WO2008006429A1 - Device for guiding powdery fluidic media - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for guiding powdery fluidic media, in particular powder paint. Said device (10) comprises a receptacle (44) that is provided with an inner chamber (48) for the medium which is to be guided. Said device (10) also comprises a filling device (12) provided with a closeable connection (46) for the medium for filling the inner chamber (48) of the receptacle (44) with the medium which is to be guided. Said device (10) further comprises a guiding device (74, 78, 92) that suctions the medium from the inner chamber (48) of the receptacle (44) by means of a removal channel (74) that can be closed by a valve body (92). The filling device (12) comprises a suction and separation device (14, 30) provided with a collecting area (20) for the medium. An inlet of the suction and separation device (14) is connected to the closeable supply line (16). The closeable connection (46) is arranged between the collection area (20) and the inner chamber (48).

Description

 _η

Device for conveying powdered fluidized media.

The invention relates to a device for conveying powdered fluidized media, in particular a paint powder, with

a) a reservoir with an interior for the medium to be delivered;

b) a filling device with a closable

Connection for filling the interior of the storage container with the medium to be conveyed;

c) a conveyor which sucks the medium from the interior of the storage container via a closable through a valve body removal channel.

Such devices are used in particular in surface technology, for example in the automotive industry, for conveying paint powder to an application device, for example a rotary atomizer or a spray gun. Different types of pumps can be used as a conveyor.

For example, a negative pressure is generated with the aid of known piston pumps, whereby the Storage container sucked fluidized powder paint and is conveyed to a nebulizer, there to be applied to an object, such as a vehicle body.

As soon as the fluidized medium contained in the storage tank is sucked off, it must be refilled. For example, known filling devices have a closable supply line for the medium. The medium is filled there directly from the supply line into the storage tank. During filling, the device stands still.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the type mentioned, which reliably allows a large flow rate, in particular a rapid filling of the interior of the storage container with the medium to be transported. This process should be very gentle on the medium to be delivered, in particular without mechanical stress. The flow rate should be adjusted to the downstream consumer variable. In addition, the flow is to interrupt when the spray device requires it.

This object is achieved in that the filling comprises a suction and separation device with a collection area for the medium, and - An inlet of the suction and separation device is connected to the closable supply line for the medium, and

- The closable connection between the collecting area and the interior is arranged.

According to the invention, therefore, the filling device is equipped with a suction and separation device, which makes it possible to initially aspirate the amount of medium required for filling the interior space, to separate the sucked-in medium from the co-suctioned gas and to concentrate it in the collecting area. From the collecting area, the entire filling quantity can then be transported abruptly into the interior by opening the connection. In this way, the interior can be filled much faster than is the case in the prior art, in which the amount of medium required for filling is not first collected in a collecting area, but taken directly together with the sucked gas from the supply line becomes. The device can therefore be put back into operation faster. The deposition also has the advantage that the medium does not reach a suction unit of the suction and separation device and therefore does not pollute or damage it, as a result of which the susceptibility to failure of the device is markedly reduced. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least the collecting area for conveying the medium into the interior can be acted upon by a larger pressure in comparison with the pressure prevailing in the interior. In this way, powder can be pressed with additional pressure from the collecting area into the interior. As a result, the filling process is significantly accelerated.

Specifically, the suction and separation device may comprise a mini-cyclone whose separation space for sucking the medium from the supply line into the collecting area can be subjected to a negative pressure. A mini-cyclone has the advantage that the separation of the media particles takes place solely by the centrifugal force. The speed required for this purpose has the media particles on exit from the supply line in any case. There are no filters or other types of release agents required, which must be cleaned or replaced. A mini-cyclone is simple, very efficient and almost immune to interference.

The separation chamber of the mini-cyclone may be connected to a venturi for generating the negative pressure. The Venturi nozzle has no moving parts and is therefore almost trouble-free and maintenance-free.

Advantageously, at least the outlet of the Venturi nozzle in particular for generating and / or for holding the Pressure in the separation chamber of the mini-cyclone be closed with a shut-off.

In a particularly advantageous further embodiment can also be closed with the valve body inlet opening of the sampling channel to the interior of the storage container and the valve body so formed that in the open position of the inlet opening / valve body assembly between them an annular acting as a pump, after the Venturi principle working nozzle is formed; the valve body in the closed position of the inlet opening / valve body arrangement sealingly rests with a sealing portion in the inlet opening of the removal channel and having a conveying gas, in particular compressed air, acted upon conveying gas passage through which the conveying gas in the vicinity of the sealing portion substantially in the direction of flow of the medium Removal channel can be fed both in the closed position and in the open position. As a result, a pump is realized whose pumping action is achieved by the venturi-type nozzle. Apart from the withdrawal channel and / or the valve body, this pump has no moving parts whose mobility can be adversely affected by the setting of the lacquer powder. Also, such a pump does not cause any mechanical action on the paint powder, as is the case, for example, in known from the prior art piston pumps, in which a heating and abrasion of the individual powder particles either against each other or on a wall the pump is created. This can lead to an undesirable change in the particle size distribution of the paint powder in known pumps. Also, the abrasion there can lead to contamination of the pump or the powder lines and even to a blockage of the entire system. For closing and opening the inlet opening / valve body arrangement, the removal channel may be movable toward or away from the valve body. But it can also be moved according to the valve body. For pumping, the conveying gas is blown through the conveying gas channel of the valve body, which generates a negative pressure on entry into the nozzle operating according to the Venturi principle. Because the conveying gas can also be supplied in the closed position when the flow path of the medium from the interior of the storage container is obstructed, the entire region of the removal channel downstream of the sealing section can be almost completely emptied of medium without medium flowing out of the interior space ,

In order to achieve both an optimal suction effect of the nozzle operating according to the Venturi principle in the open position of the inlet opening / valve body arrangement as well as an optimum sealing effect in its closed position, the valve body may have a conical nozzle.

Incidentally, the conveying gas channel can be supplied with the conveying gas via a conveying gas line with an adjustable, in particular controllable, pressure limiting device. be beatable and the Druclcbegrenzungseinrichtung can give a Fordergasdruck, in particular either a Forderdruck for demanding the medium in the open position of the Eintrittsoffnung / Ventilkorper arrangement or a larger cleaning pressure for cleaning the EntnahmekanaIs in their closed position, pretend.

The pump can be produced in a particularly simple manner if the inlet opening of the removal channel is arranged in the end face of a removal tube and the removal tube for closing or opening the inlet opening is movable axially in the direction of the valve body or away from it. For installation, the sampling tube can also be arranged differently in the situation.

To move the sampling tube easily and quickly, it can be connected to a pneumatic cylinder and axially movable through it.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the interior of the receiving container can be connected to an adjustable, in particular controllable, metering pressure limiting means with which it can be acted upon by a positive pressure per unit of time for the particularly simple, contactless metering of a discharge quantity of the medium.

In order to easily and efficiently achieve the flowability of the medium, the interior of the receiving container can be equipped with an at least partially gas-permeable fluidizing medium. be separated from a pressure chamber and a preferably adjustable, in particular controllable, fluidization pressure limiting means for introducing a fluidizing gas, in particular compressed air, be provided in the pressure chamber for fluidizing the medium. Again, no moving parts come into contact with the medium.

The metering pressure limiting means can advantageously be controllable with the fluidizing pressure limiting means in mutual dependence, so that the required fluidization is achieved even with heavy media.

In order to control the filling process, in particular to be able to stop in time, the storage container and / or the filling device can be provided with a mass sensor for determining the respective filling with the medium.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing; show it

1 shows schematically a functional representation of a device for conveying a fluidized

Paint powder;

FIG. 2. schematically a detailed view of the device of Figure 1 in the region of a pump for the fluidized paint powder in a sectional view.

FIG. 1 shows a functional representation of a device, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, for conveying a fluidized paint powder (not shown).

The device 10 comprises a filling device 12, which comprises a small-sized mini-cyclone 14 to which the paint powder can be added via a paint powder feed line 16.

The mini-cyclone 14 has a closed separation chamber 18 which has approximately the shape of a straight circular cone with its tip pointing downwards. The area of the apex serves as collecting area 20 for the added paint powder.

In the upper region of the separation chamber 18, the paint powder feed line 16 opens laterally into the latter. The paint powder feed line 16 comes from a known paint powder tank, not shown.

In the paint powder feed line 16 is a

Supply line shut-off valve 22 with which it can be closed. The feed line shut-off valve 22 is connected via a control line 24 to a central control unit, not shown. The paint powder added to the separation chamber 18 is first pressed against the inner surface of the wall of the separation chamber 18 in a manner known per se as a result of the centrifugal force and then sinks into the collection region 20 due to gravity.

Through the ceiling of the separation chamber 18, a dip tube 26 leads out of the separation chamber 18 concentrically up to the cone axis. Via the dip tube 26, in particular through the paint powder feed line 16 with the paint powder incoming air escape the separation chamber 18.

The dip tube 26 is connected at its located outside of the separation chamber 18 end with a main channel 28 of a venturi 30. The main channel 28 of the Venturi nozzle 30 is located in a Venturi nozzle compressed air line 32, which comes from the left in FIG. 1 from a compressed air source (not shown). The main channel 28 has a bottleneck. The dip tube 26 opens in the region of the constriction radially to the main channel 28 in this. The compressed air flowing through the main channel 28 in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow from left to right generates in a known manner a negative pressure in the dip tube 26 and thus in the separation chamber 18. The negative pressure causes a faster outflow of air from the separation chamber 18 and thus an acceleration of the paint powders Metered addition from the paint powder feed line 16. In the Venturi nozzle compressed air line 32, upstream of the Venturi nozzle 30, a Venturi nozzle inlet shut-off valve 34 is arranged with which the compressed air supply to the Venturi nozzle 30 can be stopped. The Venturi nozzle inlet check valve 34 is connected via a control line 36 to the central control unit.

Downstream of the venturi nozzle 30, a venturi nozzle output shut-off valve 38 is arranged in the venturi nozzle compressed air line 32, which is connected via a control line 40 to the central control unit.

The mini-cyclone 14 is also provided with a mass sensor 42, with which the filling amount of paint powder can be determined. As soon as the desired quantity of paint powder is metered in the collecting area 20, the mass sensor 42 transmits a corresponding signal to the central control unit, whereupon the latter closes the feed line shut-off valve 22 and stops another coating powder metering.

Immediately below the mini-cyclone 14, a reservoir 44 is arranged. A vertical filling channel 46 for the paint powder connects the collecting area 20 with an interior space 48, which is located at the top in the storage tank 44. The upper, the mini-cyclone 14 facing the end of the filling channel 46 opens approximately at the apex of the Ab- Sheath 18 in the collection area 20. Its lower end leads from above into the interior 48th

In the filling channel 46, a filling shut-off valve 50 is arranged, with which it can be closed in order to prevent an exchange of paint powder and / or air between the collecting area 20 and the inner space 48. The filling shut-off valve 50 is connected via a control line 52 to the central control unit.

The filling channel 46 and the filling shut-off valve 50 are designed such that they allow rapid filling of the interior 48 with the paint powder concentrated in the collecting region 20, preferably within 3 s to 4 s.

In order to shorten the filling process significantly, the separation chamber 18 and with it the collecting region 20, as will be described in more detail below, can be acted upon with a larger pressure compared to that prevailing in the interior 48. This has the effect that, when the filling shut-off valve 50 is opened, the quantity of paint powder available in the collecting area 20 is abruptly pressed under pressure through the filling channel 46 into the interior space 48.

The reservoir 44 also has a vent line 54 which leads out through its ceiling 55 into the environment. In the vent line 54 is a filter 56 for filtering out paint powder Particles. In addition, a bleeder shut-off valve 58 is arranged in the vent line 54, with which the vent line 54 can be blocked. The vent ^¬ shut-off valve 58 is connected via a control line 60 to the central control unit. The vent shut-off valve 58 can be opened as long as there is no removal of the powder powder in order to be able to fluidize the paint powder in the interior 48 in a manner to be described later.

At a certain distance above its bottom 62, the storage container 44 has a fluidization bottom 64 made of a porous, gas-permeable material. In the thus formed between the bottom 62 and the Fluidisierungsboden 64 pressure chamber 66 can be introduced via a fluidizing compressed air line 68, which comes from the compressed air source, not shown, compressed air. This penetrates through the fluidization bottom 64 into the overlying interior space 48 of the storage container 44 and fluidizes the paint powder there, so that it is fluid.

The fluidization compressed air line 68 leads laterally into the pressure chamber 66. It is screwed with a connection piece, not shown, into a connection opening 70 with internal thread shown in FIG. 2 from the outside in the left-hand wall 71 of the supply container 44 in FIGS. In the fluidizing compressed air line 68, a fluidization pressure limiting valve 72 is arranged, with which the Compressed air supply and thus a fluidizing pressure in the pressure chamber 66 is adjustable ^■ is. The fluidizing pressure required to achieve sufficient fluidity of the fluidized paint powder depends, inter alia, on the mass of the paint powder particles. The fluidizing pressure relief valve 72 is connected to the central control unit via a control line (not shown).

From the top, a vertical, open on both sides removal tube 74 for the fluidized paint powder through the ceiling 55 of the storage container 44 in the vicinity of the edge in the pre ^■ storage container 44 in. An inlet opening 78 in the lower end side of the extraction tube 74 is located somewhat above the fluidization floor 64 in the interior 48.

An outlet opening 80 in the upper end side of the sampling tube 74 is connected to a withdrawal line 82 outside the supply container 44. The removal line 82 leads to an application device (not shown), for example a spray gun or a rotary atomizer.

The removal tube 74 is mounted vertically displaceably in the cover 55 of the storage container 44 in an elongate pneumatic cylinder 84. It passes coaxially through both end faces of the cylinder 84. The pneumatic cylinder 84 is disposed outside the storage container 44, including its installation. Inside the cylinder 84, the removal tube 74 has on its outer lateral surface via a circumferential collar 86, which has the action of a piston in the pneumatic cylinder 84. The outer diameter of the collar 86 corresponds to the inner diameter of the cylinder 84, so that it sealingly but slidably rests against the inner circumferential surface of the latter.

The collar 86 separates the cylinder 84 into upper and lower annular working areas. The upper working area can be acted upon by a pressure via a closing control line 88 in order to displace the removal tube 74 downwards in the direction of the fluidization floor 64 into a lower closed position shown in FIG. In order to move the removal tube 74 upwards into an upper open position shown in FIG. 1, the lower working region can instead be acted upon by a pressure via an opening control line 90. The respective other control line 88 or 90 is pressure-free.

The closing control line 88 and the opening control line 90 come from a compressed air source, not shown, which can be controlled via the central control unit.

Between the inlet opening 78 of the extraction tube 74 and the fluidization bottom 64, a valve nozzle 92 shown in detail in FIG. 2 is arranged, the region of which facing the extraction tube 74 being in the shape of a circular truncated cone Has . Its axis runs coaxially to the axis of the removal tube 74, its imaginary tip points to the removal tube 74. The outer diameter of the valve nozzle 92 on its end face facing the removal tube 74 is smaller than the inner diameter of the withdrawal tube 74. On the side of its truncated conical region facing away from the withdrawal tube 74 their outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter of the sampling tube 74th

The valve nozzle 92 is circular cylindrical in its region facing away from the removal tube 74. There, it has an external thread, with which it is screwed into a threaded bore 94 in the removal tube 74 facing top of a horizontally projecting into the interior 48 nozzle arm 96. With its end facing away from the valve nozzle 92, the nozzle arm 96 is fixed to the wall 71 of the storage container 44.

The shape of the inlet opening 78 of the extraction tube 74 to the valve nozzle 92 and the valve nozzle 92 are adapted to each other so that in the open position of the removal tube 74 between the valve nozzle 92 and the inlet opening 78 of the sampling tube 74, an annular acting as a pump, after the venturi nozzle is formed. With the nozzle, the fluidized paint powder can be sucked from the interior 48 into the removal tube 74. For this purpose, the valve nozzle 92 also has a vertical conveying compressed air channel 98, which runs concentrically in its interior to the axis thereof and is open at both ends of the valve nozzle 92. The lower end of the conveying compressed air channel 98 adjoins a conveying compressed air transverse channel 100 in the nozzle arm 96. The conveyor compressed air cross channel 100 extends horizontally in the interior of the nozzle arm 96 from an outwardly open connection opening 102 in the wall 71 of the reservoir 44 to below the valve nozzle 92. The connection opening 102 has an internal thread into which a corresponding, in the figures 1 and 2, not shown, fitting a compressed air line 104 is screwed. The compressed air line 104 comes from the Druckluftquel- Ie, not shown.

The conveying compressed air channel 98 can be acted on by the compressed air cross channel 100 and the compressed air line 104 with compressed air. By the conveyor compressed air channel 98, the compressed air in the center of the sealing portion in the axial direction, which corresponds in the open position substantially the flow direction of the paint powder, the extraction tube 74 both in its open position and in its closed position can be fed.

In the compressed air line 104, a controllable pressure limiting device 106 is arranged. The pressure limiting device 106 comprises a pilot pressure limiting valve 108 precontrolled against an opposing force, in FIG. gur 1 right, and parallel to this, optionally in the compressed air line 104 switchable, a likewise precontrolled against an opposing force cleaning pressure relief valve 110, left in Figure 1.

The conveyor-pressure relief valve 108 is a discharge pressure for the compressed air for feeding the fluidized ^"powder before coating in the open position of the sampling tube 74th The degree of fluidization and the flow rate of the coating powder in the removal tube 74 can be regulated via the delivery pressure.

The cleaning pressure limiting valve 110 provides a cleaning pressure greater than the delivery pressure, preferably approximately 1 bar, for cleaning the removal tube 74 in its closed position. The cleaning pressure is suitable, in a cleaning process, which is preferably carried out before and after removal of paint powder from the interior 48, any residues of paint powder from the extraction tube 74 to rinse.

The delivery pressure relief valve 108 and the cleaning pressure relief valve 110 each downstream of a check valve 112, which prevents paint powder penetrates into the delivery pressure relief valve 108 and the cleaning pressure relief valve 110. The downstream outputs of the check valves 112 are connected to a branch 114 in the compressed air line 104. Upstream of the delivery pressure relief valve 108 and the cleaning pressure relief valve 110, a 3/3-way valve 116 is disposed in the compressed air line 104, which is electromagnetically actuated. The 3/3-way valve 116 is connected to the central control unit in a manner not shown.

With the 3/3-way valve 116 either either the delivery pressure relief valve 108 or the cleaning pressure relief valve 110 can be switched into the compressed air line 104. In a third zero position of the 3/3-way valve 116, the compressed air line 104 is interrupted and the pressure limiting device 106 and the conveyor compressed air channel 98 of the valve nozzle 92, no compressed air is supplied.

In the closed position of the removal tube 74 (FIG. 2), the valve nozzle 92 sealingly engages in the inlet opening 78 of the withdrawal tube 74 with an annular sealing section of unspecified design.

Furthermore, leads into the interior 48 a metering pressure air line 118, which comes from the compressed air source. About the metering compressed air line 118, the interior 48 for controlled increase of a withdrawal rate of the fluidized paint powder can be acted upon with a metering pressure. The dosing compressed air line 118 leads slightly below the ceiling 55 of the reservoir 44 laterally through the wall 71 opposite wall therethrough.

In the dosing compressed air line 118 is a controllable dosing pressure relief valve 120 with a discharge port. The metering pressure limiting valve 120 is connected to the central control unit for setting the metering pressure via a control line (not shown).

The metering pressure limiting valve 120 and the fluidizing pressure relief valve 72 are controlled in mutual dependence. In this way, the metering pressure and the fluidizing pressure can always be optimally matched to one another, depending on the mass of the paint powder particles and / or their particle size, in order to obtain an optimum, preferably constant, flowability of the paint powder.

With the mass sensor 122, the filling of the storage container 44 can be detected with the paint powder. As soon as no more powder paint in the reservoir 44, the mass sensor 122 can transmit a signal to the central control unit, with the then a new filling process can be started.

The device 10 described above functions - controlled by the central control unit - as follows: First, the required amount of paint powder is to be metered into the collection area 20. For this purpose, the filling shut-off valve 50 is closed. Subsequently, the Venturi nozzle exit shut-off valve 38 and the Venturi nozzle inlet check valve 34 are opened so that compressed air flows through the Venturi nozzle 30. Via the dip tube 26, the Venturi nozzle 30 thus acts on the separation chamber 18 with a negative pressure.

Then, the feed line shut-off valve 22 is opened so that, following the vacuum, the paint powder from the paint powder feed line 16 is sucked into the separation chamber 18.

In the separation chamber 18, the paint powder is concentrated in the collecting area 20 in a known manner. To the Venturi nozzle 30 and the Venturi nozzle output shut-off valve 38 in this case passes no powder paint.

The air in the separation chamber 18 is sucked through the dip tube 26 through the venturi 30.

As soon as the mass sensor 42 on the mini-cyclone 14 detects that the desired quantity of coating powder has been metered in, the venturi nozzle inlet shut-off valve 34 is closed in order to stop the suction effect of the venturi nozzle 30. Except ^¬ the feed line shut-off valve 22 and the Venturi nozzle output shut-off valve 38 are closed to to prevent a further coating powder supply or a pressure reduction in the separation chamber 18. The filling device 12 is now ready for filling the storage container 44.

In order to pressurize the collecting area 20 with an overpressure in order to accelerate the filling operation described below, the Venturi nozzle inlet shut-off valve 34 is opened briefly. The compressed air from the Venturi nozzle compressed-air line 32 is supplied to the separation chamber 18 and the collection region 20 via the Venturi nozzle inlet shut-off valve 34, the Venturi nozzle 30 and the dip tube 26.

To fill the reservoir 44, an optionally still ongoing paint powder removal is first stopped by the opening control line 90 of the pneumatic cylinder 84 switched pressure-free and the closing control line 88 is acted upon with compressed air. This causes the removal tube 74 shifts into its closed position to the valve nozzle 92, so that no fluidized paint powder can be sucked more out of the interior 48. In addition, the 3/3-way valve 116 is switched to the central control unit so that the purge pressure relief valve 110 is in the compressed air line 104. The extraction pipe 74 is thus purged with compressed air having an increased pressure. To stop the flush, the 3/3-way valve 116 can be in his Zeroing be switched and so the compressed air supply can be interrupted.

In addition, the fluidization pressure relief valve 72 and the metering pressure relief valve 120 to be closed and a further structure of the fluidization pressure in the pressure chamber 66 and the metering ^'pressure stopped in the interior 48th

Then, the filling shut-off valve 50 is opened, so that the exactly metered and concentrated in the collection area 20 provided powder paint due to gravity and because of the pressure prevailing in the collecting area 20 pressure abruptly into the interior 48 is pressed. This takes about 3 seconds to 4 seconds.

As soon as the entire amount of paint powder is in the interior 48, the filling shut-off valve 50 is closed. The collection area 20 can then be fed again the next dose of paint powder in the manner described above.

To fluidize the coating powder in the interior 48, the fluidizing pressure relief valve 72 is opened and the compressed space 66 from the fluidizing compressed air line 68 so much compressed air supplied that the required fluidization is achieved dierungsdruck. The compressed air flows through the fluidization bottom 64 and makes the paint powder flowable. In order to suck off the fluidized paint powder and to feed it to the application device, the 3/3-way valve 116 is switched so that the delivery pressure limiting valve 108 lies in the compressed air line 104 and predetermines the delivery pressure for the compressed air flowing through. The compressed air from the compressed air line 104 then flows at the predetermined delivery pressure via the conveying compressed air transverse channel 100 to the conveying compressed air channel 98 in the valve nozzle 92 and from there into the withdrawal tube 74.

The closing control line 88 of the pneumatic cylinder 84 is switched pressure-free and compressed air is applied to the opening control line 90, so that the removal tube 74 is moved upward into its open position and an annular access gap is formed in the fluidized paint powder located in the interior space 48 to the interior of the sampling tube 74 opens.

The compressed air coming from the conveyor compressed air channel 98 occurs when pushed up sampling tube 74 via a free path in its inlet opening 78 a. In this case, under the Venturi principle, a negative pressure is generated in the region of the narrowest flow point, through which paint powder is actively drawn from the interior 48 of the storage container 44. The compressed air additionally causes the further transport of the fluidized coating powder through the withdrawal line 82 through to the application device.

In order to increase the delivery rate, the metering pressure limiting valve 120 is opened, thereby supplying compressed air to the inner space 48 from the metering compressed air line 118 and increasing the metering pressure there. The paint powder particles are thus additionally pressed from the interior 48 into the removal tube 74. In order to reduce the flow rate, the metering pressure in the interior 48 is reduced accordingly.

In order to achieve a delivery rate which is as constant as possible, preferably independent of the particle mass and / or size, the metering pressure limitation valve 120 and the delivery pressure relief valve 108 are controlled in mutual dependence by the central control unit.

As soon as no more powder paint is located in the interior 48, this is detected with the mass sensor 122 of the storage container 44 and transmitted a corresponding signal to the central control unit. This then stops the removal process and starts again a quick filling of the interior 48, which is carried out in the manner described above. Instead of the mini-cyclone 14, another separating unit with a collecting area 20 for concentration of the medium can also be used. The negative pressure in the separation chamber 18 of the mini-cyclone 14 can be generated with a different type of vacuum source, such as a pump, instead of the venturi 30.

An alternative separation unit can also be designed such that, for conveying the medium into the interior space 48, only the collecting area 20 can be acted upon by a larger pressure in comparison with the space prevailing in the interior space 48.

Instead of the removal tube 74, the valve nozzle 92 can also be designed to be movable in order to open and close the inlet opening / valve nozzle arrangement. It is also possible for both the removal tube 74 and the valve nozzle 92 to be movable.

Instead of the removal tube 74 may also lead a different type of connection channel in the interior 48. For example, the connecting channel can also be accommodated in the wall 71 of the storage container 44. In this case, to open and close the inlet opening / valve nozzle arrangement, the valve nozzle 92 must be movable.

The device 10 according to the invention is not limited to the conveying of paint powder. Rather, you can with her Other powdered fluidizable media are promoted.

It is also conceivable that the metering pressure limiting valve 120 and the fluidizing pressure limiting valve 72 are controlled independently of each other. The fluidization pressure relief valve 72 may then also have a fixed setting.

In the case of an easily conveyed powder medium, it is also possible to dispense with the fluid device, in particular the fluidization bottom 64 and the fluidization pressure limiting valve 72.

It is also possible for only the storage container 44 or the filling device 12 to be provided with a mass sensor 42 or 122. It can also be dispensed entirely with mass sensors. In this case we recommend a different device for recording the filling quantities.

The vent line 54 for the reservoir 44 including the filter 56 and the vent check valve 58 is not mandatory.

The filling device 12 and the shut-off valves 22, 34, 38 and 50 can also be designed so that the feed of the paint powder in the interior space 48 of the storage container 44 in overpressure, so that a continuous production process is possible.

Claims

claims 1. Apparatus for conveying powdered fluidized media, in particular a paint powder, with a) a reservoir with an interior for the medium to be delivered; b) a filling device with a closable connection for the medium for filling the interior of the storage container with the medium to be conveyed; c) a conveying device which sucks the medium out of the interior of the storage container via a removal channel which can be closed by a valve body; characterized in that d) the filling device (12) comprises a suction and separation device (14, 30) with a collecting region (20) for the medium, and an inlet of the suction and separation device (14) is connected to the closable supply line (16) for the medium, and the closable connection (46) is arranged between the collecting area (20) and the inner space (48). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the collecting area (20) for conveying the medium into the interior space (48) can be acted upon with a greater pressure than in the interior (48) prevailing. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suction and separation device (14, 30) comprises a mini-cyclone (14), the separation space (18) for sucking the medium from the supply line (16) into the collecting area (20) can be subjected to a negative pressure. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the separation chamber (18) of the mini-cyclone (14) is connected to a venturi nozzle (30) for generating the negative pressure. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that at least the outlet of the Venturi nozzle (30) in particular for generating and / or for holding the pressure in the separation chamber (18) of the mini-cyclone (14) with a shut-off device (34, 38) closable is. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the valve body (92) closable inlet opening (78) of the removal channel (74) to the interior (48) of the Vorlagebehäl- ters (44) and the valve body (92) shaped are that in the open position of the inlet opening / valve body assembly between them an annular, acting as a pump, working according to the venturi nozzle is formed; the valve body (92) in the closed position of the inlet opening / valve body arrangement with a sealing portion sealingly in the inlet opening (78) of the removal channel (74) rests and with a conveying gas, in particular compressed air, acted upon conveying gas channel (98) through which the conveying gas in the vicinity of the sealing portion substantially in the direction of flow of the medium the extraction channel can be fed both in the closed position and in the open position. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized marked, that the valve body has a conical nozzle (92). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the conveying gas channel (98) via a conveying gas line (104) with an adjustable, in particular controllable, pressure limiting device (106) can be acted upon with the conveying gas and the pressure limiting device (106) a conveying gas pressure, in particular optionally a delivery pressure for conveying the medium in the open position of the inlet opening / valve body arrangement or a larger cleaning pressure for cleaning the removal channel (74) in its closed position, pretends. 9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the inlet opening (78) of the removal channel in the end face of a removal tube (74) is arranged and the removal tube (74) for closing or opening the inlet opening (78) axially in the direction of the valve body (92) and away from it. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized marked, that the extraction pipe (74) with a pneumatic cylinder (84) and is axially movable by this. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (48) of the storage container (44) with an adjustable, in particular controllable, Dosierungs-Druckbegrenzungs- medium (120) is connected, with which it can be acted upon for metering a discharge amount of the medium per unit time with an overpressure. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior (48) of the storage container (44) with an at least partially gas-permeable Fluidisierungsboden (64) from a pressure chamber (66) is separated and a preferably adjustable, in particular controllable fluidizing pressure limiting means (72) for introducing a fluidizing gas, in particular compressed air, is provided in the pressure chamber (66) for fluidizing the medium. 13. Device according to claim 11 and 12, character- ized in that the metering pressure relief means (120) with the fluidizing pressure limiting means (72) is controllable in mutual dependence. 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage container (44) and / or the filling device (12) with a mass sensor (42, 122) are provided for determining the respective filling with the medium.