Operating device

Abstract

An operating device has an electric motor (16) housed inside a containing casing (12) and provided with an output shaft (17) mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis (18) and coupled to at least one transmission shaft (20, 23) mounted through the containing casing (12) so as to rotate around a rotation axis (22; 13; 38; 46); and a pair of levers ((28, 29) angularly integral to the transmission shaft (20, 23) and, respectively, to the containing casing (12), which is moved around the rotation axis (22; 13; 38; 46) of the transmission shaft (20, 23) by a reaction torque generated by the rotation of the transmission shaft (20, 23) around its rotation axis (22; 13; 38; 46).

Description

[0001] "OPERATING DEVICE"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102025000005988 filed on March 24, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to an operating device .

[0006] Background

[0007] In particular, the present invention relates to an operating device of the type comprising a gearmotor comprising, in turn, a containing casing; an electric motor mounted on the containing casing and provided with an output shaft mounted so as to rotate around a first rotation axis ; and a first transmission shaft engaged in a rotary manner through the containing casing and coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor so as to rotate around a second rotation axis transverse to the first rotation axis .

[0008] The operating device further comprises a second transmission shaft, which is engaged in a rotary manner through the containing casing, is coupled to the first transmission shaft so as to rotate around a third rotation axis parallel or transverse to the first rotation axis, and is configured to move a moving member around said third rotation axis .

[0009] Known operating devices of the type described above have some drawbacks mainly deriving from the fact that the second transmission shaft is configured to operate a single moving member and thus has relatively limited versatility and flexibility .

[0010] Summary

[0011] The obj ect of the present invention is to provide an operatingdevice that is without the drawbacks described above and is simple and inexpensive to produce .

[0012] According to the present invention, an operating device as claimed in claims 1 to 8 is provided.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a solid-liquid separator . According to the present invention, a solid-liquid separator as claimed in claims 9 and 10 is provided.

[0014] The present invention also relate to a closing assembly for closing bags of powder material, granules or the like .

[0015] According to the present invention, a closing assembly for closing bags of powder material, granules or the like as claimed in claims 11 and 12 is provided.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a sleeve valve .

[0017] According to the present invention a sleeve valve as claimed in claims 13 and 14 is provided.

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, wherein:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a solid-liquid separator provided with a preferred embodiment of the operating device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view, with sectioned parts and parts removed for clarity, of the solid-liquid separator of Fig. 1 ; Figs . 3 and 4 are two schematic side views, with sectioned parts and parts removed for clarity, of a detail of Fig. 2 illustrated in two different operating positions;

[0021] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a closing assembly for closing bags of powdermaterial, granules or the like provided with a first variant of the operating device of Fig. 1 ;

[0022] Fig. 6 is a schematic side view, with sectioned parts and parts removed for clarity, of the closing assembly of Fig. 5;

[0023] Figs . 7 and 8 are two schematic plan views, with parts removed for clarity, of the closing assembly of Fig. 5 illustrated in two different operating positions;

[0024] Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a sleeve valve provided with a second variant of the operating device of Fig. 1 ;

[0025] Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view, with sectioned parts and parts removed for clarity, of the sleeve valve of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the sleeve valve of Fig. 9.

[0026] Description of Embodiments

[0027] With reference to Figs . 1, 2, 3, and 4, the reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, a solid-liquid separator comprising a support frame 2 ; a separator screen, known and not illustrated; a rotary feeding member, in this particular case a feeding Archimedes' screw, known and not illustrated, to feed a solidliquid mixture along and through the separator screen (not illustrated) so as to separate the solid-liquid mixture into a solid phase and a liquid phase; and a first discharge mouth, known and not illustrated, to discharge the liquid phase from the separator 1 .

[0028] The separator 1 further comprises a second annular shaped discharge mouth 3 to discharge the solid phase from the separator 1 ; and an annular shaped shutter member 4 movable along an elongated central guide 5, which extends parallel to a direction 6, and is angularly integral with the aforesaid feeding Archimedes' screw (not illustrated) .

[0029] The member 4 is connected to a slide 7 coupled in a sliding manner to a pair of guides 8 obtained on the frame 2 parallelto the direction 6, and is moved in the direction 6 between a closing position (Fig. 4 ) and at least one maximum opening position (Fig. 3) of the discharge mouth 3 by an operating device 9.

[0030] During operation of the separator 1, the member 4 is moved in a continuous or intermittent manner between the closing position, the maximum opening position, and any intermediate opening positions according to the amount of solid phase required.

[0031] The device 9 comprises a support pin 10, which defines part of the frame 2, and extends in a direction 11 transverse to the direction 6; and a containing casing 12, which has the form of a rocker arm, and is coupled in a rotary manner to the pin 10 so as to rotate, relative to the frame 2, around a rotation axis 13 parallel to the direction 11.

[0032] Since the axis 13 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pin 10 and the pin 10 defines part of the frame 2, the pin 10 and the axis 13 are fixed.

[0033] The casing 12 has a first arm 14 configured to house internally a gearmotor 15 comprising an electric motor 16 provided with an output shaft 17, which is mounted so as to rotate, relative to the casing 12, around a rotation axis 18 substantially parallel to the axis 13 and to the direction 11, and has a transmission system defined, in this particular case, by a worm screw 19.

[0034] The gearmotor 15 further comprises a first transmission shaft 20, which is engaged in a rotary manner through the casing 12, and carries fitted thereon a first gear wheel 21 coupled to the screw 19 to move the shaft 20 around a rotation axis 22 transverse to the axis 18.

[0035] The operating device 9 further comprises a second transmission shaft 23, which has a tubular shape, extends through the casing12 and is fitted on the pin 10 coaxially to the axis 13, and is coupled in a rotary manner to the casing 12 by the interposition of at least a pair of rolling bearings 24.

[0036] The shaft 23 is provided with a transmission system defined, in this particular case, by a second gear wheel 25 fitted on the shaft 23 and coupled to a worm screw 26 obtained on the shaft 20 .

[0037] According to a variant, not illustrated, the transmission shaft 20 is eliminated and the output shaft 17 and the transmission shaft 23 are directly coupled to each other, for example through a worm screw obtained on the output shaft 17 and a gear wheel fitted on the transmission shaft 23 or through a pair of gear wheels fitted on the shafts 17 and 23.

[0038] Finally, the device 9 is provided with a scissor actuator 27 comprising a first lever 28 proj ecting radially outwards from the shaft 23 and a second lever 29 defined by a second arm of the casing 12. Each lever 28, 29 cooperates with the slide 7 by means of at least one thrust roller 30 arranged in contact with the slide 7 and through the engagement of a pair of coupling pins 31 proj ecting from the lever 28, 29 in the direction 11 in respective guides 32 obtained through said slide 7 in a direction 33 orthogonal to the directions 6 and 11.

[0039] Operation of the electric motor 16 causes the rotation of the lever 28 around the axis 13 and the rotation of the lever 29 around the axis 13 due to the thrust of a reaction torque generated on the casing 12 by the rotation of the lever 28 around the axis 13.

[0040] Due to the fact that both the casing 12 and the shaft 23 are mounted so as to rotate around the axis 13, that the pin 10 defines part of the frame 2, and that the axis 13 is the longitudinal axis of the pin 10 and, consequently, is fixed, thetwo levers 28 and 29 of the scissor actuator 27 are mounted so as to rotate relative to one another around a fixed rotation axis .

[0041] According to some variants, not illustrated, the number of transmission shafts 20, 23 is different from two and in general equal to at least one .

[0042] Figs . 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate a closing assembly 34 for closing a bag (not illustrated) of powder material, granules or the like comprising a support frame 35, and a closing device 36 configured to close a bag (not illustrated) of powder material, granules or the like .

[0043] The device 36 is provided with two j aws 37, which are coupled in a rotary manner to the frame 35 so as to rotate, relative to the frame 35, around a rotation axis 38 of the shaft 23, and are moved between a clamping position (Fig. 8 ) and a release position (Figs . 5 and 7 ) to clamp and release the bag (not illustrated) by an operating device 39 identical to the operating device 9 and with the sole difference that the axis 38 of the shaft 23 is transverse, and not parallel, to the axis 18 .

[0044] The casing 12 of the device 39 is coupled in a rotary manner to the frame 35 so as to rotate, relative to the frame 35, around the axis 38, and the j aws 37 are obtained on the levers 28, 29.

[0045] Operation of the electric motor 16 firstly causes the rotation of the aw 37 obtained on the lever 28 around the axis 38 and subsequently, when the j aw 37 of the lever 28 comes into contact with, and is braked by, the bag (not illustrated) , the rotation of the j aw 37 of the lever 29 around said axis 38.

[0046] The lever 29 is moved around the axis 38 by a reaction torque generated on the casing 12 by the rotation of the lever 28 aroundsaid axis 38 .

[0047] Figs . 9, 10, and 11 illustrate a sleeve valve 40 comprising a support frame 41 configured to house therein a sleeve 42 made of flexible material defining part of a feeding duct 43 for feeding a product .

[0048] The valve 40 further comprises a closing device 44 provided with two j aws 45, which are coupled in a rotary manner to the frame 41 so as to rotate, relative to the frame 41, around a rotation axis 46, and are moved between a clamping position (not illustrated) and a release position (Fig. 10) of the sleeve 42 by an operating device 47 identical to the operating device 9 and with the sole difference that the axis 46 of the shaft 23 is transverse and not parallel to the axis 18.

[0049] The casing 12 of the device 47 is coupled in a rotary manner to the frame 41 so as to rotate, relative to the frame 41, around the axis 46, and the j aws 45 are obtained on the levers 28, 29.

[0050] Operation of the electric motor 16 firstly causes the rotation of the aw 45 of the lever 28 around the axis 46 and subsequently, when the j aw 45 of the lever 28 comes into contact with, and is braked by, the sleeve 42, the rotation of the j aw 45 of the lever 29 around the axis 46.

[0051] The lever 29 is moved around the axis 46 by a reaction torque generated on the casing 12 by the rotation of the lever 28 around said axis 46.

[0052] Although the operating devices 9, 39, 47 are particularly advantageous for application in the solid-liquid separator 1, in the closing assembly 34 and, respectively, in the sleeve valve 40 described above, they can obviously be used in any other field of application.

[0053] The operating devices 9, 39, 47 are relatively simple and inexpensive and have relatively limited overall dimensions .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . - An operating device comprising a gearmotor ( 15 ) comprising, in turn, a containing casing ( 12 ) , an electric motor ( 16 ) mounted on the containing casing ( 12 ) and provided with an output shaft ( 17 ) mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis ( 18 ) , and at least one transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) engaged in a rotary manner through the containing casing ( 12 ) so as to rotate around a rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) due to the thrust of the output shaft ( 17 ) of the electric motor ( 16 ) ; and characteri zed in that it further comprises a scissor actuator ( 27 ) comprising, in turn, a first lever ( 28 ) angularly integral to the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) and a second lever ( 29 ) angularly integral to the containing casing ( 12 ) ; the containing casing ( 12 ) being mounted so as to rotate around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) due to the thrust of a reaction torque generated by the rotation of the first lever ( 28 ) around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) .2 . - The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) is coupled to a support frame ( 2 ; 35 ; 41 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate , relative to the support frame ( 2 ; 35 ; 41 ) , around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) and the containing casing ( 12 ) is coupled to the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) .3 . - The operating device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the rotation axis ( 18 ) of the output shaft ( 17 ) and the rotation axis ( 22 ; 13 ; 38 ; 46 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) are parallel or transverse to one another .4 . - The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a first transmission shaft ( 20 ) coupledto the output shaft ( 17 ) of the electric motor ( 16) and a second transmission shaft (23) interposed between the first transmission shaft (20) and the first lever (28 ) .

5. - The operating device according to claim 4, wherein the output shaft ( 17 ) of the electric motor ( 16) is provided with a first worm screw ( 19) and the first transmission shaft (20) is provided with a first gear wheel (21 ) coupled to the first worm screw ( 19) .

6. - The operating device according to claim 5, wherein the first transmission shaft (20) is provided with a second worm screw (26) and the second transmission shaft (23) is provided with a second gear wheel (25) coupled to the second worm screw (26) .7 The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation axis ( 13) of the transmission shaft (23) is fixed.

8. - The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second lever (28, 29) of the scissor actuator (27 ) are mounted so as to rotate relative to one another around the fixed rotation axis ( 13) of the transmission shaft (23) .

9. - A solid-liquid separator comprising a support frame (2 ) ; a separator screen; a feeding Archimedes' screw to feed a solidliquid mixture along and through the separator screen so as to separate the solid-liquid mixture into a solid phase and a liquid phase; a first discharge mouth to discharge the liquid phase from the solid-liquid separator; a second discharge mouth (3) to discharge the solid phase from the solid-liquid separator; a shutter member (4 ) movable between a closing position and an opening position to close and open the second discharge mouth (3) ; and an operating device ( 9) according to any one of the preceding claims; said first and second levers (28, 29) beingconnected to the shutter member ( 4 ) in order to move the shutter member ( 4 ) between said opening and closing positions .10 . - The solid-liquid separator according to claim 9 , wherein the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) is coupled to the support frame ( 2 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate , relative to the support frame ( 2 ) , around the rotation axis ( 13 ; 22 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) and the containing casing ( 12 ) is coupled to the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate around the rotation axis ( 13 ; 22 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) .11 . - A closing assembly for closing bags of powder material , granules or the like comprising a support frame ( 35 ) ; a closing device ( 36 ) for closing a bag of powder material , granules or the like , the closing device ( 36 ) comprising two j aws ( 37 ) , which are movable between a clamping position and a release position to clamp and release the bag; and an operating device ( 39 ) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 6 ; said first and second levers ( 28 , 29 ) defining the aws ( 37 ) o f the closing device ( 36 ) .12 . - The closing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) is coupled to the support frame ( 35 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate , relative to the support frame ( 35 ) , around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 38 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) and the containing casing ( 12 ) is coupled to the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate around the rotation axis ( 22 ; 38 ) of the transmission shaft ( 20 , 23 ) .13 . - A sleeve valve comprising a support frame ( 41 ) ; a sleeve ( 42 ) made of a flexible material and mounted through the support frame ( 41 ) ; a closing device ( 44 ) comprising two j aws ( 45 ) movable between a closing position and an opening position to close and open the sleeve ( 42 ) ; and an operating device ( 47 )according to any one of the claims from 1 to 6; said first and second levers (28, 29) defining the j aws (45) of the closing device ( 44 ) .

14. - The sleeve valve according to claim 13, wherein the transmission shaft (20, 23) is coupled to the support frame (41 ) in a rotary manner so as to rotate, relative to the support frame (41 ) , around the rotation axis (22 ; 46) of the transmission shaft (20, 23) and the containing casing ( 12 ) is coupled to the transmission shaft (20, 23) in a rotary manner so as to rotate around the rotation axis (22 ; 46) of the transmission shaft (20,

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