EP3044160A1

EP3044160A1 - Withdrawal system

Info

Publication number: EP3044160A1
Application number: EP14750757.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Szeteli
Original assignee: AS Stroemungstechnik GmbH
Current assignee: AS Stroemungstechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2013-09-09
Filing date: 2014-08-15
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-15
Also published as: US20160194193A1; KR20160054534A; US9828232B2; EP3044160B1; KR101871610B1; WO2015032604A1; DE102013109799A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a withdrawal system (1) for filling and emptying containers and comprising a container closure (2) which is inserted into a container opening of a container receiving a bung head. A dip tube (4) connected to the bung head comprises a withdrawal connection element which is connected to the dip tube (4) or the bung head. A transponder generating a transponder signal is provided. A monitoring signal is generated in accordance with the transponder signal, which indicates whether the connection of the withdrawal connection element to the container is permitted.

Description

withdrawal system

The invention relates to a removal system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a removal system is known from EP 0 977 702 B1. This is used for filling and emptying of containers, especially barrels filled with liquid chemicals. The removal system described there has a container closure. The container closure is generally used in a container head receiving receiving opening. The container closure itself has a dip tube connectable to the bung head, via which liquids stored in the container can be removed and via which liquids can be supplied to the container. Furthermore, the container closure has a removal connection element, which is typically designed in the form of a removal head, and which can be connected to the bung head.

The removal connection element is then used to remove liquid from the container or optionally also to supply liquid. For this purpose, a pump is connected via the extraction connection element in order to carry out the removal or supply of liquid.

The liquids stored in the containers are typically special liquid chemicals. Already for safety reasons, it is necessary to perform the removal of liquids from the containers as well as a liquid supply confusion. Furthermore, such a confusion-safe removal is also necessary for reasons of contamination minimization, since a connection of a wrong extraction connection element that already uses for other chemicals was to lead to contamination of the chemicals in the container to which the extraction connection element is to be connected.

In order to achieve such a risk of confusion, it is proposed in EP 0 977 702 B1 to provide coding recesses in the bung head of the respective container. The removal connection element associated with the container is associated with an annular disk with coding pins in that the annular disk is mounted in a throw-over plug which is screwed onto the removal connection element for fixing it to the plug head.

The coding pins of the annular disc form a unique individual coding such that the coding pins fit only to the coding recesses of the matching container. As a result, a mix-proof connection of the extraction connection element to the associated container is ensured.

The disadvantage here, however, is that to achieve the confusion security with the coding pins and Codierausnehmungen mechanical additional parts are needed, which significantly increase the design complexity of the container closure. In particular, it is disadvantageous that the coding pins are arranged on an annular disc, which must be fitted as a separate additional part in the construction of the container closure, whereby the container closure has a structurally complex construction. Another disadvantage is that the mechanical coding can be manipulated by removing all the pins on the removal head.

The invention has for its object to provide a removal system of the type mentioned, which ensures a confusion safe connection of containers with little design effort.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subclaims. The invention relates to a removal system for filling and emptying containers and comprises a container closure, which is inserted into a container head receiving a container opening of a container. A dip tube connected to the bung head has a removal connection element connected to the dip tube or the plug head. A transponder signal generating transponder is provided, wherein a monitoring signal is generated in response to the transponder signal, which indicates whether an allowable connection of the extraction connection element is applied to the container.

The basic idea of the invention therefore consists in ensuring a connection of a container closure to a container via electrical signals of a transponder, which is secure against confusion, in order to ensure a removal system operating without errors.

A first significant advantage of the invention is that the transponder used to prevent the risk of confusion can be installed on the container closure or on the immersion tube without appreciable constructive adjustments. As a result, there is also a simplified installation of the container closure, since no mechanical parts for the implementation of coding must be additionally attached to the container closure.

A further advantage of the transponder used according to the invention is that a large number of data can be stored therein. In particular, a multiplicity of different transponder signals for generating monitoring signals can thus be generated, which results in a significantly increased number of coding possibilities compared to mechanical coding systems, by means of which a large number of liquids, in particular chemicals stored in different containers, can be reliably distinguished. Finally, it is advantageous that with the im Transponder stored data can be made tamper-proof labeling of the container.

Thus, with the transponder system according to the invention, a confusion-proof connection of container closures to containers can also be realized in complex systems with a large number of containers receiving different liquids.

Particularly advantageously, the removal system has a control unit which controls the supply of liquid to the container and / or the removal of liquid from the container in response to the monitoring signal. The automated control realized with the control unit takes place in such a way that only a liquid is withdrawn from a container or liquid is filled into it when an allowable connection of the removal connection element to the respective container is reported with the monitoring signal, so that misallocations are reliably avoided. Preferably, the control unit activates a pump for filling and emptying the container, wherein the pump is activated by the control unit only when the control unit receives from the transponder a monitoring signal, which signals the connection of a permissible removal connection element to the container. By generated in response to the transponder signal of the transponder signal, a further automation of the entire sampling system is possible. Particularly advantageously, the control unit controls a robot which is designed to connect the removal connection element to the dip tube. The robot is only enabled by the control unit for this connection if the control unit receives a monitoring signal from the transponder, which signals the connection of a permissible removal connection element to the container. Further advantageously, a warning signal generator is triggered by means of the monitoring signal, which emits a warning signal when the connection of an inadmissible removal connection element is reported with the monitoring signal. The warning signal generator can be designed in the form of a lamp for emitting optical warning signals or in the form of a horn for emitting acoustic warning signals.

Finally, the functionality of the sampling system can be extended by storing information relating to the container closure or materials contained in the container in the transponder.

Thus, the large storage capacity in the transponder is used to accurately describe and document additional data concerning the container and the liquid contained therein. Such data may be, for example, the date of manufacture of the container or the container closure or materials used therefor. Customer information can also be stored in the transponder.

Advantageously, the information stored in the transponder can be read out into the control unit.

There, these data can be evaluated or stored for purposes of documentation and traceability.

The transponder used according to the invention in the removal system has a transmitter and a receiver in a known manner, wherein data stored in the transmitter can be read into the receiver without contact in the form of transponder signals. In the transmitter, the respective container and the liquid contained there are clearly characterizing data, in particular a coding that uniquely identifies the liquid stored.

In order to obtain a fixed, unambiguous assignment of the transmitter to this container, the transmitter of the transponder is firmly connected to the container.

Advantageously, the transmitter of the transponder is integrated in the dip tube. Alternatively, the transponder is located at a suitable location on the container.

The coding stored in the transmitter is read out into the receiver and the monitoring signal is generated as a function of the coding. According to a first variant of the invention, the receiver or an antenna of the receiver is connected to the removal connection element. In the receiver, a coding identifying the extraction connection element is stored and the monitoring signal is generated by a comparison of this coding with the coding stored in the transmitter. In this variant, the receiver of the transponder is permanently assigned to the or each extraction connection element. Due to the existing coding in the receiver, the receiver is uniquely identified and thus clearly distinguishable from the receivers of other transponders.

Thus, by comparing the coding of the transmitter with the coding of the receiver, both the container with the liquid contained therein and the extraction connection element are uniquely identified. By comparing the coding then a confusion-safe assignment of the extraction connection element is ensured to the container.

The comparison of the codes for generating the monitoring signal can be carried out in the receiver itself or in the control unit to which the receiver is connected. In any case, the monitoring signal in the control unit available, so that the control unit can make a liquid extraction or supply for the container in response to the monitoring signal.

According to a second variant of the invention, the receiver is spatially separated from the extraction connection element and the extraction connection element is identified by the control unit.

Here, the monitoring signal is generated solely as a function of the code read out by the transmitter of the transponder.

In this case, there is no coding in the receiver that identifies the pickup terminal element because there is a lack of a fixed spatial association of the receiver with the pickup terminal element and that such coding in the receiver would not uniquely identify the pickup terminal element.

In this case, the extraction connection element of a container closure is identified by the control unit itself. For example, in a room in which, although several containers may be present, only one removal connection element is present, so that the removal connection element in the control unit is known by this spatial allocation.

In this case, the monitoring signal can then be generated solely on the basis of the coding stored in the respective transponder of a container and can thus be determined as to whether there is a permissible connection of the removal connection element to this container.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1: First embodiment of the invention

Withdrawal system. Figure 2: Second embodiment of the removal system according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the removal system 1 according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows, as an essential component of the removal system 1, a container closure 2 for a transportable container, not shown, which is formed in particular by a barrel or the like. In the container, a liquid is stored. In particular, liquids stored in such containers are liquid specialty chemicals. The container closure 2 comprises a removal connection element in the form of a removal head 3 and a dip tube 4. The dip tube 4 is mounted in a bung head, not shown, which sits in a container opening of the container, and so firmly connected to the container. For this purpose, the dip tube 4 at its upper end a relative to the hollow cylindrical tube body 4a of the dip tube 4 widened head part 4b. The tubular body 4 a of the dip tube 4 protrudes into the interior of the container up to the bottom area.

The removal head 3 serves for the removal of liquids into the container. For this purpose, the removal head 3 at its upper end to a liquid connection 3 a. At this liquid connection 3 a, a line, not shown, can be connected, which leads to a pump, also not shown. Side of the removal head 3 opens a gas connection 3b, by means of which a pressure compensation in the container can be accomplished.

The removal head 3 is fastened by means of a screw on the dip tube 4. To form this screw connection a clamping nut 5 is screwed with an external thread in a thread in the dip tube 4.

In order to ensure a secure connection of the removal head 3 to a container, a transponder is used according to the invention. The transponder has a transmitter 6, which is designed as a component encapsulated in plastic, and a receiver 7 with an antenna 8.

In the present case, the transponder is designed as a passive transponder, that is, the transmitter 6 does not have its own power supply. The transmitter 6 draws its energy via an induction field constructed by the receiver 7, via which transponder signals stored in the transmitter 6 without contact are also transmitted without contact to the receiver 7. Alternatively, the transponder can be designed as an active transponder with its own power supply, such as a battery. As can be seen from Figure 1, the transmitter 6 is integrated in the dip tube 4, wherein the transmitter 6 is fixedly arranged in the head part 4b of the dip tube 4.

The antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is attached laterally to the removal head 3. From the antenna 8, a cable 9 leads to the receiver 7. The receiver 7 is connected via a further cable 10 to a control unit 11. In principle, the receiver 7 can also be integrated in the control unit 11.

For a removal of liquid from the container or a liquid supply into the container, the removal head 3, as shown in Figure 1, screwed onto the dip tube 4. The transmitter 6 is then within the range of the antenna 8, so that data stored in the transmitter 6 are transmitted to the receiver 7.

Such data may optionally be formed by information describing the containers or the liquid stored there, such as the nature of the liquid or components of the container, customer information, manufacturing data of the container or liquid and the like. This information can be forwarded via the receiver 7 to the control unit 11 and evaluated there or stored. In the transmitter 6, a first coding is stored, by means of which the liquid is clearly identified in the container. This first coding is transmitted from the transmitter 6 into the receiver 7 and then compared with a second coding stored in the receiver 7, by means of which the removal head 3, on which the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is arranged, is uniquely identifiable.

Subsequently, a comparison of the two codes, wherein based on the comparison, a monitoring signal is generated, specify the signal intervals, whether the removal head 3 is connected to a permissible or non-permissible container. In principle, the generation of the monitoring signal in the receiver 7 can take place. Then, the monitoring signal thus formed is read into the control unit 11. Alternatively, the monitoring signal can be generated directly in the control unit 11.

Based on the generated by means of the transponder signal of the transponder monitoring signal a confusion safe connection of removal heads 3 is guaranteed to container, that is, it is ensured that a removal head 3 is always correctly connected to its associated container. This prevents incorrect removal of liquids from containers and also avoids contamination of liquids by using a wrong removal head 3.

The monitoring signal forms a safety signal, as a function of which the liquid removal or supply is controlled by the control unit 11. In this case, the control unit 11 only enables the activation of the pump connected thereto for the removal or supply of liquid only if a fault-free, permissible connection of the respective removal head 3 with the monitoring signal is reported to a container. To increase safety, monitoring signals can also be used to activate a warning signal generator, which emits a warning signal if an inadmissible connection a removal head 3 is present on a container. The warning signal generator can be formed for example by a lamp or a horn.

Since the monitoring signal automatically detects whether the connection of a removal head 3 to a container is permissible or not, the physical connection of the removal head 3 to the dip tube 4 can also be carried out by a robot, whereby this is also controlled as a function of the monitoring signal.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the removal system 1 according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that the antenna 8 of the receiver 7 is not fixedly connected to the removal head 3. Thus there is no fixed spatial association between the receiver 7 and the removal head 3.

This embodiment is particularly suitable for removal systems 1, which have only one removal head 3, but a plurality of containers to which the removal head 3 is to be assigned correctly. Since only one removal head 3 is provided, mix-ups of different removal heads 3 are excluded, so that in this case no identification of the removal head 3 coding is stored in the receiver 7. Accordingly, in this case the monitoring signal is formed solely from the coding stored in the transmitter 6 of the transponder. Otherwise, the function of the removal system 1 according to FIG. 2 corresponds to that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(1) withdrawal system

(2) container closure

(3) removal head

(3a) Liquid connection

(3b) Gas connection

(4) dip tube

(4a) tubular body

(4b) Headboard

(5) clamping nut

(6) Transmitter

(?) Receiver

(8) Antenna

(9) cables

(10) cables

O D control unit

Claims

Patent claims

1. Removal system (1) for filling and emptying containers, with a container closure (2), which is inserted into a container opening of a container that accommodates a bung head, and which has a dip tube (4) connected to the bung head and a dip tube (4 ) or has a removal connection element connected to the bung head, characterized in that a transponder generating a transponder signal is provided, with a monitoring signal being generated depending on the transponder signal, which indicates whether there is a permissible connection of the removal connection element to the container.

2. Removal system according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a control unit (11) which controls the supply of liquid to the container and / or the removal of liquid from the container depending on the monitoring signal.

3. Removal system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the transponder has a transmitter (6), which is firmly connected to the container, and a receiver (7) assigned to the transmitter (6).

4. Removal system according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmitter (6) of the transponder is integrated in the immersion tube (4).

5. Removal system according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the container is in the transmitter (6) of the transponder and/or the coding identifying the liquid stored in the container is stored.

Removal system according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the coding stored in the transmitter (6) is read out into the receiver (7) and the monitoring signal is generated depending on the coding.

Removal system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiver (7) or an antenna (8) of the receiver (7) is connected to the removal connection element, that a coding characterizing the removal connection element is stored in the receiver (7), and that the monitoring signal is generated by comparing this coding with the coding stored in the transmitter (6).

Removal system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiver (7) is spatially separated from the removal connection element, and that the removal connection element is identified by the control unit (11).

Removal system according to claim 8, characterized in that the monitoring signal is generated solely as a function of the coding read out by the transmitter (6) of the transponder.

10. Removal system according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (11) controls a pump for filling and emptying the container.

11. Extraction system according to claim 10, characterized in that the pump is only activated by the control unit (11) when the control unit (11) receives a monitoring signal from the transponder reports the connection of a permitted removal connection element to the container.

Removal system according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the control unit (11) controls a robot which is designed to connect the removal connection element to the dip tube (4), the robot only then being required by the control unit (11) for this connection ) is released when the control unit (11) receives a monitoring signal from the transponder that reports the connection of a permissible removal connection element to the container.

Removal system according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a warning signal generator is activated by means of the monitoring signal, which emits a warning signal if the connection of an inadmissible removal connection element is reported with the monitoring signal.

Removal system according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that information relating to the container closure (2) or materials located in the container is stored in the transponder.

15. Removal system according to claim 14, characterized in that the information stored in the transponder can be read out in the control unit (11).