Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Receiver actuated discharge means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-16
2001-03-13
Reca, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Receiver actuated discharge means
C141S312000, C141S368000, C220S281000, C220S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to material handling apparatus, particularly flowable material such as a powder. It will be understood that the expression particulate material used herein includes powders, grains, granules, dust, tablets, capsules, and the like.
It is often the case that such particulate material—usually held in a container such as an intermediate bulk container (IBC) for transport, storage and general handling—has to be contained in the immediate area of the IBC during discharge through a discharge station to subsequent processing. Such containment is for environmental purposes and/or for the health of operating personnel. Such problems have to a large extent been obviated, for example as shown in U.K. patent specification No. 2084969.
However, required standards for containment are constantly increasing in industries such as those concerned, with pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, or radio-active materials and indeed anywhere where product contamination of atmosphere or personnel is an important factor.
Present day O.E.L. (operator exposure levels) typically are between 1×10
−3
and 1×10
−5
grammes per cubic meter of air. These levels are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of industry and O.E.L. levels down to 1×10
−9
grammes per cubic meter (1 nanogramme per cubic meter) are now required. The only present practical ways to achieve such levels are by use of laboratory scale equipment using glove boxes, full operating protection, breathing apparatus, full environmental air cleaning and conditioning and so on. The problem is that laboratory methods can only process such products in very small quantities whereas industrial process industries require to process and action these toxic materials in large batch quantities in the hundreds and thousands of Kgs. Such prior processes are expensive, time-consuming and impractical for large volumes, particularly as no prior system today is capable of meeting containment O.E.L. levels of 1×10
−9
grammes per cubic meter.
The problem is that generally an IBC when removed from a discharge station even with a double lip seal and intermediate cleaning system will still have some amount of product on the bottom exposed edge of a cone valve seal and bin outlet of the system.
There is an item, a transport cap, which is fitted manually or automatically to the outlet to cover these contaminated areas completely and thus to enable the IBC to be moved away with no product exposed, a system incorporating such a cap being now able to achieve higher levels of product containment.
However, between the time that the IBC is lifted up from the discharge station and the transport cap being fitted, product is exposed to the local environment and there is a risk that while the transport cap is being moved horizontally sideways underneath the IBC (between the IBC and the discharge station), and then upwards to engage, some minute particles of product will fall off the edge of the cone valve and bin outlet and contaminate the outer surfaces of the transport cap—(it being accepted that when the transport cap has been moved horizontally into position and lifted upwards the inner surfaces of the transport cap and the exposed surfaces of the cone valve mate and seal together thus protecting these product contaminated surfaces from the outside and vice versa).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to seek to mitigate the disadvantages referred to hereinbefore, and to seek to ensure that contamination of the outside of the transport cap is substantially obviated.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for handling flowable material, particularly particulate material, which is held in a container having a discharge opening normally covered by a transport cap, the apparatus comprising a device which is adapted to engage and remove the transport cap and means to cover at least a rim of the transport cap during such removal.
The apparatus may comprise an annular member, the device being substantially centrally arranged, and the cover preferably being substantially peripherally arranged. This provides a relatively simple way of covering a transport cap.
The cover may comprise a substantially annular lip seal. This provides for substantially complete containment over the whole peripheral edge of the cap in use.
The lip seal may have a relaxed sealing mode, and the apparatus may comprise means to actuate the lip seal into a non-sealing mode. This enables ease of operation and installation.
The actuating means of the lip seal may comprise an expansible ring internally of part of the lip seal, the arrangement being such that on expansion of the ring the lip seal may be drawn back to a non-sealing mode. This provides a relatively efficient yet simple operation.
The apparatus may have two spaced peripheral walls, and the lip seal and actuating means may be carried externally of the inner wall. This provides a relatively easily manufactured apparatus.
The outer wall may be higher than the inner wall and may terminate in an inwardly directed cover part overlying and spaced from the lip seal whereby to provide an annular space. This annular space may comprise a sweep area for gas, e.g. air, cleaning.
The device for engaging and removing the cap may comprise a reciprocable actuating arrangement which may carry an extractor device for engaging the cap. This again provides a relatively simple construction, particularly when the reciprocable actuating arrangement may comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement carried by the apparatus.
The piston and cylinder arrangement may be mounted substantially centrally of the apparatus and may comprise a pneumatically operable piston and cylinder arrangement. This can be actuated by the air system of a discharge station.
The extractor device may be mounted on the piston for reciprocation therewith. This provides adequate control.
The extractor device may comprise an inflatable device which on expansion may contact and grip an internal surface of the transport cap. This provides for positive action.
The inflatable device may comprise a pneumatic device, suitably an inflatable ring.
The apparatus may have a support means. This provides for ease of mounting at a discharge station.
The support means may comprise an arm mounted for rotation whereby the arm is operable to move the apparatus to address a transport cap. This provides for ease of removal of a transport cap.
The arm may carry service lines of the apparatus. This provides for a saving of space.
The service lines may comprise an air line or lines. These may suitably be air lines of the discharge station.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a discharge station for discharging flowable particulate material from a container therefor, comprising apparatus as hereinbefore defined.
There may also be a station for cleaning the apparatus.
The cleaning station may comprise an air cleaning station.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a material handling system including a wash station for washing the container, and the said station may include apparatus as hereinbefore defined.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5351864 (1994-10-01), Semenenko et al.
patent: 5490546 (1996-02-01), Lhoest
Le Huyen
Matcon (R&D) Limited
Reca Henry J.
Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP
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