EP2668012A1

EP2668012A1 - Device and method for metering and/or feeding in liquid colorants and/or functional additives

Info

Publication number: EP2668012A1
Application number: EP12701092.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Helbing; Dietrich Witzler; Uwe WENDE; Klaus Stefan MEIER
Original assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG; Rowasol GmbH
Current assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co KG; Rowasol GmbH
Priority date: 2011-01-26
Filing date: 2012-01-12
Publication date: 2013-12-04
Also published as: US20130315029A1; WO2012100990A1; DE102011009426A1; CN103328171A

Abstract

A device and method for metering and/or feeding in liquid colorants and/or functional additives, in particular odorants is described. The device includes a plurality of tanks, a plurality of primary pumps each of which are associated with respective tanks and a colorant mixing device. The colorant mixing device has a plurality of valves with valve inlets and valve outlets, a collecting chamber in a collecting block which is connected to the valve outlets via very small volumes on its inlet side. A mixer is connected to the collecting chamber and a dispensing line is connected to the mixer. The primary pumps are connected in each case to a valve inlet. The through flow volume of the very small volumes is in each case at most 10 cm3, preferably considerably smaller. A further pump for feeding in liquid colorants or additives into a polymer melt can be dispensed with.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for dosing and / or feeding liquids, in particular flowable color and / or functional additives, with a plurality of tanks and the tanks assigned to the tanks primary pumps. Devices are known from the prior art for dosing and feeding liquid colors into a polymer melt. These devices usually include a plurality of tanks in which the colors are kept. The tanks are assigned one or more primary pumps for conveying the colors. The colors conveyed by the at least one primary pump are introduced by a secondary pump via a feed line into a polymer melt.

From WO 2009/037118, for example, an arrangement for dosing and feeding in liquid colors is known in which the liquid colors are conveyed out of the tanks by means of a dosing pump. The metering of the liquid colors takes place via a distributor valve arranged between the tanks and the metering pump. In the arrangement, a feed pump is further provided, which is connected downstream of the metering pump and supplies the pumped by the metering pump colors of a polymer melt with a suitable pressure.

It is also known from WO 2009/037118 that the colors stored in the tanks are each conveyed by a metering pump, each metering pump being preceded by a distributor valve. The colors are brought together in a manifold block, the merged colors are led by a feed pump to a mixer in which the colors are mixed homogeneously and of which the mixed Colors are led to a customer system. In the known arrangements, it is always necessary to use a primary pump for metering the colors and a secondary pump for feeding the mixed ink into a pickup system.

In the known prior art, there is also the problem that after a tank change with color change or a recipe change in which some previously used colors are no longer needed, the color residues located in the lines disturb the subsequent color recipe. By color formulation is meant the exact composition of the color mixture resulting from the mixed liquid colors. The same problem arises with flowable functional additives, eg. As odors, in a recipe change. The object of the invention is therefore to alleviate the problems described with reference to the prior art at least partially. In particular, a device is to be specified whose construction is carried out with fewer components and in which a formulation change takes place without carryover of the dye or functional additives.

These objects are achieved by a device and a method according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the device are specified in the respective dependent claims. The features listed individually in the patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful manner and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description, wherein further embodiments of the invention are shown. In particular, the objects are achieved by a device for dosing and / or feeding liquids, in particular liquid paints comprising a plurality of tanks, a plurality of tanks. ordered primary pumps and a color mixing device solved. The paint mixing apparatus comprises a plurality of valves having valve inlets and valve outlets, a plenum connected to the valve outlets via minute volumes on its inlet side in a collector block, a mixer connected to the plenum, and a discharge conduit connected to the mixer, the primary pumps respectively connected to a valve inlet. In principle, the device according to the invention is also suitable for supplying other liquid substances to a dispensing system. In this case, all types of flowable substances, in particular paints and / or functional additives, such as odors, are meant by liquids. Most preferably, a mixture of liquid paint and at least one functional additive is conveyed with the device. Preferably, the primary pumps are directly connected to the valve inlets. This means that there is only one line between the primary pump and the valve inlets, and thus in particular no further pump to promote the colors or additives. The tanks may hold different liquid colors, functional additives or a rinse solution to rinse the device. Each of the retained liquids is conveyed by a respective primary pump. It is preferred that the primary pumps are integrated in the tanks, so that when the tanks are changed, the primary pumps are also exchanged. Each integrated in a tank primary pump is connected via a respective valve inlet of the valves with the color mixing device, preferably releasably connected, so that the tanks can be connected to the primary pump either to the color mixing device.

In the color mixing device, a collecting block with a collecting space is arranged downstream of the valves, the valve outlets being connected to the collection point. each are connected via small volumes. This can be very short lines, but preferably arrangements without lines with very small volumes between shut-off valves and plenum .. In operation thus reach the liquid colors with open valve and promotional primary pump via the smallest volumes in the common plenum. The colors in the collection room are transferred to a mixer, where they are homogeneously mixed. The collecting block is thus a unit in which the collecting space is arranged, wherein the collecting block, the individual colors are supplied and from which the at least partially mixed colors are removed. In a preferred embodiment, the mixer is arranged in the collecting block. From the mixer, the colors are supplied to a discharge line. The mixed colors are fed via a connection terminating the dispensing line to a dispensing system, preferably a polymer melt.

The color mixing device is also on its own, that is independent of the tanks and the primary pump, an important part of the invention and can serve to solve the task.

According to the mixed color is promoted only by the primary pump. An additional pump for feeding into a pickup system is not necessary. The use of small volumes between the valve outlets and the plenum minimizes the amount of paint that is in the pipe between the closed valve outlet and the plenum when the tanks are changed or the color recipe changes, especially with a closed valve. As a result, the influence of a subsequent color formulation is prevented by located in these rooms color. In particular, the immediate arrangement of the valve outlets at the collecting space completely dispenses with spaces in which liquid unintentionally deposits in some operating conditions. The use of valves prevents liquid from inadvertently getting from the collecting space and / or the smallest volumes into the lines connecting the primary pumps and the valve inlets. Another cause for the unwanted changing the color formulation is thus eliminated.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the smallest volumes have a volume which can be flowed through, in each case at most 60 cm ³ [cubic centimeter], preferably at most 10 cm ³ , more preferably at most 1 cm ³ . Most preferably, the smallest volumes are nearly zero. In this case, the shut-off valves of the valves limit the collecting space, which can be achieved, for example, with valves screwed into the collecting block. By closing unused valve outlets very close to the plenum, the amount of color inadvertently entered into a paint formula is minimized.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the valves are connected in series lying on the collecting block. According to an alternative, preferred embodiment, the valves are connected in a star shape to the collecting block.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve outlets are arranged in the collecting block. In this case, the valves are preferably formed by Einschraubventile, which are screwed into corresponding holes in the collecting block. The smallest volumes thus represent the flowthrough volume of the bores between the valve outlet and the collecting space, which can merge directly into one another. The volume of the smallest volumes can thus be reduced to almost zero. In this case, a smallest volume is flushed through the color mixture flowing through the collecting space and a color residue located in the smallest volume is removed. reaches quickly into the color mixture, whereby the Farbverschleppung is temporally very limited. During a rinsing process, the ink residue is removed by a rinsing liquid. Advantageous for monitoring the operating conditions is the assignment of a pressure sensor to the discharge line for measuring the pressure in the discharge line.

In order to enable a cleaning of the paint mixing device, it is preferred that a flushing valve is arranged in the delivery line. A rinsing liquid held in one of the tanks can thus be used to rinse the valve, the smallest volumes, the collecting space, the mixer and the discharge line, wherein the rinsing liquid can be supplied to a rinsing container.

The mixer is preferably designed as a dynamic mixer with a separate drive, wherein alternatively, the mixer may be designed as a static mixer. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valves are electrically and / or pneumatically controllable. Thus, it is thus possible to actively influence the state of the valves. The valves are preferably operated either in a fully open position or in a closed position. The metering of the collection chamber supplied amounts of ink is thus only by the pump power provided by the primary pump.

Alternatively, it is proposed that the valves are made passive. This means that the valves function in the manner of a check valve and are fully open when a predeterminable pressure is exceeded, for example when the primary pump is being operated, and when the primary pump is operated. stepping of the predetermined pressure, for example. When the primary pump is turned off completely closed.

In an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, a secondary pump for feeding the liquids into a downstream receiving system is arranged in the delivery line. This secondary pump is able to feed the mixed liquids with a pressure of up to 300 bar. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one of the following elements:

at least one valve,

at least one primary pump,

a pressure sensor,

- a mixer,

- a flush valve. The control unit can thus monitor and / or control all the essential elements of the device. Thus, for example, the pressure in the delivery line can be detected and, due to the detected pressure, the pumping powers of the primary pumps can be readjusted, with the individual pumping capacities always having the same share of the total pumping capacity in order to comply with a color formulation.

It is particularly preferred that the device according to the invention is connected via the mixer to a device which conducts polymer melt, in particular an extruder or a melt line.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of dosing liquid colors and feeding the liquid colors and / or functional additives in a polymer melt, wherein the liquid colors are each supplied by a primary pump to a mixer, are mixed in the mixer and then with a pressure of not more than 20 bar, preferably not more than 10 bar, more preferably not be fed more than 5 bar of the polymer melt.

The inventive method is provided in particular for operating the device according to the invention. With the method according to the invention, it is possible to supply a color mixture to a polymer melt only with the primary pumps conveying the liquid colors, without the need for further feed pumps for feeding in the color mixture. It is therefore particularly preferable for the liquid substances to be conveyed only by means of the primary pumps.

Preferably, the primary pumps can be operated independently of each other with different pump powers, whereby the setting of predefinable color formulations is possible. The ratio of the different pump powers is kept constant throughout the feeding of a color formulation.

The details and advantages disclosed for the device according to the invention can be transferred and applied to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained by way of example with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. They show schematically:

1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention, 2 shows a further embodiment of a mixing device of a device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, the structure of a first embodiment of the inventive device 1 is shown schematically. The device 1 has six tanks 2.1, 2.2, ... 2.6, in which different liquid paint or a detergent are kept. The tanks 2.1, 2.2,... 2.6 are pressure-tight and in each case fluidically connected to a primary pump 3.1, 3.2,.

The device 1 further comprises a paint mixing device 4, the six valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 with valve inlets 6.1, 6.2 ... 6.6 and valve outlets 7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6 and a collecting block 10 has. The valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 are connected via the valve outlets 7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6 by means of small volumes 18.1, 18.2, ... 18.6 with the collecting block 10. The collecting block 10 has a collecting space 19, which is fluidically connected to a mixer 8, wherein the mixer 8 in this embodiment is a static mixer 8. The mixer 8 is followed by a discharge line 9, to which a pressure sensor 11 is arranged and which terminates in a connection 14. Via the connection 14, the device 1 can be connected to a pick-off system, in particular a polymer melt-carrying device. The device 1 further comprises a control unit 14, which is connected to data lines 15 to the primary pumps 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6 and the pressure sensor 11.

The colors stored in the tanks 2.1, 2.2,... 2.6 are conducted by the primary pumps 3.1, 3.2,... 3.6 into the collecting space 19 of the collecting block 10. Connected between these are the valves 5.1, 5.2,... 5.6, which are designed as check valves in this embodiment, so that only when the primary pumps 3.1, 3.2,... 3.6 are open are the valves 5.1, 5.2,. When the primary pumps 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6 are switched off, the valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 are closed, so that the tanks or the tanks in The primary pumps 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6 integrated in the tanks can be replaced or the colors reserved in the respective tanks 2.1, 2.2, ... 2.6 can not be used for the current color formulation. The valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 thus also prevent liquid colors from running back into unused sections.

Because the connection between the outlets 7.1, 7.2,... 7.6 of the valves 5.1, 5.2... 5.6 has only a very small volume which can be flowed through, only a small amount of old paint can enter the color space when the color formulation is changed. which is then still in an unused smallest volume 18.1, 18.2, ... 18.6. The colors and the resulting color mixture are driven only by the primary pumps 3.1, 3.2 ... 3.6, wherein the merged into the collection chamber 19 color mixture is fed into the mixer 8, whereby the color mixture is further mixed homogeneously. The thus homogeneously mixed color mixture passes through the discharge line and the terminal 14 to a pickup system, in particular a polymer melt for a melt spinning process. By monitoring the pressure in the discharge line 19 with the pressure sensor 11, the color formulation provided can be monitored, wherein, when the pressure is changed, all the pumps in operation are operated according to a predefinable color mixture composition with a constant ratio to each other in the pumping power.

2 shows schematically a further embodiment of a color mixing device 4 according to a device 1 according to the invention. The color mixing device 4 according to FIG. 2 only differs in some elements from the embodiment according to FIG the differences between the two embodiments received. The color mixing device 4 comprises 6 valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 with Valve Inlets 6.1, 6.2, ... 6.6. and valve outlets 7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6. The valves 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 are designed in this embodiment as pneumatically actuated valves with electrical pilot control. The valves 5.1, 5.2,... 5.6 are followed by a collecting block 10 having a collecting space 19, wherein the collecting space 19 is connected to a dynamic mixer 8, which is driven by a motor 16. In the mixer 8 downstream discharge line a purge valve 12 is arranged, which can redirect the flow of liquid from the mixer into a washing. If the collecting space and the mixer 8 are flushed with a flushing liquid from one of the tanks 2.1, 2.2,... 2.6, the dirty flushing liquid is diverted into the flushing tank 17 so that the flushing liquid does not enter a removal system. Furthermore, there is a pressure sensor 11 on the discharge line 9. According to the present invention can be dispensed with a further pump for feeding liquid colors and / or flowable additives in a polymer melt. In addition, it prevents colors or additives from running back into unused ports or accumulating in dead spaces, which could lead to carryover of paint or additives if the recipe was changed later.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I device

2, 2.1, 2.2, ... 2.6 Tank

3, 3.1, 3., ... 3.6 Primary pump

4 color mixing device

5, 5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6 valve

6, 6.1, 6.2, ... 6.6 Valve inlet

7, 7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6 Valve outlet

8 mixers

9 discharge line

10 collection block

I I pressure sensor

12 flushing valve

13 control unit

14 connection

15 data line

16 engine

17 washing containers

18, 18.1, 18.2, ... 18.6 smallest volume

19 collection room

Claims

claims

1. Device (1) for dosing and / or feeding liquids, in particular flowable paints and / or functional additives, comprising a plurality of tanks (2.1, 2.2, ... 2.6), a plurality of the tanks (2.1,

2.2, ... 2.6) and a paint mixing device (4) with a plurality of valves (5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6) with valve inlets (6.1, 6.2, ... 6.6) and valve outlets (7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6), a collecting chamber (19) connected to the valve outlets (7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6) via small volumes (18.1, 18.2, ... 18.6) on its inlet side a collecting block (10), a mixer (8) connected to the collecting space (19) and a discharge line (9) connected to the mixer (8), the primary pumps (3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6) each having a valve inlet let (6.1, 6.2, ... 6.6) be connected.

Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the smallest volumes (18.1, 18.2, ... 18.6) have a flow-through volume of at most 10 cm ³ , preferably at most 1 cm ³ .

Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve outlets (7.1, 7.2, ... 7.6) are arranged in the collecting block (10).

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure sensor (11) of the discharge line (9) for measuring the pressure in the discharge line (9) is associated.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a flushing valve (12) in the discharge line (9) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixer (8) is designed as a static mixer or dynamic mixer.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valves (5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6) are electrically and / or pneumatically controllable.

Device (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the valves (5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6) are made passive.

Device according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein in the discharge line (9) a secondary pump for supplying the liquids is arranged in a downstream customer system.

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (13), wherein the control unit (13) is connected to at least one of the following elements:

a valve (5.1, 5.2, ... 5.6),

a primary pump (3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6),

a pressure sensor (11),

a mixer (8),

a flush valve (12)

- A secondary pump (20).

Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixer (8) is connected to a device for conducting polymer melt.

Method for dosing liquids, in particular liquid colors and / or flowable functional additives, and feeding them into a polymer melt, wherein the liquid colors or functional additives in each case by means of a primary pump (3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6) are fed to a mixer (8) are mixed in the mixer (6) and then fed to the polymer melt at a pressure of not more than 20 bar.

Method according to claim 12, wherein the primary pumps (3.1, 3.2, ... 3.6) can be operated independently of each other with different pump powers.

A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the liquid colors can be applied only by means of the primary pumps (3.1,

3.2, ... 3.6).