Container Emptying Device Suction Lances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container emptying devices often contaminate the contents of a processing receptacle with debris from the outside and inside of the container, such as rust or dust, during the emptying process, and do not efficiently handle viscous liquids.
Innovation Solution
A container emptying device that includes a suction unit with multiple lances and a control system to manage the addition of a dissolving liquid during suction, a cleaning circuit for self-cleaning, and a method to simultaneously empty multiple containers without tilting, using diaphragm pumps and flexible hoses to minimize contamination and efficiently handle viscous liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If containers are emptied by tilting them over a processing receptacle, then the emptying process is simple and devices are easy to operate, but debris from the outside and inside of containers contaminates the contents of the processing receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful function of tilting containers over the processing receptacle by introducing a separate suction unit with lances that can be inserted into containers. This separates the emptying function from the processing receptacle, allowing containers to be emptied by suction rather than tilting, thereby preventing debris from falling into the receptacle while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The suction unit acts as an intermediary between the container and the processing receptacle. Instead of directly tilting containers over the receptacle, the suction unit mediates the transfer of contents through a controlled suction process, filtering out debris and preventing contamination while maintaining operational simplicity
2Device complexity
If conventional emptying devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but viscous liquids cannot be handled efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies pneumatic principles by using a suction unit with diaphragm pumps to create negative pressure for extracting liquids from containers. This pneumatic approach is particularly effective for viscous liquids as the suction force can overcome high viscosity without requiring complex mechanical agitation or heating systems, thus maintaining relatively simple device structure while significantly improving productivity in handling viscous materials
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by using controllable suction pressure through diaphragm pumps. By adjusting the suction pressure and flow rate parameters, the system can efficiently handle liquids with varying viscosity levels without requiring fundamentally different device structures, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving productivity across different liquid types
3Productivity
If multiple containers are emptied simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the device complexity increases with multiple suction lances and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple suction lances into a single integrated suction unit with a common pump system and control unit. Instead of having completely separate systems for each container, the suction lances are combined and controlled by a single microprocessor-based control unit that can coordinate their operation, thereby increasing productivity through simultaneous emptying while limiting the increase in device complexity through integration
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a universal controller for multiple suction lances, pumps, and cleaning operations. This single control unit performs multiple functions including coordinating simultaneous emptying of multiple containers, managing the cleaning circuit, and controlling dissolving liquid addition, thereby enabling high productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
4Productivity
If the suction unit and pipe unit are not cleaned regularly, then device operation is simple and continuous, but contamination accumulates and affects subsequent emptying operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service cleaning through an integrated cleaning circuit that automatically cleans the suction unit and pipe unit after each emptying operation. The cleaning pump circulates cleaning agent through the suction lances and pipes without requiring manual disassembly or intervention, allowing the device to maintain continuous operation while automatically eliminating contamination accumulation, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous operation and contamination control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution minimizes contamination by allowing simultaneous emptying of multiple containers without tilting, effectively handles viscous liquids, and includes a cleaning process to maintain device hygiene, enhancing efficiency and reducing the need for additional processing steps.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit (2) comprising four suction lances (2a) for simultaneously extracting liquid from four containers (6)
Implementation Method 2
using diaphragm pumps and flexible hoses to minimize contamination and efficiently handle viscous liquids
Implementation Method 3
a dissolving liquid is added to the liquid extracted from the container or containers as an additional step, particularly during the suction process
Implementation Method 4
recirculating the cleaning agent through a cleaning circuit consisting of the cleaning tank, the at least one suction lance lowered into the cleaning tank and the pipe unit for a predefined duration
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a container emptying device (1) for emptying at least one container (6) filled with a liquid, comprising a suction unit (2), a receiving unit (4) and a pipe unit (3) connecting the receiving unit (4) with the suction unit (2). The suction unit (2) comprises at least one suction lance (2a) adapted to be inserted and lowered into the container (6), at least one pump (2c), connecting the suction lance (2a) with the pipe unit (3), for pumping the liquid out of the container (6) and a control device for controlling a suction process. The pipe unit (3) comprises at least one flexible pipe for transporting the liquid out of the container (6).