MXPA99008748A - Transfer station - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a station (1), in the embodiment a discharge station, for the transfer of flowable material, in the embodiment particulate material such as a powder from one location to another, comprising a conduit, or hopper (2), for the flowable material, a member (3) adapted for obturating and opening the conduit (2) for controlling flow of material therethrough, and a device (4) for cleaning at least an external surface of the obturating member (3) whereby to obviate contamination of the surroundings of the station (1) with flowable material.

Description

TRANSFER STATION DESCRIPTION Background and field of the invention The invention relates to a station, particularly to a station for transferring fluid material from one location to another. The fluid material is usually in the form of granular material, powder, grains, pellets, tablets, capsules, powdery material or the like particulate material. Such fluid material must often be transferred from one location to another, for example from an intermediate bulk container (CGI) in which it is stored or transported, to the place of use. Thus, the material may be a constituent of a food product such as a flavoring which must be transferred to a point of use, where the final food product is made. The CGI is placed in a discharge station and is opened to controlled flow of material through a conduit from the station to another location for use. The material can be a granulated pharmaceutical material, granulated material used in the nuclear industry, or any other kind of granulated material.

All, when used in material handling equipment of the kind described, can contaminate the environment and can also be harmful to the health of operators in the discharge stations. It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to overcome this disadvantage. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a station for transferring fluid material from one location to another, comprising a communication tube for the fluid material, a member adapted to seal and open the communication tube to control the flow of material through the communication tube and a device for cleaning at least one external surface of the sealing member thereby eliminating contamination of the surroundings of the station with the fluid material. The cleaning device may comprise a camera mounted on or near an end of the communication tube. This provides a relatively simple construction, particularly when the chamber may comprise a generally toroidal body adapted for mounting at the end of the communication tube. There may be means for admitting a cleaning medium, which preferably is air.

The body can define a through passage with a peripheral seal element at one end. This provides a means to isolate the interior of the body from the outside atmosphere. The seal element may comprise a flexible annular protruding seal and an inner peripheral portion from which it projects radially of the passage. This is a relatively efficient arrangement, particularly when the body can comprise a peripheral rim on which the outgoing seal can be mounted. The body can comprise an extension whereby the cleaning device can be mounted on the communication tube. This is a relatively simple construction. The body of the chamber may comprise a duct adapted to be connected to the extractive means by means of which the content of the chamber is extracted. The duct can be positioned tangentially to the body and can penetrate the body between the rim and the annular extension. This provides a relatively efficient extraction. The duct and the means of admission of cleaning medium can penetrate the body in the same position. This provides an efficient action, particularly when they enter tangentially and point in the opposite direction. The device can be removably mounted at one end of the communication tube. There may be an annular seal on the end of the communication tube. The annular seal at the end of the communication tube and the seal element of the body can be separated and practically parallel. This provides an efficient double seal arrangement. The seal device and seal member may have respective internal peripheries which may extend into the communication tube and may be adapted to contact the sealing member. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for handling fluid material is provided, comprising a station as defined above and a continent for fluid material adapted to cooperate with the station for material transfer. The continent can comprise a CGI. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for cleaning at least the external surface of a sealing member of a station for the transfer of fluid material, comprising a body adapted to be mounted on or near an end of the communication tube of the station, and means for admitting a means of cleaning for and extracting material from the body. The means for admitting the cleaning medium may comprise an inlet configured to admit air tangentially to the chamber. This provides an efficient cleaning action. The means for extracting material may comprise an extraction duct configured tangentially to the body. This provides an efficient extraction action. The entrance hole and the extraction duct can penetrate the body in practically the same position. This provides efficient cleaning because it achieves the maximum cleaning effect, particularly when the inlet and the orifice and the exhaust duct point in opposite directions. The body can have a practically bowl shape thereby providing a whirlwind of tangential air for cleaning. The body may have a peripheral rim adapted to mount a seal device. The seal device may comprise a flexible annular seal element radially towards the inner part, part of which may be adapted to make contact with at least the sealing member. This provides a seal while allowing cleaning. The body may comprise an internal support with which the device can be mounted at the end of a communication tube of the transfer station. In the following, a station and a device will be described as a preferred embodiment, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic representation, with the parts separated for clarity, of a station, in this mode a discharge station, for transfer of fluid material from one location to another, with parts shown interrupted or in section for clarity. Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of a cleaning device of the station of Figure 1 and on a larger scale than that of that figure. Figures 3 to 6 show a complete cycle of operation, in respective sequential operation stages, of the station of Figure 1 for the transfer of particulate fluid material from one location to another, in the figures, from a CGI to a point of use (not shown), Figure 3 shows the beginning of the cycle and Figure 6 the end of it.

With reference in the first place to figures 1, 2 and 2A of the drawings, a station 1 is shown, in the mode of a work station, for the transfer of fluid material, in the particulate material form such as a granulated material coming from one location to another, comprising a communication tube, or hopper 2, for the fluid material, a member 3 adapted to seal and open the communication tube 2 to control the flow of material therethrough and a device 4 for cleaning by at least one external surface of the sealing member 3 with which contamination of the medium surrounding the station 1 with fluid material is prevented. The sealing member 3 is a conical device which is mounted on the upper part (in operation in the mode and as seen in the figures) of the end of the communication tube 2, and which projects from there. The conical device or head 3 is raised and lowered by means of bellows 5 and by means of a mechanism 6 which provides a pre-lift of the head 3 before the operation of the bellows means 5, thereby providing a variable lifting of the head. The head 3 has an internal vibrating device 7 which oscillates or vibrates the cone a specified time during a discharge cycle as described below. The discharge station 1 has guides or supports 8 for receiving the legs of a CGI containing the material to be transferred. At the upper edge of the communication tube 1 there is an annular seal 9 in the form of a flexible and resilient member or lower projecting seal which is secured to the outer perimeter of the communication tube 2 and which has a radially extending part which extends into the communication tube 2 to provide a brushing but sealing contact with a part of the sealing device 3 which includes an inflatable ring 10 which acts as a head holder as described below. Mounted on the upper edge or perimeter of the communication tube 2 is the cleaning device 4. This comprises (FIGS. 2, 2A) a disc-shaped toroidal bowl or body 11 with an upper flange 12 (as seen) and horizontal (also as seen) to which a resilient flexible resilient seal 13 is secured which is secured to the flange 12 by means of a fastening ring 14 using nuts and screws 15. The protruding seal 13 has a radially extending part inwards 16, which makes contact with the external surface of the head 3 in a position, in which the protruding seal 13 separates from and rests substantially parallel to the seal 9.

The body 11 in its curved or disk-shaped part is penetrated by means 17 for admitting the cleaning means, in the air mode, and means 18 for extracting air or air and material from the interior of the device 4. The means of air inlet 17 are in the form of a tube which enters body 11 in a tangential manner. In the same way, the duct 18 also penetrates the body 11 tangentially, the tube 17 and the duct 18 enter the body 11 at practically the same point and look in opposite directions. The duct is connected by means of a relief valve 19 to a flexible hose 20 which is connected to an exhaust fan (not shown). The tube 17 is connected to a source of air under pressure, also not shown. The body 11 also has a cylindrical extension 21 by means of which it is mounted on the external surface of the upper end of the communication tube 2, trapping the projecting seal 9 therein, with an internally projecting annular flange 22 which it sits on the seal 9 and thus on the upper edge of the communication tube 2. There is a projection 23 which provides releasable securing by means of fastening means (not shown) to the communication tube. When it is in position, the cleaning device 4 forms a plenum chamber. In operation, and now referring to FIGS. 3 to 16, FIG. 3 shows schematically the discharge station 1 with a CGI 24 containing fluid particulate material 25 which lowers in the direction of the arrow "-A". An outlet 26 of the CGI is closed by means of a closing device 27 of conical shape which is complementary to the head 3. The seals 13, 9 make contact with the external surface of the head 3 and the mechanism 6 is activated to provide a pre-lifting of the head 3. Air is introduced under pressure through the tube 17 into the interior of the body 11, of the device 4 and is extracted from the body through the duct 18. The disc-shaped geometry of the interior of the body 11 and the tangential air inlet provide a toroidal vortex of cleaning air which sweeps the entire interior of the device, cleaning this and the external surface of the head 3 so as to clean both of foreign bodies which could contaminate the particulate material 25 to be transferred . The air and any foreign bodies are extracted from the duct 18 by means of the flexible hose 20 by means of a fan.

As the CGI is lowered, its outlet 26 engages the flexible seal 13 and bends it down as shown in Figure 4, the pre-lift of the head is maintained (arrow? B "), and the incoming air stops so that the outlet 26 of the CGI is also cleaned as it enters the body 11. The air and foreign bodies are removed through the pipeline 20 (arrow * C "). This contact with seal 13 is for at least 5 seconds in the mode. With respect to Figure 5, the CGI is then raised (for 30 seconds arrow ^ D ") to allow additional cleaning of the CGI output 26 at the same time that the pre-lift of the head 3 is maintained and the cleaning air is maintained. enter and the extraction occurs as before, through the pipe 18. Subsequently the CGI 24 is lowered so that its legs 28 rest in the guides or supports 8, the mechanism 6 that provides the pre-lift is deactivated while the air Cleaning continues to be entered into body 11 and extraction continues (arrow 'C'). In this position, as shown in FIG. 6, the outlet 26 of the CGI has not only turned the seal 13 down, but also engages and rotates the seal 9 equally downward, the two seals engage to provide a interior of the body 11 sealed. The cleaning air flow is subsequently interrupted, as is extraction (figure 7). The next step in transfer is shown in figure 8. The head 3 is raised under low pressure for 15 seconds in the mode (arrow? B "), and subsequently the head 3 and the discharge closure 27 of CGI are clamped together by means of inflation of the toroidal fastener or pneumatic ring 10 (figure 1) which engages a skirt hanging from the discharge closing device 27. Even with the o-ring 10 still in operation as shown by means of the arrows? " , the system is ready for unloading the material 25 from the CGI 24 by means of a low pressure lifting of the head 3, with the discharge closure 27, by means of the bellows 5 as shown in figures 9 and 10 , the last figure shows the passage of material to the communication tube 2 from the CGI 24 through an open annular opening elevating the head 3 and the discharge closure 27 (there is a cover or cover 29 that protects the mechanism, the bellows, etc.) . The material 25 flows on the seals 13 and 9. To ensure a complete discharge and save the formation of cavities or "holes" in the material, the vibrator 7 is activated (FIG. 11) to vibrate the head 3 and the discharge closure 27, for 20 seconds in the modality.

After the discharge has concluded, and the vibration is interrupted, the bellows 5 are activated to lower the head 3 and the discharge closure 27, the ring holder 10 still remains activated as shown by the arrows (Figure 12). Subsequently, as shown in Figure 13, the system is ready for an air cleaning sequence. The CGI is raised F, for 30 seconds, the air is entered via the tube 17 to the body 11 and with this cleaning the outlet 26, all the particles are removed as was done before through the duct 18, the ring fastener 10 it remains activated as shown by means of the arrows X? E. "This operation step is shown in figure 14. The cleaning by means of air is continued during seconds when the ring fastener 10 is deactivated and the cone is lowered by deactivating the mechanism, as shown by the arrows G "in figure 15, the discharge closure 2 * 7 is released from the head when the fastener is deflated of ring 10. Subsequently the CGI 24 is withdrawn to a netral position, figure 16, the head is pre-lifted by means of the mechanism 6 and the seals 9, 13 return under their inherent resilience to seal against the head 3, the air is enters through tube 17 and is extracted with particulate material from duct 17, so that no particles can escape to the atmosphere and contaminate the surrounding medium to station 1, which is then ready for an incoming transfer operation .

Claims (30)

1. A station for the transfer of fluid material from one location to another, characterized in that it comprises a communication tube for fluid material, a member adapted to seal and open the communication tube to control the flow of material through there, and a device to clean at least one external surface of the sealing member thereby preventing contamination of the medium surrounding the station with fluid material.

The station according to claim 1, further characterized in that the cleaning device comprises a camera mounted on or adjacent to one end of the communication tube.

The station according to claim 2, further characterized in that the chamber comprises a generally toroidal body adapted to be mounted at the end of the communication tube.

The station according to claim 2 or claim 3, further characterized in that it comprises means for admitting a cleaning means.

5. The station according to claim 3, further characterized in that the cleaning means comprises air.

The station according to claim 5, further characterized in that the body defines a through passage, with a peripheral seal element at one end.

The station according to claim 6, further characterized in that the seal element comprises a flexible protruding seal and annuls a peripheral internal part from which it projects radially of the passage.

The station according to claim 7, further characterized in that the body comprises a peripheral rim on which the protruding seal is mounted.

The station according to claim 8, further characterized in that the body comprises an extension by means of which the cleaning device can be mounted on the communication tube.

The station according to any of claims 3 to 9, further characterized in that the body of the chamber comprises a duct adapted to be connected to extraction means whereby the content of the chamber is extracted.

11. The station according to claim 10, further characterized in that the duct is arranged tangentially with respect to the body.

The station according to claim 11, further characterized in that the duct enters the body between the rim and the annular extension.

The station according to any of claims 10 to 12, further characterized in that the duct and the means for admitting the cleaning medium penetrate the body in practically the same position.

The station according to claim 13, further characterized in that the device can be mounted removably on one end of the communication tube.

The station according to any of claims 6 to 14, further characterized in that there is an annular seal at the end of the communication tube.

The station according to claim 15, further characterized in that the annular seal at the end of the communication tube and the seal element of the body are separated and substantially parallel.

17. The station according to claim 16, further characterized in that the seal device and the seal element have respective inner peripheries which extend into the communication tube and are adapted to make contact with the sealing member.

18. A station for the transfer of fluid material from one location to another, practically as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. An apparatus for handling fluid material, characterized in that it comprises a station according to any of the preceding claims and a container for fluid material adapted to cooperate with the station for the transfer of the material.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further characterized because the continent comprises a CGI.

21. An apparatus for handling fluid material, practically as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A device for cleaning at least the outer surface of a sealing member for transfer of fluid material, characterized in that it comprises a body adapted to be mounted on or near an end of a communication tube of the station and means for admitting a means of cleaning and to extract material from the body.

23. The device according to claim 22, further characterized in that the means for admitting the cleaning means comprises an inlet orifice arranged to admit air tangentially to the chamber.

24. The device according to claim 23, further characterized in that the means for extracting the material comprise an extraction duct arranged tangentially to the body.

25. The device according to claim 24, further characterized in that the inlet orifice and the exhaust duct penetrate the body in substantially the same position.

26. The device according to claim 25, further characterized in that the body has a substantially bowl-like configuration whereby a vortex of tangential air flow for cleaning is provided.

27. The device according to any of claims 22 to 26, further characterized in that the body has a peripheral flange adapted to mount a seal device.

28. The device according to claim 27, further characterized in that the seal device comprises a flexible annular seal element an internal part in radial form part of which is adapted to make contact with at least the sealing member.

29. The device according to any of claims 22 to 28, further characterized in that the body comprises an inner rim by means of which the device can be mounted on the end of a communication tube of the transfer station.

30. A device for cleaning at least the outer surface of a sealing member of a station for transfer of fluid material, practically as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.