Method and system for emptying a drum containing a viscous liquid

A system (1) for emptying a container (100), containing a fluid product, the system (1) comprising:

• a pumping unit (2), comprising:
• a pump (5);
• a scraping plate (4) arranged at a first end of the pump (5) and having a through hole at it;
• a motor (3) arranged at a second end of the pump (5).
• a pneumatic cylinder (6) operatively active on the pumping unit (2) for moving it inside the container (100);
• a first and a second sensor;
• a supply circuit for supplying air to the pumping unit (2), said air supply circuit being configured to supply air below the scraping plate (4);
• a control unit (7) configured at least to:
• activate the pump (5) by means of the motor (3) in response to the detection by the first sensor of a passage of the pumping unit (2) at a first level of the container (100);
• stop the descent of the pumping unit (2) and deactivate the pump (5) in response to the detection by the second sensor of a passage of the pumping unit (2) at a second level of the container (100), said second level being lower than said first level;
• enable the communication between the pumping unit (2) and the air supply circuit after deactivating the pump (5);
• interrupt the communication between the pumping unit (2) and the air supply circuit in response to the detection by the first sensor of a further passage of the pumping unit (2) at the first level of the container (100),
• wherein the pneumatic cylinder (6) is operatively active on the pumping unit (2) for exerting a first force and a second force of a greater magnitude than the first force, said control unit (7) being further configured to:
• force the cylinder (6) to exert the first force on the pumping unit (2) after deactivating the pump (5);
• force the cylinder (6) to exert the second force on the pumping unit (2) in response to the detection by the first sensor of the further passage of the pumping unit (2) at the first level of the container (100).