Material transfer device

Abstract

To provide a compact and easily movable material transfer device 10. [Solution] A material transfer device comprising: a tank 20 having an exhaust pipe section 411, a suction pipe section 311, and a discharge section 33, which stores material sucked in from the suction pipe section 311 and can discharge the stored material to the outside from the discharge section 33; and an ejector 21 connected to the exhaust pipe section 411 for exhausting air from the tank 20, wherein the ejector 21 exhausts the air from the tank 20 through the exhaust pipe section 411 to create negative pressure inside the tank 20, and sucks the material into the tank 20 from the suction pipe section 311, wherein the ejector 21 is installed integrally with the tank 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a material transfer device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a material supply device for supplying a molding material to a hopper of an injection molding machine. [[ID=1x]]

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The material supply device of Patent Document 1 includes a hopper disposed above a tank, sucks the material with a negative pressure inside the hopper by a blower, stops the blowing of the blower, and moves the material stored in the hopper to the tank by its own weight.

[0005] By the way, in this material supply device, the blower is installed separately from the hopper. Therefore, the material supply device becomes large-scale, and when moving the hopper, it is necessary to separately move the blower, which makes the operation complicated.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a compact and easily movable material transfer device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] Note: There seems to be a mistake in the original text where "

先行技術文献

Prior Art Documents

[0008] Solution 2 described above is that the exhaust device is installed integrally with the container via a mounting frame fixed to the container. Solution 3 described above includes a material filtration filter between the exhaust port and the material suction port inside the container.

[0009] The fourth solution described above is that the container has an air intake port on the exhaust port side of the material filtration filter, and the air intake port is connected to an air supply device. The fifth solution described above is a method for cleaning the material filter of a material transfer device using the material transfer device, comprising: a suction step in which the gas inside the container is exhausted from the exhaust port by the exhaust device to create a negative pressure inside the container and the material is sucked into the container from the material suction port; and a cleaning step in which, after the suction step, gas is supplied into the container from the air supply port by the air supply device and the material adhering to the material filter is removed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The material transfer device of the present invention is compact and easy to move. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of a material transfer device installed in an injection molding machine. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of a material transfer device. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of a material transfer system, focusing on the tank. [Figure 4] A schematic plan view of a material transfer device, centered on the tank. [Figure 5] Figure 5(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the filter unit, and Figure 5(b) is a schematic plan view of the same. [Figure 6] Flowchart of the operation of the material transfer device. [Figure 7] Figures 7(a) through 7(f) are explanatory diagrams of the tank's state. [Figure 8] Flowchart of the operation of the material transfer device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention, specifically a material transfer device 10 used in an injection molding machine 700, will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a material transfer device 10 installed on an injection molding machine 700. The injection molding machine 700 shown in the figure is equipped with a cylinder 701, and a screw 702 for feeding material m is rotatably installed inside the cylinder 701 by a motor (not shown). A hopper 703 for accumulating the material m fed into the cylinder 701 is installed at the base end of the cylinder 701. A mold 704 is installed at the tip of the cylinder 701, and the molten material m, heated by a heater (not shown) installed in the cylinder 701, is poured into the mold 704 for molding. The hopper 703 has a roughly inverted cone shape, with its lower end connected to the inside of the cylinder 701 and its upper end open. The material transfer device 10 is installed above the hopper 703. The material m to be transferred by the material transfer device 10 in this embodiment is a plastic material for injection molding, and is a resin pellet, crushed material, or powder. The particle size of the powder is, for example, 100 to 200 μm.

[0013] (Regarding the material transfer device 10) Fig. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the material transfer device 10. The material transfer device 10 includes a tank 20 as a container that can suck the material m inside, temporarily store the sucked material m, and further discharge the stored material m to the outside. Further, the material transfer device 10 includes an ejector 21 as an exhaust device that makes the inside of the tank 20 negative pressure, a solenoid valve unit 22 that supplies and stops the compressed air ca, and a detection sensor 23 that detects the height of the upper surface of the material m in the hopper 703. Furthermore, the material transfer device 10 includes a compressor 24 as an air supply device that generates and supplies the compressed air ca, and a control unit 25 that controls the solenoid valve unit 22 and the like. In the following description, for the tank 20, the cases of discharge and exhaust mean the movement of the material m or the air a (gas) from inside the tank 20 to outside the tank 20, and the cases of suction and air supply mean the movement of the material m or the air a from outside the tank 20 to inside the tank 20.

[0014] (Regarding the tank 20) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the tank 20 includes a metal tank body 30, a metal tank cover 40, a filter unit 50 disposed between the tank body 30 and the tank cover 40, and a metal mounting portion 60. Since the filter unit 50 is located inside the tank 20 and cannot be visually recognized from the outside, it is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3.

[0015] (Regarding the tank body 30) As shown in FIG. 3, the tank body 30 integrally includes a cylindrical main body cylinder portion 31, an inverted conical taper portion 32 located at the lower part of the main body cylinder portion 31, a discharge portion 33 as a material discharge port located at the lower part of the taper portion 32, and a filter receiving portion 34 located at the upper part of the main body cylinder portion 31. The inside of the tank body 30 is a storage space for temporarily storing the material m to be transferred.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a suction cylinder portion 311 as a material suction port is formed horizontally in an upper part of the main body cylinder portion 31 so as to open inside the main body cylinder portion 31. The suction cylinder portion 311 is a cylindrical shape made of metal, the axis thereof is orthogonal to but does not intersect the axis of the main body cylinder portion 31, and it is formed along the tangent line of the inner peripheral surface of the main body cylinder portion 31. As shown in FIG. 2, a suction hose 312 is connected to the suction cylinder portion 311. The other end of the suction hose 312 is located in a stock area S where the material m is stocked, and the material m in the stock area S can be sucked into the tank 20.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an ejector mounting frame 313, a solenoid valve mounting frame 314, and four adjustment fasteners 315 as mounting frames are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the main body cylinder portion 31. The ejector mounting frame 313 and the solenoid valve mounting frame 314 are metal frames formed in a predetermined shape for fixing the ejector 21 and the solenoid valve unit 22 to the tank 20 respectively, and are fixed by welding at positions separated by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the main body cylinder portion 31. And an ejector 21 is installed in the tank 20 via the ejector mounting frame 313, and a solenoid valve unit 22 is installed via the solenoid valve mounting frame 314. The adjustment fastener 315 is a locking tool for fixing the tank main body 30 and the tank cover 40, and the tip can be hooked on a hook 423 fixed to the tank cover 40. The adjustment fastener 315 can adjust the length of the tightening allowance. In addition, in the present embodiment, the adjustment fastener 315 does not include the hook 423.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the four adjustment fasteners 315 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the main body cylinder portion 31 at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. Each adjustment fastener 315 is fixed at a position that does not interfere with the ejector mounting frame 313, the solenoid valve mounting frame 314, and the suction cylinder portion 311. As shown in FIG. 3, the tapered portion 32 is continuously formed at the lower end of the main body cylinder portion 31, and is an inverted conical cylinder shape with a smaller inner diameter downward.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, the discharge section 33 comprises a cylindrical discharge pipe section 331 and a tank on-off valve 332 connected below it. The discharge section 33 serves as a flow path for discharging material m from the tank 20 to the outside of the tank 20. The upper end of the discharge pipe section 331 is continuous with the lower end of the tapered section 32, and the axis of the discharge pipe section 331 coincides with the axis of the main cylindrical section 31. The tank on-off valve 332 is a ball valve unit having a hollow ball (see Figure 7) in the flow path, and is an air-driven type that rotates the ball by driving a cylinder (not shown) with compressed air ca to open and close the valve. The tank on-off valve 332 opens when compressed air ca is not supplied and closes when compressed air ca is supplied. As shown in Figure 2, the tank on-off valve 332 is connected to the solenoid valve unit 22 via an air tube 333 for supplying compressed air ca.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower end of the discharge pipe 331 and the upper end of the tank shut-off valve 332 are joined by flanges 331a and 332b formed at their respective ends. A pair of planar fan-shaped suspension frames 334 extending radially outward are fixed to the lower surface of the flange 332b of the tank shut-off valve 332. Bolt holes and hook holes (not shown) are formed in the suspension frames 334, and the tank 20 can be lifted by locking suspension bolts into the bolt holes or by hooking the hooks of a hoisting machine into the hook holes.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5(a), the filter receiving portion 34 is formed continuously with the upper end of the main body cylindrical portion 31 and comprises an annular receiving plate 341 extending radially outward from the upper edge of the main body cylindrical portion 31 and a cylindrical inner wall 342 extending upward from the outer edge of the receiving plate 341.

[0022] (Regarding Tank Cover 40) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tank cover 40 integrally comprises a cover body 41 and a filter retainer 42 located at the bottom of the cover body 41. The cover body 41 is a cylinder with a closed top, and its diameter is the same as that of the main body cylinder 31. At the center of the top surface of the cover body 41, an exhaust pipe 411, which constitutes the exhaust port, is formed extending upward from the cover body 41, and its lower end opens downward from the cover body 41. The exhaust pipe 411 is a cylindrical metal shape and is coaxial with the axis of the cover body 41. As shown in Figure 2, the exhaust pipe 411 is connected to the ejector 21 via an exhaust hose 412.

[0023] Furthermore, at four locations on the circumference of a circle centered on the exhaust pipe section 411 on the upper surface of the cover body 41, air intake pipe sections 413 are formed to extend upward from the cover body 41, with their lower ends opening downward from the cover body 41. Each air intake pipe section 413 is a cylindrical metal shape with a smaller diameter than the exhaust pipe section 411 and is parallel to the exhaust pipe section 411. As shown in Figure 2, each air intake pipe section 413 is connected to the solenoid valve unit 22 via an air tube 414 for supplying compressed air ca.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5(a), the filter retainer portion 42 is formed continuously with the lower end of the cover body 41 and comprises an annular retaining plate 421 extending radially outward from the lower edge of the cover body 41 and a cylindrical outer wall 422 extending downward from the outer edge of the retaining plate 421. The filter retainer portion 42 is formed to a diameter that allows the filter receiving portion 34 of the tank body 30 to be fitted onto it. Therefore, the inner diameter of the outer wall 422 of the filter retainer portion 42 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner wall 342 of the filter receiving portion 34. As shown in Figure 4, four hooks 423 are fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the outer wall 422 of the filter retainer portion 42 at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction. These hooks 423 are used to fasten the adjustment fastener 315 fixed to the tank body 30. The tank cover 40 is secured to the tank body 30 by fastening the adjustment fastener 315 to the hook 423, and the tank cover 40 can be removed from the tank body 30 by releasing the fastener.

[0025] (Regarding filter unit 50) Figure 5(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the filter unit 50. The filter unit 50 comprises a filter frame 51, two reinforcing plates 52, and a filter 53, which serves as a material filtration filter, sandwiched between the two reinforcing plates 52. In the filter unit 50, the filter 53 is sandwiched between the two reinforcing plates 52 from both sides, and a certain area of ​​the end faces and outer edges of the two reinforcing plates 52 that sandwich the filter 53 is further surrounded by the filter frame 51.

[0026] The filter frame 51 integrally comprises a cylindrical frame body 511 and annular ribs 512 extending parallel to each other radially inward from both the upper and lower edges of the frame body 511, forming a U-shaped cross-section. The filter frame 51 is made of silicone of a constant thickness and is elastic. The outer diameter of the filter frame 51 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the filter receiving portion 34. Also, the height of the filter frame 51 (length in the vertical direction in Figure 5(a)) is slightly higher than the height of the filter receiving portion 34. The length (radial length) of the ribs 512 of the filter frame 51 is approximately the same as the length (radial length) of the receiving plate 341 of the filter receiving portion 34.

[0027] Figure 5(b) shows a plan view of the filter unit 50. Each reinforcing plate 52 is a metal disc with multiple through holes 521 formed therein. In Figure 5(b), only some of the through holes 521 are labeled. The two reinforcing plates 52 are identical in shape, and the size and position of the through holes 521 are the same. The diameter of the reinforcing plate 52 is the same as the inner diameter of the frame 511 of the filter frame 51. In addition, each through hole 521 is not formed in a certain radial region from the outer edge of the reinforcing plate 52 (the region covered by the ribs 512 of the filter frame 51). The reinforcing plate 52 reinforces the filter 53 while allowing air a to flow in the vertical direction, sandwiching the filter 53 in Figure 5(a), at the locations where the through holes 521 are located. The filter 53 is made of a circular nonwoven fabric with the same diameter as the reinforcing plate 52 and has the performance of preventing the passage of material m sucked into the tank 20 while allowing the passage of air a. The coarseness of this filter 53 can be appropriately determined depending on the size (particle size) of the material m to be aspirated.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5(a), the filter unit 50 is placed on the filter receiving portion 34 of the tank body 30. In this state, the lower surface of the rib 512 of the filter frame 51 of the filter unit 50 is seated in an annular shape on the receiving plate 341 of the filter receiving portion 34. Multiple through holes 521 formed in the two reinforcing plates 52 are positioned to overlap in the thickness direction, and as shown in Figure 5(b), the filter 53 is exposed through the through holes 521. As shown in Figure 5(a), the filter retaining portion 42 of the tank cover 40 is fitted onto the filter receiving portion 34 of the tank body 30, and the retaining plate 421 of the filter retaining portion 42 contacts the upper surface of the rib 512 of the filter frame 51 of the filter unit 50 in an annular shape.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the tank body 30 and the tank cover 40 can be fixed together at four points in the circumferential direction by fastening fasteners 315 and hooks 423. The fastening of the fasteners 315 and hooks 423 acts to bring the filter receiving portion 34 of the tank body 30 and the filter retaining portion 42 of the tank cover 40 closer together. The filter frame 51 is elastically deformed and tightly fitted between the filter receiving portion 34 and the filter retaining portion 42, so that air a can pass between the tank body 30 and the tank cover 40 only in the area where the filter 53 exposed through the through hole 521 is located. When the tank cover 40 is removed from the tank body 30, the filter unit 50 can also be removed from the tank 20.

[0030] (Regarding the mounting section 60) As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the mounting section 60 is a metal disc installed at the lower end of the discharge section 33, with a circular hole (not shown) formed through it at a position corresponding to the discharge section 33. The mounting section 60 serves as a lid when the material transfer device 10 is placed on the upper edge of the hopper 703 of the injection molding machine 700, and has a larger diameter than the hopper 703. A detection sensor 23 is installed on the mounting section 60 facing downwards.

[0031] (Regarding Ejector 21) As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the ejector 21 has a compressed air inlet 211, an air outlet 212, and a suction port 213. Compressed air ca introduced from the compressed air inlet 211 loses pressure as it passes through the inside of the ejector 21, drawing in outside air a from the suction port 213 and discharging it to the outside of the ejector 21 from the air outlet 212. Such ejectors 21 are well known, and a commercially available product (for example, the CVZ series from Convum Co., Ltd.) can be used as the ejector 21 in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, the compressed air inlet 211 of the ejector 21 is connected to the solenoid valve unit 22 via an air tube 214 for supplying compressed air ca. The suction port 213 of the ejector 21 is connected to the exhaust pipe section 411 of the tank cover 40 via an exhaust hose 412.

[0032] (Regarding the solenoid valve unit 22) As shown in Figure 3, the solenoid valve unit 22 has a configuration in which a first solenoid valve 221, a second solenoid valve 222, and a third solenoid valve 223 are arranged in parallel. Each solenoid valve 221, 222, and 223 (hereinafter referred to as "each solenoid valve" will only be 221) is equipped with a valve that electromagnetically opens and closes the internal air passage. Each solenoid valve 221 is electrically connected to the control unit 25 and opens and closes individually under control from the control unit 25. Each solenoid valve 221 is equipped with an inlet 224 and an outlet 225 for compressed air ca. As shown in Figure 2, each inlet 224 is connected to the compressor 24 via an air tube 226. The air tube 226 branches into three before reaching the solenoid valve unit 22 and is connected in parallel to the inlet 224 of each solenoid valve 221.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the discharge port 225 of the first solenoid valve 221 is connected to the tank on / off valve 332 via an air tube 333, and the discharge port 225 of the second solenoid valve 222 is connected to the compressed air inlet 211 of the ejector 21 via an air tube 214. The discharge port 225 of the third solenoid valve 223 is connected to the four air intake pipes 413 of the tank cover 40 via an air tube 414. The air tube 414 branches into four before reaching the four air intake pipes 413 and connects to each air intake pipe 413.

[0034] (Regarding detection sensor 23) As shown in Figure 2, the detection sensor 23 is installed on the mounting section 60 and is directed towards the hopper 703 located below it. The detection sensor 23 is electrically connected to the control unit 25, and together with the control unit 25, the detection sensor 23 is started and stopped. The detection sensor 23 can detect the distance to the top surface of the material m in the hopper 703, that is, the height of the material m stored in the hopper 703. The height of the material m in the hopper 703 detected by the detection sensor 23 is a first position h1 and a second position h2 which is lower than the first position h1.

[0035] The first position h1 is a preset height at which the amount of material m stored in the hopper 703 has decreased to a certain extent, necessitating the transfer of material m into the hopper 703 by the material transfer device 10. The second position h2 is the height at which the volume of the material m in the hopper 703 is, for example, 60, compared to 100 when the volume is at the first position h1. While the material transfer device 10 is operating, the height of the material m in the hopper 703 fluctuates around the first position h1 or increases sequentially from the first position h1. However, if, for example, the material m in the stock area S runs out, or the suction hose 312 is removed from the stock area S, the material transfer device 10 cannot transfer the material m, and the height of the material m in the hopper 703 decreases. The second position h2 is for detecting such conditions. When the height of the material m in the hopper 703 reaches the first position h1 or the second position h2, the detection sensor 23 transmits the respective detection signals to the control unit 25.

[0036] (Regarding Compressor 24) The compressor 24 is a device that generates and supplies compressed air ca, and is electrically connected to the control unit 25. It starts and stops along with the startup of the control unit 25. The compressor 24 is connected to the solenoid valve unit 22 via an air tube 226.

[0037] (Regarding the control unit 25) The control unit 25 is a device that controls the material transfer device 10 and is equipped with a start switch, CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random access memory), ROM (Read-only memory), and a buzzer. None of these are shown in the diagram. The control unit 25 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve unit 22, the detection sensor 23, and the compressor 24. The start switch also serves as the stop switch.

[0038] (Regarding the operation of the material transfer device 10) Next, the material transfer method and filter cleaning method for the material transfer device 10 used in the injection molding machine 700 will be described.

[0039] Since injection molding is performed continuously while the injection molding machine 700 is in operation, the amount of material m stored in the hopper 703 decreases at a constant rate. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically transfer material m to the hopper 703.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, when the switch on the control unit 25 is turned on, the material transfer device 10 is started (S101). Specifically, the solenoid valve unit 22, detection sensor 23, and compressor 24 are started along with the control unit 25. When the compressor 24 is started, it generates compressed air ca and pumps the compressed air ca to the solenoid valve unit 22. Note that the first solenoid valve 221, the second solenoid valve 222, and the third solenoid valve 223 are all closed when the system is started, so the compressed air ca is not pumped beyond each of the solenoid valves 221.

[0041] The detection sensor 23 detects the height of the material m stored in the hopper 703 (S102), and when it detects a first position h1 as the height of the material m, it transmits a detection signal to the control unit 25 (S103). When the control unit 25 receives this detection signal, it opens the first solenoid valve 221 (S104). When the first solenoid valve 221 opens, compressed air ca is pumped to the tank on / off valve 332, and the tank on / off valve 332 closes as shown in Figure 7(a) (S105). Note that the tank 20 is empty and contains air a.

[0042] Next, the control unit 25 opens the second solenoid valve 222 (S106). When the second solenoid valve 222 is opened, compressed air ca is supplied to the compressed air inlet 211 of the ejector 21, and the ejector 21 starts sucking air a from the tank through the suction port 213 (S107). Since the suction port 213 is connected to the exhaust pipe section 411 of the tank cover 40 via the exhaust hose 412, air a is sucked in from the exhaust pipe section 411 as shown in Figure 7(b), and the inside of the tank 20 becomes negative pressure. When the inside of the tank 20 becomes negative pressure, suction from the suction pipe section 311 via the suction hose 312 begins. The tip of the suction hose 312 is located in the stock area S, and the suction process begins to suck material m from the suction pipe section 311 through the suction hose 312 (S108).

[0043] As shown in Figure 7(c), the material m sucked into the tank 20 swirls around inside the tank body 30, hitting the inner surface of the tank body 30, and its kinetic energy is reduced as it falls downwards into the tank body 30 and is stored inside the tank 20. Meanwhile, air a is also sucked into the tank 20 along with the material m, but the air a passes through the filter 53 and is discharged outside the tank 20 from the exhaust pipe section 411 and sucked into the ejector 21. Some of the material m sucked into the tank body 30 also moves along with the air a, but the material m is captured by the filter 53 and its discharge outside the tank 20 is prevented.

[0044] The control unit 25 closes the second solenoid valve 222 a certain time after the first solenoid valve 221 has opened (S109). This certain time is the time after which it is assumed that the aspirated material m has been stored in the tank 20 to a certain extent (for example, 40% of the capacity of the tank body 30). As a result, compressed air ca is no longer supplied to the ejector 21, and the ejector 21 stops suction (S110). The negative pressure inside the tank 20 is also relieved, and the suction of material m into the tank 20 also stops (S111). As shown in Figure 7(d), the aspirated material m is stored in the tank 20.

[0045] Next, the control unit 25 closes the first solenoid valve 221 (S112). The closing of the first solenoid valve 221 opens the tank on / off valve 332 (S113). Then, as shown in Figure 7(e), the material m stored in the tank 20 is discharged from the tank 20 through the discharge section 33 and transferred to the hopper 703 (S114). The control unit 25 opens the third solenoid valve 223 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the closing of the first solenoid valve 221 (S115). This certain period of time is the time it is assumed that all of the material m stored in the tank 20 has been discharged through the discharge section 33. The opening of the third solenoid valve 223 supplies compressed air ca into the tank 20 from the air supply cylinder section 413 (S116). As shown in Figure 7(f), the supply of compressed air ca from the air intake pipe 413 into the tank 20 is in the opposite direction to the flow of air a during suction (Figures 7(b) and 7(c)) relative to the filter 53. Therefore, the material m captured by the filter 53 during suction is removed from the filter 53 by the compressed air ca flowing in the opposite direction to that during suction. This cleans the filter 53 (cleaning process). Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the control unit 25 closes the third solenoid valve 223 (S117).

[0046] Once the above steps are completed, the process returns to height detection by the detection sensor 23 (S102). Furthermore, if the injection molding machine 700 stops operating, turning off the start switch will cause the material transfer device 10 to stop operating regardless of which step is being performed.

[0047] (Regarding the operation when the detection sensor 23 detects the second position h2) As shown in Figure 8, the detection sensor 23 detects the position of the material m stored in the hopper 703 (S102), and when it detects a second position h2 as the height of the material m, it sends a detection signal to the control unit 25 (S203). Upon receiving the detection signal, the control unit 25 activates a buzzer (S204). Upon hearing the buzzer, the worker can take necessary actions, such as checking the stock area S or stopping the injection molding machine 700 and / or the material transfer device 10 if necessary.

[0048] According to the material transfer device 10 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the above embodiment, the material transfer device 10 has an ejector 21 that exhausts the air a from the tank 20 and creates negative pressure inside the tank 20, which is installed integrally with the tank 20. As a result, the material transfer device 10 is compact, and the ejector 21 can be moved together with the tank 20, making it easy to move.

[0049] (2) The ejector 21 is fixed to an ejector mounting frame 313 which is fixed to the tank 20, and is installed integrally with the tank 20. This makes it easy to install the tank 20 and the ejector 21 as a single unit.

[0050] (3) A filter 53 is provided between the exhaust pipe section 411 and the suction pipe section 311 inside the tank 20. As a result, the air a drawn in from the suction pipe section 311 passes through the filter 53 and is exhausted outside the tank 20, but the material m drawn in is captured by the filter 53 and prevented from being discharged outside the tank 20.

[0051] (4) The tank 20 has an air intake pipe 413 connected to the compressor 24. When using crushed material or powder with small particle size as the material m, there is a possibility that the material m will pass through the filter 53 during suction, so the mesh size of the filter 53 needs to be fine. However, if the mesh size of the filter 53 is made fine, there is a risk that the material m with small particle size will adhere to it and clog the filter 53. To address this, compressed air ca from the compressor 24 is supplied into the tank 20 from the air intake pipe 413 in the opposite direction to the suction. Since the compressed air ca flows in the opposite direction to the suction towards the filter 53, the material m that has adhered to the filter 53 during suction can be removed toward the tank body 30, making it possible to clean the filter 53.

[0052] (5) The solenoid valve unit 22 is installed integrally with the tank 20. As a result, the material transfer device 10 is compact, and the solenoid valve unit 22 can be moved together with the tank 20, making it easy to move.

[0053] (6) The filter unit 50 sandwiches the filter 53 between two reinforcing plates 52. In addition, each reinforcing plate 52 has multiple through holes 521 formed therein. As a result, the filter 53 can filter through the portion located in the through holes 521 of the reinforcing plates 52, and the filter 53 is less likely to deform during suction.

[0054] (7) The filter unit 50 has a silicone, elastic filter frame 51, which is sandwiched between the filter receiving portion 34 of the tank body 30 and the filter retaining portion 42 of the tank cover 40. As a result, the filter frame 51 elastically deforms and adheres tightly to the filter receiving portion 34 and the filter retaining portion 42, making it difficult for gaps to form.

[0055] (8) The tank 20 is detachable from the tank body 30 and the tank cover 40, which are secured together with an adjustment fastener 315 and a hook 423. This makes maintenance inside the tank 20 easy.

[0056] (9) The axis of the suction cylinder portion 311 formed in the tank body 30 does not intersect with the axis of the main body cylinder portion 31, but is formed along the tangent to the inner circumferential surface of the main body cylinder portion 31. Therefore, the material m sucked from the main body cylinder portion 31 falls to the bottom of the tank body 30 due to the cyclone effect, making it easy to separate the sucked material m from the air a.

[0057] (10) Since the height of the material m accumulated in the hopper 703 is detected by the detection sensor 23, the material transfer device 10 can automatically transfer and stop the material m. The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0058] The number of ejectors 21 may be changed. Multiple ejectors 21 may be installed in parallel to increase the exhaust force from inside the tank 20 and the suction force of material m into the tank 20. Although the exhaust pipe section 411 of the tank 20 and the ejector 21 are connected via the exhaust hose 412, they may also be connected directly without using the exhaust hose 412.

[0059] When stopping the material transfer device 10 by operating the start switch, if there is material m remaining in the tank 20 before step S112, the procedure may be advanced to S117 before stopping to discharge the material m and empty the tank 20 before stopping the operation of the material transfer device 10.

[0060] The technical philosophy is described below. (Technical Concept 1) A material transfer device comprising: a container having an exhaust port, a material suction port, and a material discharge port, which stores material sucked in from the material suction port and can discharge the stored material to the outside from the material discharge port; and an exhaust device connected to the exhaust port for exhausting gas from inside the container, wherein the exhaust device exhausts gas from inside the container through the exhaust port to create a negative pressure inside the container, and sucks the material into the container from the material suction port, wherein the exhaust device is installed integrally with the container.

[0061] (Technical Concept 2) The exhaust device is installed integrally with the container via a mounting frame fixed to the container, as described in Technical Concept 1. (Technical Concept 3) A material transfer device according to Technical Concept 1, having a material filtration filter between the exhaust port and the material suction port inside the container.

[0062] (Technical Concept 4) The material transfer device according to Technical Concept 3, wherein the container has an air inlet on the exhaust side of the material filtration filter, and the air inlet is connected to an air supply device. (Technical Concept 5) A method for cleaning the material filter of a material transfer apparatus using the material transfer apparatus of Technical Concept 4, comprising: a suction step of exhausting the gas inside the container from the exhaust port using the exhaust device to create a negative pressure inside the container and sucking the material into the container from the material suction port; and a cleaning step of supplying gas into the container from the air supply port using the air supply device after the suction step and removing the material adhering to the material filter. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 10...Material transfer device 20... Tank (container) 21… Ejector (exhaust system) 24... Compressor (air supply device) 30... Tank body 33...Discharge part (material discharge port) 40... Tank cover 50…Filter Unit 53…Filter (material filtration filter) 311...Suction cylinder part (material suction port) 313... Ejector mounting frame (mounting frame) 411... Exhaust pipe section (exhaust port) 413...Air intake section (air intake port) a...air ca...compressed air m...Material.

Claims

1. A container having an exhaust port, a material suction port, and a material discharge port, which stores material sucked in from the material suction port and can discharge the stored material to the outside from the material discharge port, The system includes an exhaust device connected to the exhaust port for exhausting the gas inside the container, A material transfer device that uses the exhaust device to exhaust the gas inside the container through the exhaust port to create a negative pressure inside the container, and sucks the material into the container through the material suction port, The exhaust device is fixed to the container, and the exhaust device is installed integrally with the container. The exhaust device is an ejector, The material transfer device further comprises an air supply device for generating and supplying compressed air, and a solenoid valve for supplying and stopping the compressed air to the ejector. The solenoid valve is fixed to the container, and the solenoid valve is installed integrally with the container. The container comprises a filter unit, The filter unit comprises a material filtration filter, two reinforcing plates that sandwich the material filtration filter from both sides, and a filter frame that surrounds the end faces and outer edges of the two reinforcing plates that sandwich the material filtration filter. The filter unit is a material transfer device located between the exhaust port and the material suction port within the container.

2. The container further comprises a tank body and a tank cover. The tank body has a filter receiving portion comprising an annular receiving plate and a cylindrical inner wall extending upward from the outer edge of the receiving plate. The tank cover has a filter retaining portion comprising an annular retaining plate and a cylindrical outer wall extending downward from the outer edge of the retaining plate. The filter retainer portion can be fitted onto the filter receiving portion. The material transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the filter unit is located between the filter retaining portion and the filter receiving portion.

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