JP4041565B2 - Pneumatic transport equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aerodynamic transportation apparatus, and more particularly, to an aerodynamic transportation apparatus that transports a granular material such as a resin pellet by an air transportation medium such as air.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an aerodynamic transport apparatus that transports powder particles such as resin pellets using an aerodynamic transport medium such as air is well known, and such an aerodynamic transport apparatus is shown in FIG.
3 uses a suction blower 9 that is a suction type aerodynamic power source to transfer resin pellets stored in the powder storage tank 1 to receiving hoppers 3 attached to a plurality of molding machines 2. It is an apparatus for transporting by sucking air as a transport medium. The granular material storage tank 1 and the receiving hopper 3 are connected by a connecting pipe in order to transport resin pellets by air. The connecting pipe is composed of the granular material storing tank 1 and the receiving hoppers 3. The main connection line 4 to which the one receiving hopper 3 is connected and a plurality of branch connection lines 5 branched from the main connection line 4 to each receiving hopper 3, and from the main connection line 4 to the branch connection line 5. A switching valve 6 is provided at each branching point. Further, bag filters 7 as gas-solid separation means are respectively attached to the upper portions of the receiving hoppers 3, and pneumatic transportation is performed from the powder storage tank 1 through the main connection line 4 and the branch connection line 5. The resin pellets and air that have been separated are separated here. The separated resin pellets are dropped into the receiving hopper 3, and then supplied to each molding machine 2 through a feeder 10 for weighing a predetermined amount of the resin pellets and feeding them to the molding machine 2. Further, the separated air is discharged from the suction blower 9 through the air line 8 connected to each bag filter 7. Each air line 8 is provided with an open / close valve 11.
[0003]
The amount of resin pellets pneumatically transported to each receiving hopper 3 is detected by a level meter 12 provided in each receiving hopper 3, and the switching valve 6 is based on the upper limit level detection or the lower limit level detection of the level meter 12. And the opening / closing valve 11 are operated to supply or stop the supply of resin pellets for each receiving hopper 3.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration as described above, a bag filter 7 is required for each receiving hopper 3, and in order to supply resin pellets to each receiving hopper 3 or to stop supply, each receiving hopper 3 It is necessary to provide the switching valve 6 and the opening / closing valve 11 for each and operate the switching valve 6 and the opening / closing valve 11. Therefore, the bag filter 7, the switching valve 6 and the opening / closing valve 11 are required as many as the number of the receiving hoppers 3, resulting in an increase in complexity and cost of the apparatus. Furthermore, the switching valve 6 and the opening / closing valve are provided for each receiving hopper 3. 11 has to be operated or controlled, and the operation or control during operation is complicated.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a pneumatic transportation device in which cost is reduced by a simple configuration and operation or control during operation is simplified. It is in.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an aerodynamic transport apparatus for transporting a granular material by aerodynamic force, in which a granular material storage unit for storing the granular material and the granular material storage unit. A plurality of hoppers connected in series via a connecting pipe, a gas-solid separation means connected to a hopper connected last among a plurality of hoppers connected in series, and the gas-solid separation means Each of the hoppers includes an inner peripheral wall surface having a substantially circular cross section, an inlet side opening into which the granular material flows in, and an outlet side opening through which the granular material flows out. The inlet side opening is provided so that the connecting pipe can be connected in a tangential direction of the inner peripheral wall surface so that the granular material flows along the inner peripheral wall surface, and the outlet side The opening is below the inlet side opening, and the granular material is in the inside. As flow out along the wall surface, it is characterized in that the connecting tube is provided so as to be connected to the same tangential direction and the tangential direction.
[0007]
According to such a configuration, the granular material pneumatically transported from the granular material storage unit by the suction type aerodynamic power source is sequentially supplied to the plurality of hoppers connected in series, and then the last hopper connected in series. Is sent to a gas-solid separation means, and is separated into an aerodynamic transport medium and a granular material by the gas-solid separation means. Therefore, the granular material can be pneumatically transported to each hopper without providing a gas-solid separation means, a connecting pipe switching valve, an air line opening / closing valve, and the like for each hopper. Moreover, in each hopper, a turning motion can be given to the inflowing aerodynamic transport medium. Therefore, part of the granular material that flows in along with the aerodynamic transport medium from the inlet side opening falls while swirling along the inner peripheral wall surface in each hopper, and partly falls, and partly the inlet It flows out smoothly from the outlet side opening provided below the side opening. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily supply the granular material to each hopper while suppressing the loss of aerodynamic force in each hopper.
[0008]
Further, during operation, it is not necessary to individually operate or control each hopper to supply the granular material.
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the gas-solid separation means is connected to the powder storage unit. When the gas-solid separation means is connected to the powder storage unit, the remaining powder that has passed through each hopper can be recovered and stored in the powder storage unit, so that it can be pneumatically transported to each hopper again.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, each hopper is provided with a level meter that detects a lower limit level when the amount of powder particles is less than a predetermined amount. cage, said suction-type energy source is characterized that you operate by detecting lower limit level or level meter.
[0010]
In this way, if the suction type aerodynamic power source is controlled to operate only when the powder of any hopper becomes less than the predetermined amount, the supply amount for each hopper can be controlled individually. In any case, any hopper can always maintain a state in which a predetermined amount or more of the granular material remains .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining one embodiment of the pneumatic transportation device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an aerodynamic transport device 21 is a device for transporting resin pellets as a granular material from the granular material storage unit 22 to a plurality of hoppers 24, using air as an aerodynamic transport medium, The air is sucked by a suction blower 25 as a suction type aerodynamic power source, and the resin pellets are pneumatically transported together with air.
[0013]
A plurality of hoppers 24 for receiving the resin pellets that have been pneumatically transported via the connection pipe 26 are connected in series to the granular material storage unit 22 in which the resin pellets are stored. A bag filter 27 serving as a gas-solid separation means is connected to a hopper 24 connected lastly among a plurality of hoppers 24 connected in series via a connecting pipe 26. A suction blower 25 is connected to the bag filter 27 via an air pipe 28, and a granular material storage unit 22 is connected via a return pipe 29.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of each hopper 24. The hopper 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Each hopper 24 has a substantially cylindrical shape in which a lower portion is formed in a funnel shape, and an inner peripheral wall surface 39 is formed in a substantially circular cross section. An inlet-side opening 30 to which the connecting pipe 26 is connected is formed from the midway position of each hopper 24 in the vertical direction (axial direction) to allow the resin pellets to flow in along with the air. The inlet side opening 30 is opened so that the connecting pipe 26 can be connected in a tangential direction so that the resin pellets flow along the inner peripheral wall surface 39 of each hopper 24. In addition, an outlet side opening 31 is formed below the inlet side opening 30 in the middle of the hopper 24 in the vertical direction (axial direction). The outlet side opening 31 is also opened so that the connecting pipe 26 can be connected in the tangential direction so that the resin pellets flow out along the inner peripheral wall surface of each hopper 24 .
[0015]
By configuring each hopper 24 in this way, it is possible to impart a swiveling motion to the incoming air in each hopper 24. That is, the resin pellets that flow in along with the air from the opening 30 on the inlet side are partly dropped while flowing in the direction of the arrow 40 along the inner circumferential wall surface 39 in each hopper 24 while flowing in the direction of the arrow 40. A part flows out smoothly from an outlet side opening 31 provided below the inlet side opening 30. Therefore, resin pellets can be satisfactorily supplied to each hopper 24 while suppressing loss of aerodynamic force in each hopper 24, and the efficiency of the suction blower 25 can be increased.
[0016]
Each hopper 24 is provided with a level meter 32 that detects an upper limit level when the resin pellets are larger than a predetermined amount and detects a lower limit level when the resin pellets are smaller than the predetermined amount. Further, the lower tip portion of each hopper 24 in a funnel shape can be opened and closed by an on-off valve 33. Below the on-off valve 33, a feeder 35 for measuring and supplying a predetermined amount of resin pellets is connected, and below the feeder 35, a molding machine 23 is connected.
[0017]
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the connection pipe 26 connecting the hoppers 24 is connected to the outlet side opening 31 and the inlet side opening 30 positioned above the outlet side opening 31. Further, it is formed by gently bending.
The bag filter 27 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a filter portion at the upper portion and a lower portion formed in a funnel shape, and a connecting pipe 26 connected to the last hopper 24 is connected to a midway position in the vertical direction (axial direction). Is done. A suction blower 25 is connected to the upper end portion of the bag filter 27 via an air pipe 28, and a lower tip portion having a funnel shape can be opened and closed by an opening / closing valve 36. The granular material storage part 22 is connected via the return pipe 29 below. The bag filter 27 is also provided with a level meter 38 that detects the upper limit level when the amount of resin pellets exceeds a predetermined amount.
[0018]
The filter 37 is a filter for separating dust and air from the air intake for pneumatically transporting the granular material.
According to such a configuration, the resin pellets pneumatically transported from the granular material storage unit 22 by the suction blower 25 can be sequentially supplied to the plurality of hoppers 24 connected in series, and the last hopper 24 connected in series. After being sent to the back filter 27, the back filter 27 can separate the air and the resin pellets. Therefore, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to provide a bag filter, a connecting pipe switching valve, an air line opening / closing valve, etc. for each hopper 24, and a resin pellet is provided for each hopper 24 with a simple device configuration and low cost. Can be reliably supplied. In addition, even during operation, it is not necessary to individually operate or control each hopper 24 to supply resin pellets, and operation or control during operation can be simplified.
[0019]
Next, a method for transporting resin pellets by the pneumatic transport device 21 configured as described above will be described.
First, before starting continuous operation, resin pellets are supplied into each hopper 24. When the suction blower 25 is actuated, the resin pellets stored in the granular material storage unit 22 are sucked together with the air via the air pipe 28 and the connection pipe 26 and the first hopper 24 is connected via the connection pipe 26. Into the inside. The infused resin pellets fill the first hopper 24 to a position slightly lower than the flow path of the airflow flowing in from the inlet side opening 30 and flowing out from the outlet side opening 31, and then the second hopper 24 flows in. The second hopper 24 is filled in the same manner, and then flows into the third hopper 24. In this way, the resin pellets that are pneumatically transported fill the plurality of hoppers 24 connected in series for each hopper 24 in the connected order, and when all the hoppers 24 are filled with the resin pellets. Is completed, and the suction blower 25 is stopped.
[0020]
Next, at the time of continuous operation, the opening / closing valve 33 of each hopper 24 is opened, and resin pellets are supplied from the feeder 35 to the molding machine 23. Then, when the amount of the resin pellets in any one of the hoppers 24 becomes smaller than a predetermined amount, the level meter 32 detects the lower limit level, thereby operating the suction blower 25. When the suction blower 25 is activated, the resin pellets are pneumatically transported, and the hoppers 24 connected in the middle until the level gauge 32 detects the lower limit level are filled with the resin pellets in succession. When the level meter 32 detects the lower limit level, the hopper 24 is filled with resin pellets, and when the level meter 32 detects the upper limit level, the operation of the suction blower 25 is stopped.
[0021]
In this way, if the suction blower 25 is controlled to operate only when the resin pellets in any of the hoppers 24 are smaller than a predetermined amount, the supply amount for each hopper 24 is individually controlled. Even if any of the hoppers 24 is used, it is possible to always keep a predetermined amount or more of the resin pellets remaining, and to ensure that the resin pellets are supplied into each hopper 24 by simple control. Can do.
[0022]
In the continuous operation, the resin pellets that have passed through each hopper 24 are then flowed into the bag filter 27. In the bag filter 27, the air and the resin pellets are separated, and the separated air flows out from the upper part to the air pipe 28 and is discharged from the air pipe 28 through the suction blower 25. The separated resin pellets fall and accumulate in the lower part. However, when the level meter 38 provided in the bag filter 27 detects the upper limit level, the on-off valve 36 is activated and the resin pellets are discharged via the return pipe 29. Returned to the powder storage unit 22. Thus, by connecting the bag filter 27 and the powder storage part 22, the remaining resin pellets that have passed through the hoppers 24 can be collected and stored in the powder storage part 22, so that each hopper 22 again. Can be transported by force. Therefore, the loss of the resin pellet is small and an efficient supply can be achieved. Further, since the bag filter 27 is not attached to each hopper 24 and is connected only to the last hopper 24, maintenance such as cleaning of the filter portion does not take time, and the maintenance is facilitated. be able to.
[0023]
In this embodiment, the level meter 32 provided in each hopper 24 operates the suction blower 25 by detecting the lower limit level. For example, the operator monitors the lower limit level of each hopper 24. The suction blower 25 may be manually operated when any one of the hoppers 24 reaches the lower limit level. The granular material storage unit 22 may be a granular material storage tank, a granular material drying device, or the like. Further, in order to circulate and use the pneumatic transportation medium, the transportation line may be a closed loop line. In this case, the discharge side of the blower 25 may be connected to the lower side of the granular material storage unit 22. In addition to the bag filter 27, for example, a cyclone may be used as the gas-solid separation means.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, each hopper is provided with a granular material in each hopper without providing a gas-solid separation means, a connection pipe switching valve, an air line opening / closing valve and the like. Since it can be pneumatically transported, the cost can be reduced with a simple device configuration. Further, since it is not necessary to individually operate or control each hopper during operation, the operation or control during operation can be simplified. Moreover, since the granular material can be satisfactorily supplied to each hopper while suppressing the loss of the aerodynamic force in each hopper, the efficiency of the suction type aerodynamic power source during operation can be increased.
[0025]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the remaining granular material that has passed through each hopper can be collected and stored in the granular material storage unit and transported pneumatically to each hopper again. Less efficient supply .
[0026]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to always maintain a state where a predetermined amount or more of the granular material remains in any hopper by simple control.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining one embodiment of a pneumatic transportation device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the hopper shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a conventional pneumatic transportation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
21 Pneumatic transportation device 22 Powder storage part 24 Hopper 25 Suction blower 27 Bag filter 30 Inlet side opening 31 Outlet side opening 32 Level meter 39 Inner peripheral wall surface

Claims (3)

In an aerodynamic transport device that transports powder by air,
It is connected at the end of a plurality of hoppers connected in series, a powder storage part for storing powder, a plurality of hoppers connected in series to the powder storage part via a connecting pipe A gas-solid separation means connected to the hopper, and a suction type aerodynamic power source connected to the gas-solid separation means ,
Each of the hoppers has a substantially circular inner peripheral wall surface, an inlet-side opening through which powder particles flow in, and an outlet-side opening through which powder particles flow out. The connecting pipe is provided so as to be connected in a tangential direction of the inner peripheral wall surface so that particles flow in along the inner peripheral wall surface, and the outlet side opening is more than the inlet side opening. A pneumatic transport device, characterized in that the connecting pipe is connected in the same tangential direction as the tangential direction so that the granular material flows out along the inner peripheral wall surface below. .   The pneumatic transport device according to claim 1, wherein the gas-solid separation means is connected to the powder storage unit. Each hopper is provided with a level meter that detects a lower limit level when the amount of powder is less than a predetermined amount, and the suction type aerodynamic power source is activated by detecting the lower limit level of any level meter. to that, pneumatic transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

Images