Drum unloading station with improved lance design
AssigneeUnibloc Hygienic Technologies UK, Ltd.
InventorRobert George Grantham-Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drum unloading station has a plurality of lances which can move intermediate stand-by to in-use configurations as well as up and down, preferably pneumatically, electronically, or otherwise as may be directed by a processor. The lances preferably have self-draining tips with ports above a base whereby the base can rest against a bag in a container to prevent the bag from restricting flow through the tip ports. Hub ports may be disposed above the tip ports and provide an outward flow of fluid for at least one of rinsing material from the container towards the tip ports or directing about the lance such as into a scabbard for clean in place convenience.
Claims20
A drum emptying station comprising:
- (a) a plurality of lances operably controlled by a processor, said lances operable intermediate an up and down position as well as an in-use configuration and a stand-by configuration, whereby when in the in-use configuration a selected lance of the plurality of lances is located at least partially above a container to be emptied, and when in the stand-by configuration, the selected lance of the plurality of lances is located radially external to a volume of the container to be emptied, and each of the plurality of lances independently operable relative to one another between the in-use and stand-by configurations;
- (b) wherein the processor selectively directs movement of a bottom tip of any of the plurality of lances intermediate the up and down positions in the in-use and stand-by configurations;
- and
- (c) wherein the processor selectively directs movement of any of the plurality of lances intermediate the stand-by and in-use configurations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.