Flexible Bellows for Contamination-Free Bulk Material Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transferring free-flowing bulk materials face challenges in preventing contamination and enabling gravimetric detection during the dosing process, as they often require complex closure mechanisms that transmit forces, making gravimetric dosing difficult or impossible.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a flexible connecting element that allows for contamination-free transfer by preventing force transmission between the dosing unit and the container, using a flexible connecting element like a ring or spirally corrugated bellows to maintain a dust-tight connection, enabling continuous gravimetric detection during dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closure elements like slides or flaps are used to prevent contamination, then contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases and cleaning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane (Feinmembran) that seals the dosing opening while allowing for simple mechanical actuation. This thin film approach prevents contamination without requiring complex multi-component closure mechanisms like slides or flaps, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Reliability
If closure elements like plugs or flaps are used to seal openings, then contamination prevention is improved, but gravimetric detection becomes difficult or impossible due to force transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane seals the dosing opening while being sufficiently compliant to not transmit sealing forces to the weighing device. This allows gravimetric detection to function accurately during the dosing process while maintaining contamination prevention, resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement precision
3Reliability
If slides are used to close dosing openings, then contamination prevention is improved, but operational costs increase due to frequent cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane provides an easy-to-clean surface compared to complex slide mechanisms with multiple contact points and crevices. This reduces operational cleaning requirements and associated costs while maintaining effective contamination prevention, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves connecting a dosing outlet (3) of a dosing unit (1) to a receiving inlet (12) of a container (10), and opening the outlet and the inlet. A bulk product is transported from the unit into the container, where the outlet is arranged at the unit by elastic joining elements (13) to prevent transfer of forces between the outlet and inlet and between the inlet and the container. The outlet and the inlet are arranged relative to the unit and/or the container such that the elements prevent transfer of forces during transport of the product from the unit to the container. An independent claim is also included for a device for providing contamination-free transport of pourable bulk product.