Weighing and transporting device and method for transporting and detecting mass flow rates of bulk materials

A system comprising:

• a weighing and transporting device according to one of the preceding claims,
• a vacuum line comprising a vacuum valve,
• a material feeder line being guided in a material container, the material container containing the bulk material,
• a transport region being provided below the weighing and transporting device, and
• a production machine.

A method for transporting and detecting mass flow rates of bulk material, wherein

• in alternating filling cycles and weighing cycles bulk material is received in a weighing and transporting device with a weighing container, subsequently detected, and subsequently put out to a transport region of a production machine,
• wherein in the filling cycle
• a vacuum is created in a weighing container volume of the weighing container,
• an air stream with bulk material is sucked via a material suction coupling coupled to the weighing container volume so that the bulk material is deposited in the weighing container volume,
• a filling level of the bulk materials is determined, and
• upon determination of a maximum filling level, the filling cycle is terminated, and
• wherein in the weighing cycle
• the bulk material moves continuously from the weighing container volume downwards via an impact means to the transport region of the production machine,
• wherein, for adjusting to a filling position and for initiating the filling cycle, the lower outlet and the upper inlet of the weighing container are closed and subsequently a vacuum is applied to the vacuum connection,
• wherein, for adjusting to a weighing position and for initiating the weighing cycle, the application of vacuum to the vacuum connection is terminated and subsequently the lower outlet and the upper inlet of the weighing container are opened,
• wherein
• when adjusting into the filling position,
• the lower outlet is closed by vertical adjustment of the impact means in an upwards direction against the lower outlet, and/or
• the upper inlet is closed by vertical adjustment of the weighing container in an upwards direction against a support means,
• and, correspondingly, when adjusting into the weighing position,
• the lower outlet is opened by vertical adjustment of the impact means in a downwards direction, thereby setting a discharge gap between the lower outlet and the impact means, and/or
• the upper inlet is opened by vertical adjustment of the weighing container in a downwards direction.

A weighing and transporting device for detecting mass flow rates of bulk material and discharging bulk material, comprising:

• a weighing container having an upper inlet for receiving the bulk material and a lower outlet for discharging the bulk material,
• at least one weighing cell for measuring the weight of at least the weighing container with bulk material contained therein and for discharging a measuring force signal,
• a vacuum conveyor region having a vacuum connection for connecting to a vacuum line and a material suction coupling for connecting a suction intake line for an airstream with bulk material contained therein,
• a level determining means for determining a filling level of the bulk material in the weighing container and outputting a filling level signal,
• at least one actuator for closing the upper inlet and the lower outlet, and
• a controller means, being designed to receive the measuring force signal and the filling level signal and to control the at least one actuator for adjusting between a filling position with closed upper inlet and closed lower outlet of the weighing container and a weighing position with open upper inlet and open lower outlet of the weighing container,
• wherein an impact means is provided below the lower outlet for distributing or mixing the bulk material,
• the impact means being adjustable by means of the actuator between
• its lower position in the weighing position for a weighing cycle in which a discharge gap is formed between the lower outlet and the impact means, and
• its upper position in the filling position for a filling cycle in which the impact means closes the lower outlet,
• wherein the actuator is connected via a drawbar extending vertically downwards through the weighing container to the impact means, and the impact means is vertically adjustable upwards via the drawbar.