wall surface of the bag B. As a result, it is possible to suck the powder inside the bag B with the suction nozzle 31 using a simple configuration without requiring a bag pushing means or the like.

[0007] Incidentally, the symbols in each of the parentheses above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations, etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations, etc. shown by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a powder suction device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view showing a blocking lid according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the tip of the suction nozzle and a pressing part according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a powder suction device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing a powder suction device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing a powder suction device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the powder suction device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the powder suction device according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The following "embodiments of the invention" are examples of embodiments that fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiments.

[0010] Note that arrows and diagonal lines indicating directions in each drawing are provided to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the drawings and the shapes of each component or part. Therefore, the invention disclosed in this disclosure is not limited to the directions indicated in each drawing. Diagonal lines do not always indicate cross-sectional views.

[0011] At least one of the components or parts described with a reference numeral is provided unless otherwise specified, such as "one." The powder suction device shown in the present disclosure includes at least one of the components such as the components or parts described with a reference numeral and the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0012] (First embodiment) <1. Configuration of powder suction device> 1, the powder suction device 1 according to the present disclosure is a device that suctions powder stored in a flexible bag B. The powder suction device 1 includes at least a first elevator 2, a suction device 3, a second elevator 4, a pressing unit 5, a control unit 6, and the like.

[0013] The bag body B according to this embodiment is composed of an inner bag B1, an outer bag B2, etc. The inner bag B1 is a bag in which powder is stored. The outer bag B2 is a bag that covers the inner bag B1 from the outside. The outer bag B2 is made of a material with a higher tensile strength than the inner bag B1.

[0014] 2, the powder inlet B3 of the inner bag B1 is closed by a closing lid 7 at least when the powder is being inhaled. The closing lid 7 according to this embodiment is made of metal and is fixed to the inner bag B1 by a ring-shaped band B4 or the like.

[0015] <First elevator> As shown in Fig. 1, the first elevator 2 raises and lowers the bag body B. The first elevator 2 includes an outer bag elevator 21 and an inner bag elevator 22. The outer bag elevator 21 raises and lowers the outer bag B2. The inner bag elevator 22 raises and lowers the inner bag B1.

[0016] The outer bag elevator 21 lifts the outer bag B2 via a wire W1 connected to a belt B5 attached to the outer bag B2. The inner bag elevator 22 lifts the inner bag B1 via a wire W2 connected to a connecting portion 71 attached to the closure lid 7, as shown in FIG.

[0017] <Suction machine> The suction machine 3 is a suction device for sucking powder contained in the bag body B. As shown in Fig. 1, the suction machine 3 has at least a suction nozzle 31 and a pump unit 32. The suction nozzle 31 has a suction port 31A (see Fig. 3) at the tip (lower end in Fig. 1).

[0018] Suction port 31A is an opening that is inserted into bag body B (in this embodiment, inner bag B1) to suck in powder. Pump unit 32 generates negative pressure in suction nozzle 31. As a result, the powder in bag body B is sucked from suction nozzle 31 toward pump unit 32.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the suction nozzle 31 is provided with an air supply unit 33. The air supply unit 33 supplies air into the inner bag B1. Specifically, the air supply unit 33 supplies air into the inner bag B1 in an amount substantially equal to the amount of air sucked by the pump unit 32, thereby The pressure difference between the inside and outside of the bag B1 is made small (ideally, 0).

[0020] <Second elevator> The second elevator 4 raises and lowers the suction nozzle 31 within the bag body B. The second elevator 4 is configured as an electric cylinder using an electric motor (not shown). As shown in Figure 2, the suction nozzle 31 is inserted into the inner bag B1 through an insertion opening 72.

[0021] The insertion opening 72 is a through-hole provided in the blocking lid 7, and is a through-hole into which the suction nozzle 31 can be inserted. A seal portion 73 is provided on the blocking lid 7. The seal portion 73 prevents powder in the inner bag B1 from flowing out through the insertion opening 72 and prevents foreign matter from flowing into the inner bag B1.

[0022] <Pressing part> As shown in Fig. 6, the pressing portion 5 is a portion for pressing the bottom portion B4 of the bag body B downward from inside the inner bag B1 to make the bottom portion B4 into a generally convex cone shape that is downwardly convex. As shown in Fig. 3, the pressing portion 5 is provided on the suction nozzle 31.

[0023] The pressing portion 5 according to this embodiment is a member that covers the suction port 31A and has a plurality of communication ports that are holes that connect the suction port 31A to the space inside the inner bag B1.

[0024] <Control unit> 7, the control unit 6 controls the operation (hereinafter referred to as suction operation) of the first elevator 2, the second elevator 4, and the suction unit 3 (pump unit 32). Detection signals from a pressing force sensor 61, a first position sensor 62, a second position sensor 63, and a third position sensor 64 are input to the control unit 6.

[0025] The pressing force sensor 61 detects the pressing force when the pressing unit 5 presses the bag body B (inner bag B1). The first position sensor 62 detects the position of the inner bag B1. The second position sensor 63 detects the position of the outer bag B2. The third position sensor 64 detects the position of the suction nozzle 31 (pressing unit 5).

[0026] Incidentally, the pressing force sensor 61 according to this embodiment detects the pressing force by utilizing the value of the current flowing through the electric motor of the second elevator 4. Specifically, when the value of the current exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit 6 determines that the torque of the electric motor, i.e., the pressing force, has exceeded a predetermined magnitude.

[0027] The control unit 6 is an electronic control device configured by a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The suction operation is controlled by the CPU, i.e., the control unit 6, executing software pre-stored in a non-volatile storage unit (not shown) such as a ROM.

[0028] <2. Details of suction machine operation (see Figure 8)> When a user operates a start switch or the like of the powder suction device 1, the control unit 6 operates the suction machine 3 (pump unit 32) (S1). In this embodiment, when the pump unit 32 operates, pressurized air is supplied to the air supply unit 33 in conjunction with the operation of the pump unit 32. That is, in this embodiment, pressurized air is supplied to the air supply unit 33 while the pump unit 32 is operating.

[0029] Next, the control unit 6 operates the outer bag elevator 21 and the inner bag elevator 22 of the first elevator 2 in conjunction with each other to raise the bag body B, i.e., the inner bag B1 and the outer bag B2, from their original positions (the positions shown in FIG. 1) to predetermined positions (the positions shown in FIG. 4) (S3). This is called the suction process.

[0030] As a result, in the first suction step, while the vertical displacement of the suction nozzle 31 is stopped, only the bag body B is displaced upward, and the powder inside the bag body B is sucked through the suction nozzle 31. The upward movement speed of the bag body B is such that the suction port 31A does not separate from the powder.

[0031] When the first suction step is completed, the control unit 6 executes the second suction step (S5). In the second suction step, as shown in Fig. 5, while the upward and downward displacement of the outer bag B2 is stopped, the inner bag elevator 22 is operated to further raise only the inner bag B1 to a predetermined position.

[0032] As a result, in the second suction step, the suction nozzle 31 and outer bag B2 are stopped from moving up and down, and only the inner bag B1 moves up, sucking the powder inside the inner bag B1 through the suction nozzle 31. The inner bag B1 moves up at a speed that does not cause the suction port 31A to separate from the powder. Note that hereinafter, the first suction step and the second suction step are collectively referred to as the first suction function.

[0033] When the first suction function ends, the control unit 6 executes the second suction function (S7). As shown in Fig. 6, the second suction function is a function of sucking the powder inside the bag body B while lowering the suction nozzle 31 and the pressing unit 5 and pressing the pressing unit 5 against the bottom B4.

[0034] Next, the control unit 6 determines whether the pressing force exceeds a predetermined magnitude (S9). If it is determined that the pressing force exceeds the predetermined magnitude (S9: YES), the control unit 6 stops the descent of the suction nozzle 31 and the pressing unit 5 (S11), and then lowers the inner bag B1 and the outer bag B2 to their original positions (S13).

[0035] Thereafter, the control unit 6 raises the suction nozzle 31 and the pressing unit 5 to their original positions (the positions shown in FIG. 1) (S15), and then stops the suction device 3 (pump unit 32) (S17). Note that if it is determined in S9 that the pressing force does not exceed the predetermined magnitude, the suction nozzle 31 and the pressing unit 5 continue to descend.

[0036] <3. Features of the powder suction device according to this embodiment> The powder suction device 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a pressing section 5 for pressing the bottom B4 of the bag body B downward from inside the bag body B to make the bottom B4 into an approximately conical shape that is convex downward.

[0037] As a result, the powder stored in the bag B tends to gather at the bottom of the bag B, which is roughly conical, that is, at the bottom portion that forms the apex of the roughly conical portion. In other words, the powder suction device 1 can peel off and break down the powder adhering to the inner wall surface of the bag B. Furthermore, it can suck the powder inside the bag B with the suction nozzle 31 with a simple configuration, without requiring a bag pushing means or the like.

[0038] The blocking lid 7 is provided with a seal portion 73 that prevents the powder in the bag body B from leaking out through the insertion opening 72. This can prevent foreign matter from entering the inner bag B1 through the powder inlet B when the powder stored in the inner bag B1 is being sucked by the suction nozzle 31.

[0039] The closure lid 7 is provided with a connecting portion 71 that is connected to the inner bag elevator 22. As a result, if the closure lid 7 is made rigid, it is possible to more easily connect the inner bag B1 and the inner bag elevator 22 compared to a configuration in which the inner bag elevator 22 is directly connected to the flexible inner bag B1.

[0040] (Other embodiments) The control unit 6 according to the above embodiment stops the suction device 3 (pump unit 32) last. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may stop the suction device 3 (pump unit 32), for example, immediately before executing S11.

[0041] The bag body B according to the above embodiment has a double structure including an inner bag B1 and an outer bag B2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may also be directed to, for example, a bag body B having a single structure.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, when it is determined that the pressing force exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the descent of the suction nozzle 31 and the pressing unit 5 is stopped, and then the inner bag B1 and the outer bag B2 are lowered to their original positions. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0043] In other words, the disclosure may be, for example, "a configuration in which, when it is determined that the pressing force exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the pressing portion 5 is moved up and down several times, and then the inner bag B1 and the outer bag B2 are lowered to their original positions," or "a configuration in which, when it is determined that the pressing force exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the inner bag B1 and the outer bag B2 are lowered to their original positions when a predetermined time has elapsed since the determination."

[0044] The pressing unit 5 according to the above-described embodiment is provided on the suction nozzle 31. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured, for example, such that the pressing unit 5 is provided separately from the suction nozzle 31, or such that the vertical displacement of the suction nozzle 31 and the vertical displacement of the pressing unit 5 are controlled separately.

[0045] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the spirit of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure may be a configuration in which at least two of the above-described embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the components illustrated or described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiments is eliminated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1… Powder suction device 2... Elevator No. 1 3…Suction machine 4... Second elevator 5... Pressing part 6... Control section 7…Occluded lid 21... Elevator for outer bag 22... Inner bag elevator 31... Suction nozzle 31A… Suction port 32... Pump section 33... Air supply section 61... Pressing force sensor 62... First position sensor 63... Second position sensor 64... Third position sensor

Claims

1. A powder suction device that sucks powder stored in a flexible bag, a first elevator that raises and lowers the bag body; a suction machine having a suction nozzle for sucking the powder stored in the bag; a second elevator that raises and lowers the suction nozzle; a pressing portion for pressing the bottom of the bag body downward from inside the bag body to make the bottom into a generally conical shape that is convex downward; A powder suction device comprising:

2. The powder suction device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing portion is provided on the suction nozzle.

3. a control unit capable of controlling the operation of the first elevator, the second elevator, and the suction unit, and capable of performing a first suction function and a second suction function; the first suction function is a function of sucking powder inside the bag while lifting the bag, The second suction function is a function that is performed after the first suction function is completed, and is a function of sucking the powder in the bag while lowering the suction nozzle and the pressing part and pressing the pressing part against the bottom.

3. The powder suction device according to claim 2, wherein

4. The powder suction device described in claim 3, wherein the control unit stops the vertical displacement of the suction nozzle during the first suction function, and stops the vertical displacement of the bag body during the second suction function.

5. The bag body is configured to include an inner bag in which powder is stored and an outer bag that covers the inner bag from the outside, the first elevator includes an outer bag elevator that raises and lowers the outer bag, and an inner bag elevator that raises and lowers the inner bag, The powder suction device described in claim 4, further comprising: when the first suction function is executed, the control unit raises the outer bag and the inner bag to a predetermined position, and then raises only the inner bag further to a predetermined position.

6. a closing lid that closes a powder inlet of the inner bag, the closing lid having an insertion opening through which the suction nozzle can be inserted; an air supply unit that supplies air into the inner bag, the suction nozzle is inserted into the bag body through the insertion opening and is movable up and down; The powder suction device according to claim 5, further comprising a seal portion provided on the closing lid for preventing foreign matter from entering the bag through the insertion opening.

7. 7. The powder suction device for powder according to claim 6, wherein the closing lid is provided with a connecting portion that is connected to the inner bag elevator.

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