Device for emptying receptacles containing highly viscous products.

The present invention relates to a device for emptying recipiente containing melt occurred or not, the viscosity is very high - in the range of 200,000 to several million centipoieee - such as those commonly used for bonding, sealing or yet insulation, as sealants, butyl, etc ....

The commonly used to clear such recipiente device consists of a follower plate or pusher that is introduced into the recipiente and is supported eur Product to compress it, and a so-called pneumatic vane pump or valve or a gear pump, which allows to sample the product.

The inconveniente of such a device are quickly observed when it comes to getting a strong product flow. Indeed, produced viequeux sWhen are not brought in sufficient quantities to supply the pump: at the entrance of the latter forms a gap in the product, which prevents the pump from being sufficiently nourished, which eventually defuse. It loses its official Alore ciency, and advancement of the product continues advertise only under the effect of the follower pusher plate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device whose pumping capacity is no longer limited to the feed rate provided by the action of the follower pusher plate.

Another object of the invention to allow eat the homogenization of the product before pumping, both physical and thermal.

The object of the present invention is a device of this type which operates automatically.

These aims and objects as well as others that will appear later are achieved by a device for emptying a container containing a high viscosity product, comprising means for introducing a tray whose dimensions correspond substantially to those of the opening of the container therein, means for pumping the product, integral with the tray having a picking area open on the front face of the plate in contact with the product, as well as adjustable means to heat and cool the board. According to the invention, the tray includes a wiper system disposed in the vicinity of the end face, the wiper system being set in motion by means of an entrainment system so as to bring the neighboring product from the end face, towards the zone sampling.

In this way, the wiper system, associated with the pusher plate, ensures a constant supply of product at the sampling zone of the pump, at a flow rate corresponding to the capacity thereof.The movement of the wiper system ensures good homogenization the product just before sampling.

The following description and not limiting character, must be read with the accompanying figures, including:<ul><li>Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section of the device according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first doctor blade system according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second scraper system according to the invention.</li><li>The device of Figure 1 essentially comprises a plate 1 suspended by two tie rods yerticaux 2,2' fixed in a horizontal gantry 3, which is itself fixed by its two ends to two mobile arms 4,4 'of two vertical cylinders 5,5 'located beneath the gantry 3. the cylinders 5,5' are fixed by their base on a base 6. Between the cylinders 5,5 'and on the base 6 is vertically disposed a cylindrical barrel 7 filled with a viscous product that 8 it is extracted.</li><li>The barrel 7 is open at its upper face 9, so that the tray 1 which is circular and with a diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the shaft 7, can penetrate therein and exert pressure on the product 8 by its end face 10 generally planar. One or more flexible ribs 13,13 'fixed to the periphery of the plate 1, the one above the other, prennant against the inner wall of the barrel 7 so as to prevent the romon- Product ties along this wall .</li></ul>

Pumping means 11 of non raprésentés product in detail are arranged in the thickness of the plate 1, at a radial distance from the vertical axis of the plate 1. They lead to the front face 10 of the plate 1 in an area TEEU sampling 12 and are connected to the free face 14 of the plate 1 at one end of a vertical discharge pipe 15 which is attached by its other end to the gantry 3, and ensures the transfer of the product vera flexible piping 16. Furthermore, not shown moysne adjustable heating and / or cooling of the plate 1 are provided to promote the extraction of the product, depending on the nature thereof.

According to the invention, the tray 1 has a generally planar wiper system 17 disposed in the vicinity of its end face 10 and parallel to it. This scraper 17 eat system shown in more detail in Figure 2. It consists of four or more arms 18 arranged crosswise along radii of the cylindrical barrel 7, each connected by one of its ends to a common central area. The scope of the scraper system 17 is such that it lies within a circle of diameter slightly less than that of the plate 1. Each arm 18 has an upper major face 25 parallel to the plane of the wiper system 17 and a lower main face 26 arranged at an angle to this plane so as to have a longitudinal edge 28 or leading edge of the product, thicker than his back 27, each arm 18 then behaving as a kind of knife that begins the product.

The scraper system 17 is partially accommodated in a circular recess 19 formed in the end face 10, being projecting with respect to the end face 10.

The wiper system 17 is connected at its center to an electric or pneumatic motor 20 mounted vertically at the center of the free face 14 of plate 1, via a vertical drive shaft 21 which passes through the plate 1 in its thickness. And the wiper system 17 can he rotated in its plane about the axis of the transmission shaft 21.

The pumping means 11 are offset radially relative to the axis of the plate 1 so that the scraper arms 18 are flush with the turn removal area 12, at the starting of the engine 20.

The profile given to the arm 18 supports a scraping of the product close to the plate 1, and ensures a constant supply of the sampling area 12 produces. Furthermore, the wiper system 17 allows emptying the barrel evenly across its section.

The scraper system 17 moving towards the collection zone 12 the product actually in contact with the plate 1 and therefore avoids the pumping unregulated product temperature.

For some types of products, it will be advantageous to have the sampling zone 12 in the center of the tray 1, the entrainment in rotation of the scraper system 17 then being performed near the walls of the drum 7 as illustrated below.

By progressively lowering the gantry 3, with cylinders of 5,5 ', 1 tray tablet constantly keeps the product whose levels drop during extraction.

The homogenization of the product and its delivery to the sampling region 12 can be adjusted according to the pressure exerted by the cylinders 5,5 'and the rotational speed of the wiper system 17. Depending on the product requirements, it is can adjust its speed by adjusting the pressure of the air pump, or in the case of a gear pump through a means of control and regulation advantageously consistent with those described in french patent 75 28 565.

A filtration unit 22, attached to the gantry 3, may be interposed between the discharge line 15 and the hose 16.

In a manner known per se, a drain 23 disposed on the pumping means 11 serves to remove the air at the start of the pumping operation. Similarly, a venting air 24 system allows off the shelf ldu was 7 when it is empty.

Figure 3 shows another scraper system 29 used when the sampling area is located in center of shelf (1). It comprises a plurality of arms provided in the form of fins 30 extending radially length outwardly from a central ring 31, the latter celui- plan. The fins 30 are fixed to the periphery of the ring 31 first end speaker, and extend in width vertically to the ring plane 31.

The other end of each of the fins 30 is fixed by its angle greater than an outer ring 32 concentric with the ring 31. Each fin 30 has, vertically, a width which increases from the ring 31 towards the ring 32. it has, in a plan view of the scraper system 29, a curved shape, the leading face of each vane being its concave face. Thus, upon rotation of the scraper 29 system, each ailettte scrapes the product and which is, by its form, the route towards the interior of the central ring 3l, so near the pump to the picking area. The crown 32 has a toothing 33 on its face turned inwards so as to cooperate with a pinion integral with the motor shaft entrainementdu, which is radially offset relative to the plate axis.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below dessus.Par example, particularly in the case of rectangular containers, it may be provided a scraper system which moves linearly at both sides of the container.

The invention is used in the distribution of products with very high viscosity.