WO2019175853A1

WO2019175853A1 - Dosing device

Info

Publication number: WO2019175853A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/052181
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorenzo SCARPONI
Original assignee: Scarponi Lorenzo Srl
Current assignee: Scarponi Lorenzo Srl
Priority date: 2018-03-16
Filing date: 2019-03-18
Publication date: 2019-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-16
Also published as: IT201800003690A1

Abstract

The dosing device (1) comprises a single screw pump (2) provided with: - a pump body (3) extending along a substantially longitudinal direction of extension and having an inlet opening (4) and an outlet opening (5) for the inlet and outlet of a substance to be dosed; - a rotor element (6) inserted in the pump body (3) adapted to transport the substance to be dosed; - a stator element (7) inserted in the pump body (3) and associated with the rotor element (6) for the transport of the substance to be dosed; - at least one electric motor (9) with electronically controlled position which is associated with the pump (2) for the motion transmission to the rotor element (6) and for the dosage of controlled quantities of the substance.

Description

DOSING DEVICE

Technical Field

This invention relates to a dosing device.

Background Art

The transport and storage of substances of different nature often requires a dosage of the quantities to be transported and stored/packaged.

Especially in some sectors, such as the food or pharmaceutical ones, it is usual to move predefined quantities of food substances such as oils, jams, creams, etc. or pharmaceutical/cosmetic substances such as creams, lotions, preparations, etc., for their transport and storage/packaging.

These substances, which are usually dense and difficult to transport by means of pumps normally used for water or other similar liquids, are transported by means of special known dosing devices.

A first type of known device is a volumetric doser provided with a positive displacement pump, e.g. with pistons, and with a hopper in which the substance to be dosed is deposited.

The positive displacement pump is connected to the hopper by means of a dosing valve.

The dosing valve has a container sized on the basis of the quantity of substance to be dosed and has an opening adapted to put the container in communication with the hopper to receive the substance to be dosed and with the positive displacement pump to transport/store/package the substance taken.

The dosing valve, in fact, is rotatable between a taking position, wherein the opening is communicating with the hopper, and a delivery position, wherein the opening is communicating with the positive displacement pump and the hopper is closed.

This way, the positive displacement pump can convey the substance present in the container.

This first type of device has some drawbacks.

The device, in fact, is very complex to make and not very flexible in case one wishes to vary the quantities to be dosed. The regulation of the quantities, in fact, is of the mechanical type and depends on the type of valve chosen, on the container size and on the positive displacement pump size.

Moreover, this first type of device, providing for the drop by gravity of the substances from the hopper, is inconvenient for particularly dense substances.

In fact, in order to be able to transport all the material present in the hopper, it is necessary to have collection elements such as, e.g., pallets or scrapers which are adapted to collect the material that remains attached to the walls of the hopper.

In addition, the presence of the hopper, of the valve and of the other components causes drawbacks related to the cleaning of the device.

To clean this first type of device, in fact, it is necessary to disassemble piece by piece all the components and clean each of them, with a consequent increase in the required times.

A second type of known device is peristaltic dosers.

The peristaltic dosers comprise a flexible hose which is adapted to be crushed and released in order to create pressure variations adapted to suck and convey the substances to be dosed.

This second type of device also has some drawbacks.

A first drawback is related to the low head which these devices are provided with, so peristaltic devices are not suitable when high suction pressures are required.

A second drawback is related to the dosage accuracy, since peristaltic dosers do not always manage to suck the same quantity of substance, but have some “blind spots” that make the dosage imprecise.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a dosing device that allows simplifying the dosing operations of various types of substances.

One object of the present invention is to devise a dosing device that allows a quick adjustment of the speed and quantity of the substance to be dosed.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a dosing device that is easy to implement. A further object of the present invention is to devise a dosing device that is easy to clean.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a dosing device that allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and cost effective solution.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present dosing device having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of the following preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a dosing device, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a dosing device.

The device 1 comprises a single screw pump, indicated with reference numeral 2, provided with a pump body 3 extending along a substantially longitudinal direction of extension and having an inlet opening 4 and an outlet opening 5 for the inlet and the outlet of a substance to be dosed.

In particular, the pump body 3 comprises a head portion 3 a and an extreme portion 3b opposite the head portion 3a.

In addition, the pump body 3 comprises a lateral portion 3c.

The inlet opening 4 is formed on the lateral portion 3c.

This way, the substance enters the pump body 3 according to a direction which is substantially transverse with respect to the direction of extension of the pump body itself. In fact, the inlet opening 4 can be connected to a tank containing a substance to be taken and dosed.

The configuration shown allows for greater flexibility in positioning the device 1 with respect to the tank.

The outlet opening 5 is usefully obtained at the head portion 3 a.

This way, the outflow of the substance takes place along a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the pump body 3.

The pump body 3 shown, therefore, benefits the transport of substance and is more practical to install and because the positions of the inlet opening 4 and of the outlet opening 5 allow better management and better control of the loading and unloading operations.

The pump 2 is also provided with a rotor element 6 inserted in the pump body 3 adapted to transport the substance to be dosed.

As shown in the figures, the rotor element 6 is of the type of a helical eccentric screw, normally used in the single screw pumps known to the state of the art.

The pump 2 is then provided with a stator element 7 inserted in the pump body 3 and associated with the rotor element 6 for the transport of the substance to be dosed.

In particular, the stator element 7 is of the type of a rubber cylinder that covers a portion of inner surface of the pump body 3.

The stator element 7 surrounds the rotor element 6 and defines with it some variable volume chambers depending on the position of the rotor element 6.

The rotor element 6, being helical, when set in rotation, defines, with the stator element 7, some chambers that vary in volume as the position of the helical of the rotor element 6 changes.

The device 1 preferably comprises at least one valve element 8 positioned at the outlet opening 5.

The valve element 8 has the function of preventing the outflow of the substance at the end of dosage, thus avoiding the dripping from the outlet opening 5.

The valve element 8 is usefully of the type of a pneumatic valve, but the use of different valve elements, such as solenoid valves, peristaltic valves or other technically equivalent and well-known state of the art valves, cannot be ruled out.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises at least one electric motor 9 with electronically controlled position which is associated with the pump 2 for motion transmission to the rotor element 6 and for the dosage of controlled quantities of the substance.

The electric motor 9 comprises a shaft 10 the position of which with respect to the axis of rotation is electronically controlled.

This way it is possible to correlate a predefined number of engine revolutions with a predefined quantity of substance that is transported and delivered by the pump 2, exploiting the proportionality between the number of revolutions and the quantity of substance transported for this number of revolutions.

This feature allows determining the quantity of substance to be delivered by making a simple control of the engine revolutions.

The electric motor 9 is selected out of one of the following: a“brushless” motor or a“stepper” motor.

Different solutions cannot be ruled out, e.g. wherein the electric motor 9 is of the type of an asynchronous motor with an encoder installed for rpm control.

The device 1 usefully comprises at least one two way joint 11 associated with the rotor element 6 and with the electric motor 9.

The two way joint 11 is adapted to kinematically connect the rotor element 6 to the electric motor 9.

In particular, the two way joint 11 is of the type of a threaded cylinder having a first extremity 1 la screwed onto the rotor element 6 and a second extremity 1 lb associated with the electric motor 9.

More particularly, the second extremity l lb is screwed onto the shaft 10 of the electric motor 9.

Different systems for the kinematic connection between the shaft 10 of the electric motor 9 and the rotor element 6 cannot be ruled out, e.g. systems provided with gearboxes and toothed wheels or other motion transfer systems. Advantageously, the device 1 comprises at least one control unit 12 associated with the electric motor 9 for the predefined regulation of the position of the electric motor 9.

The control unit 12 controls the rpm and the position of the shaft 10 of the electric motor 9 in order to be able to deliver a predefined quantity of substance. The control unit 12 comprises a driver adapted to drive the shaft 10 of the electric motor 9.

Furthermore, the control unit 12 comprises processing means which are able to correlate the number of revolutions to the quantities of substance transported for different types of substance.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises an interface unit 13 operatively connected to the control unit 12 and adapted to receive setting information, such as e.g. rpm and speed, by a user.

A user can interact with the interface unit 13 to set the number of revolutions and the speed of the shaft of the electric motor 9 in order to determine a corresponding quantity of substance to be delivered.

In addition, thanks to the processing means of the control unit 12, it will be possible to directly set the quantity of substance to be delivered, or several substances.

The interface unit 13 is usefully of the type of a device with a“touch screen” monitor, but solutions wherein the interface unit 13 is of the type of analog devices operatively connected to the control unit 12 cannot be ruled out.

Advantageously, the device 1 comprises a programming unit 14 which is operatively connected to the control unit 12 and to the interface unit 13.

The programming unit 14 is adapted to program the control unit 12 using the setting information described above.

The programming unit 14 is usefully of the type of a programmable logic controller (PLC), but alternative solutions, such as microcontrollers or other programming systems, cannot be ruled out.

The operation of the present invention according to a first embodiment is as follows.

A user enters setting information via the interface unit 13 into the programming unit 14 or directly into the control unit 12.

In particular, the user determines the rpm related to the quantity of substance to be dosed and the speed of rotation of the motor, or directly determines the quantity of substance to be dosed.

In fact, the rpm can be set directly or indirectly, for example by choosing the quantity of substance to be dosed.

The programming unit 14 conveys the setting information to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 starts the electric motor 9, controlling its position and speed. The electric motor 9, through the two way joint 11, drives the rotor element 6 in motion.

The rotor element 6 exerts a suction action through the inlet opening 4 and, in combination with the stator element 7, a thrust action towards the outlet opening

5.

This way a substance can be sucked in, e.g. from a tank connected to the inlet opening 4, and delivered to the outlet opening 5 in precise quantities and proportionate to the number of revolutions of the electric motor 9.

The dosage of the substance starts with setting the electric motor 9 in rotation and ends when the same motor stops.

At the end of dosage, the valve element 8 prevents the residual substance to flow out.

In a second embodiment, the device 1 is completely similar to what is described in the first embodiment and differs from it by the fact that it comprises a motor body 15 comprising the electric motor 9, the control unit 12, the interface unit 13 and the programming unit 14.

Thus, the electric motor 9, the control unit 12, the interface unit 13 and the programming unit 14 are incorporated into a single motor body 15, thus making the device 1 more compact and easily transportable.

The operation of this second embodiment is completely similar to that of the first embodiment previously described.

In a third embodiment, the device 1 is completely similar to what is described in the first and second embodiments and differs from these by the fact that the control unit 12 comprises the programming unit 14.

In this case the control unit 12 is of the type of a microcontroller having a driver adapted to drive the electric motor 9.

The operation of the third embodiment is completely similar to that already illustrated for the previous embodiments.

In a fourth embodiment, the device 1 is completely similar to what was described in the previous embodiments and differs from them by the fact that the interface unit 13 comprises the control unit 12 and the programming unit 14. The operation of the fourth embodiment is completely similar to that already illustrated for the previous embodiments.

It has in practice been found that the described invention achieves the intended objects and, in particular, the fact is underlined that the devised dosing device makes it possible to simplify the dosing operations of various types of substances.

In particular, the devised dosing device facilitates the dosing operations of liquid and dense substances such as honey, creams, or substances such as oils or other similar substances.

The combination of a single screw pump to a position-controlled electric motor makes it possible to dose the above substances simply and precisely, without taking any particular precaution.

The suction capacity of the single screw pump allows having a self-priming dosing device, so that the use of the gravity force is no longer required to transport the substance to be dosed, as required, on the contrary, in the first type of dosing devices known to the state of the art.

The correlation between the number of revolutions of the electric motor and the quantity of substance transported, on the other hand, allows for greater precision in the quantities to be dosed and there are no drawbacks such as those described for the second type of known dosing devices illustrated above.

The devised dosing device, moreover, thanks to the connection of the electric motor to the control unit, to the interface unit and to the programming unit, allows a quick regulation of the speed and of the quantity of the substance to be dosed.

The user, simply by setting the parameters in the interface unit, can electronically vary the quantities to be dosed and the transport speed according to the type of substance, without having to intervene mechanically.

The devised dosing device, moreover, is simple to make, easy to assemble and disassemble.

This feature facilitates the operations required for cleaning the various components, making the dosing device easy and quick to clean.

Claims

1) Dosing device (1) comprising a single screw pump (2) provided with:

a pump body (3) extending along a substantially longitudinal direction of extension and having an inlet opening (4) and an outlet opening (5) for the inlet and outlet of a substance to be dosed;

a rotor element (6) inserted in said pump body (3) adapted to transport said substance to be dosed;

a stator element (7) inserted in said pump body (3) and associated with said rotor element (6) for the transport of said substance to be dosed;

characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one electric motor (9) with electronically controlled position which is associated with said pump (2) for the motion transmission to said rotor element (6) and for the dosage of controlled quantities of said substance.

2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said pump body (3) comprises a lateral portion (3c), a head portion (3a) and an extreme portion (3b) opposite to said head portion (3a) with said inlet opening (4) which is formed on said lateral portion (3c) for the inlet of said substance according to a direction which is substantially transverse with respect to said direction of extension.

3) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said outlet opening (5) is formed at said head portion (3a) for the outflow of said substance along a direction substantially parallel to said direction of extension.

4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one valve element (8) positioned at said outlet opening (5).

5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one two way joint (11) associated with said rotor element (6) and with said electric motor (9) which is adapted to kinematically connect said rotor element (6) to said electric motor (9).

6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said two way joint (11) is of the type of a threaded cylinder having a first extremity (l la) screwed onto said rotor element (6) and a second extremity (1 lb) locked together with said electric motor (9).

7) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one control unit (12) associated with said electric motor (9) for the predefined regulation of the position of said electric motor (9).

8) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises an interface unit (13) operatively connected to said control unit (12) and adapted to receive setting information by a user.

9) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a programming unit (14) operatively connected to said control unit (12) and to said interface unit (13) and adapted to program said control unit (12) using said information.

10) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a motor body (15) comprising said electric motor (9) and at least one of said control unit (12), said interface unit (13) and said programming unit (14).