Receptacle for flexible bulk-material packing drums as well as filling module for bulk material containing the receptacle

Abstract

A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle comprises a bottom, a side wall at least one suction line leading into the interior space, at least one passage device, and at least one feed opening. At least one first docking coupling is located in or adjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduit for bulk material such that, when a flexible packing drums located in the receptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening, the interior space may be sealed, in which a state of vacuum is obtainable through suction in the suction line. The invention further relates to a filling module and method for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material.

1 . A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle, the receptacle comprising:
 a bottom;   a side wall connected to the bottom and extending around the interior space of the receptacle;   at least one suction line leading into the interior space of the receptacle;   at least one passage device for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing the packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed;   at least one feed opening, comprising at least one first docking coupling, located in or adjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, the first docking coupling configured for docking a first feeding conduit for bulk material, such that, when a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening, the interior space of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state of vacuum in the interior space is obtainable through suction in the suction line.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one second feeding conduit located at least in sections in the interior space of the receptacle, having a first opening end and a second, opening end, wherein the first opening end is connectable to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in a sealed manner, and wherein, a first coupling closure is located at the second opening end, said first coupling closure being suitable for coupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of a flexible packing drum in a sealed manner, such that a sealed first docking device is formed, said flexible packing drum being insertable into the receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . The receptacle according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one passage device, includes a passage closure for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle,
 wherein when the second coupling closure of the flexible packing drum is coupled to the first coupling closure, the interior space of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state of vacuum in the interior space is obtainable through suction in the suction line, and   wherein the receptacle further comprises at least one operating device for closing, in a closing mode, and opening, in a loading mode, the first coupling closure, the second coupling closure, and/or the first docking device, wherein the operating device is located at least in sections in the interior space and is operable outside the interior space.   
     
     
         4 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feeding conduit for bulk material is configured for connecting to the first docking coupling and/or the feed opening in a sealed manner, and further suitable for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material, said flexible packing drum being insertable into said receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump connected to the suction line, and at least one valve interacting with the suction line. 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the passage device and the passage closure is located in at least one of the side wall and the receptacle bottom. 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the receptacle bottom the side wall, and an upper part is at least partially transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the passage device and the passage closure represents a vacuum-tight closable door or flap. 
     
     
         9 . Receptacle according to  claim 3 , wherein the operating device interacts with at least one of the passage device and the passage closure in such a way that the passage device or the passage closure is openable when the operating device is in the closing mode. 
     
     
         10 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first docking coupling comprises at least one of a tri-clamp connection and a third coupling closure. 
     
     
         11 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an aeration and ventilating device for the interior space, wherein the aeration or ventilating device is capable of being reversibly closed. 
     
     
         12 . The receptacle according to  claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the interior space correspond to the dimensions of a flexible packing drum to be filled in the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The receptacle according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one first detector that is suitable for determining the filling level of a flexible packing drum in the interior space of the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The receptacle according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one second detector that is suitable for determining whether bulk material is accumulating in the second and/or the first feeding conduit during a process of filling a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The receptacle according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first detector and the second detector is located adjacent to the first feeding conduit and/or the second feeding conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The receptacle according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first detector and the second detector is arranged in the interior space in such a manner that allows for determining whether bulk material is accumulating in the second feeding conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The receptacle according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and the second detector is an optical detector. 
     
     
         18 . A filling module for bulk material, comprising at least one dimensionally stable receptacle for at least one flexible packing drum according to  claim 2 , and at least one flexible packing drum containing at least one inlet that is connectable to the first docking coupling, the feed opening, and/or the second feeding conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The filling module according to  claim 18 , wherein the inlet of the flexible packing drum is equipped with a second coupling closure and the second opening end of the second feeding conduit is equipped with a first coupling closure, wherein the first coupling closure and the second coupling closure are connectable to each other in a sealed manner, forming the first docking device. 
     
     
         20 . The filling module according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible packing drum is constructed of essentially airtight material and is made of a synthetic material. 
     
     
         21 . The filling module according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible packing drum has at least one holding device, comprising a holding aperture, said holding device being located opposite the inlet. 
     
     
         22 . The filling module according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one tablet press that includes a suction pump, wherein an outlet of the tablet press is connected to the feed opening via the first feeding conduit and/or a third feeding conduit, and wherein the suction pump is configured to create a state of vacuum in the first, the second, and/or the third feeding conduit as well as, in the flexible packing drum and is configured to maintain said state of vacuum. 
     
     
         23 . The filling module according to  claim 22 , further comprising a dedusting chamber that comprises the suction pump and interacts with the tablet press and the first and/or the third feeding conduit for creating the state of vacuum in the first, the second, and/or the third feeding conduit as well as in the flexible packing drum and for maintaining said state of vacuum. 
     
     
         24 . The filling module according to  claim 22 , further comprising at least two receptacles according to  claim 4  as well as at least one diverting device that, in a first position, closes the first feeding conduit of a first receptacle while opening the first feeding conduit of a second receptacle and that, in a second position, closes the first feeding conduit of the second receptacle while opening the first feeding conduit of the first receptacle. 
     
     
         25 . The filling module according to  claim 24 , further comprising a first detector and a second detector according to  claim 14 , and further comprising a control or adjustment unit that interacts with the first detector, the second detector, the tablet press, and the diverting device and, depending on the detected filling state, switches the tablet press on or off and causes the diverting device to be toggled from the first to the second position or, respectively, from the second to the first position. 
     
     
         26 . The filling module according to  claim 18 , wherein the flexible packing drum is filled with bulk material in a form of tablets. 
     
     
         27 . A method for filling a flexible packing drum, with bulk material, comprising:
 (a) providing a receptacle according to  claim 2 ,   (b) providing a flexible packing drum comprising an inlet equipped with at least a partially flexible, reversibly closable second coupling closure,   (c) inserting the flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle via the passage device,   (d) connecting the second coupling closure of the flexible packing drum to at least one of the feed opening, the first docking coupling, and the second feeding conduit in such a way that the interior space that is not filled by the flexible packing drum and by the second feeding conduit is sealed against the feed opening and is exposable to a state of vacuum,   (e) closing the passage device   (f) creating a first vacuum pressure in the interior space via the suction line,   (g) filling the flexible packing drum with bulk material via the feed opening,   (h) removing the first vacuum pressure from the interior space,   (i) opening the receptacle via the passage device, and   (j) removing the filled flexible packing drum.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein during the filling process according to step g), a second vacuum pressure is set in the flexible packing drum via the feed opening and the first feeding conduit. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein during the filling process according to step g), the first vacuum pressure approximately equals the second vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the first vacuum pressure is lower than the second vacuum pressure by an amount ΔP 1  prior to filling step (g) and at the beginning thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the first vacuum pressure is higher than the second vacuum pressure by an amount ΔP 2  after finishing filling step (g). 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the amount ΔP 1  and the amount ΔP 2  are in a range from 20 Pa to 200 Pa.