JP7071736B2 - Pump device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pump device for pumping out a stored liquid such as a sealing agent or a food material stored in a container such as a pail, and a method for heating the stored liquid.

Conventionally, as a pump device for pumping out stored liquid stored in a container such as a pail, a pump device for pumping out liquid by heating the stored liquid to reduce the viscosity of the liquid, a pump unit, piping, etc. A method of heating to reduce the viscosity of a liquid is provided.

For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a viscous material supply device including a pressing means provided with a heating means. The supply device of Patent Document 1 is said to be able to heat a viscous material to a predetermined temperature by a heating means and reliably and easily suck the viscous material having good fluidity at the time of pumping and supplying the viscous material. There is.

Further, Patent Document 2 below describes a pump for high-viscosity materials including a plate provided with a main heater. In the pump for high-viscosity material described in Patent Document 2, the high-viscosity material is in direct contact with the heater, so that the heating time can be shortened, and the conventional heating chamber is not required, so that the equipment cost is low. It is said that it will be done.

Japanese Patent No. 3328809 Special Fair 07-45771

However, like the viscous material supply device of Patent Document 1 and the pump for high-viscosity materials of Patent Document 2, a heating device is provided for the plate that presses the liquid level of the stored liquid, and the liquid level of the stored liquid is added. In the case of heating (when the liquid surface side is heated), the vicinity of the liquid surface of the stored liquid is superficially heated, so that the stored liquid is only heated two-dimensionally. Therefore, when the liquid level side is heated, the stored liquid slightly separated from the suction port of the pump to the bottom side of the container is not sufficiently heated, and the stored liquid with reduced viscosity is not supplied to the suction port. , The phenomenon that the pump sucks air and does not suck the liquid (air suction) occurs. When air suction occurs, there is a problem that the stored liquid cannot be sufficiently pumped out and the pumping efficiency of the stored liquid is lowered.

Further, for example, it is conceivable to heat the entire container in order to sufficiently reduce the viscosity of the stored liquid. However, if heat is applied to the entire stored liquid in the container at one time, there is a concern that a large amount of bubbles will be generated, leading to deterioration of the quality of the liquid.

Furthermore, if the stored liquid is pumped up while heating the entire container containing the stored liquid, there will be a difference in the heating time between the stored liquid in the upper part of the container and the stored liquid in the lower part of the container, and the lower part of the container will be heated. The reservoir may continue to be heated more than necessary. Therefore, when the entire container is heated, there is a concern that the stored liquid in the lower part of the container will continue to be heated more than necessary and the liquid property will deteriorate. Further, it takes a considerable amount of heating time and electric power to heat the entire container, and there is a concern that the cost will increase.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pump device capable of pumping up the stored liquid in a container by suppressing the generation of bubbles and the deterioration of the liquid property of the stored liquid, reducing the cost required for heating the stored liquid. ..

The pump device of the present invention provided for solving the above-mentioned problems has a pump unit for pumping the stored liquid stored in the container and a container arranged around the container and heating the stored liquid through the container. It has a side heating device and a control device, and the pump unit can be moved relative to the container in the direction of fluctuation of the liquid level that fluctuates according to the pumping of the stored liquid, and the container side heating. The heating device can change the temperature condition for each of a plurality of heating target regions formed in the fluctuation direction, and the control device is located at a position corresponding to the suction port of the pump unit. Alternatively, in the heating target region located at a position corresponding to the suction port and one or more heating target regions adjacent to the heating target region in the decreasing direction of the liquid level, the other heating target region located away from the suction port. It is characterized in that the container-side heating device is operated so that the temperature becomes higher than that of the heating target region.

According to the pump device of the present invention, the stored liquid can be heated in the vicinity of the suction port of the pump portion arranged in the container, and the viscosity of the stored liquid in the vicinity of the suction port can be reduced. Therefore, the pump device of the present invention can suitably pump a highly viscous stored liquid. Further, according to the pump device of the present invention, the heating target area to be heated according to the relative position of the suction port is gradually switched according to the pumping condition of the stored liquid to heat the stored liquid. Can be done.

Further, according to the pump device of the present invention, while heating the stored liquid in the vicinity of the suction port of the pump unit, the stored liquid in another heating target region away from the suction port is not heated, or is temporarily heated. Even if it is heated, it can be kept at a relatively low temperature. In other words, the pump device of the present invention heats the stored liquid in the heating target area that affects the suction by the pump, while the stored liquid in the other heating target area is unnecessarily heated. Can be suppressed. As a result, the pump device of the present invention can prevent the stored liquid from being continuously heated more than necessary and deteriorating the properties of the liquid.

Further, according to the pump device of the present invention, by heating a part of the stored liquid in the fluctuation direction of the liquid level as needed, the cost required for heating power is reduced as compared with the case of heating the entire container. In addition to being able to reduce the amount, it is possible to suppress problems such as the generation of air bubbles, which is a concern when the entire container is heated at once.

Further, according to the pump device of the present invention, the stored liquid can be heated from the outside in the circumferential direction of the container. In other words, according to the pump device of the present invention, the stored liquid in a predetermined region from the liquid level to the bottom can be heated three-dimensionally. As a result, in the pump device of the present invention, only the surface side of the liquid surface is heated, the vicinity of the suction port of the pump portion is not heated, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of air suction.

In the pump device of the present invention, the container-side heating device includes a plurality of heating units capable of heating the stored liquid by heat generation, and the heat generation states of the plurality of heating units are different. Alternatively, it is desirable that the heating state of two or more of the heating target regions is different from the heating state of the other heating target regions.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to switch the heat generation state for each heating unit to make the heating state of a plurality of heating target regions different.

Here, as a result of diligent studies on the relative movement of the container and the pump portion by the inventor of the present invention, when the position of the pump portion is to be maintained in the entire pump device, the pipe connecting the pump portion and the liquid discharge port is connected. It was found that it is not necessary to displace such things, it is possible to fix pipes, etc., and the structure of the entire device can be simplified.

The pump device of the present invention provided by the above findings is characterized by having a moving device that enables the container to move in the fluctuation direction of the liquid level.

According to the pump device of the present invention, the structure of the entire device can be simplified.

Further, the pump device of the present invention has a plate portion attached to the pump portion and arranged so as to cover the liquid level inside the container, and follows the fluctuation of the liquid level due to the pumping of the stored liquid. Then, the pump portion and the plate portion may move in the fluctuation direction.

According to the above configuration, the stored liquid can be pumped out while pressing the liquid level by the plate portion. As a result, the pump device of the present invention can pump out the stored liquid more efficiently.

When the plate portion as described above is provided, a plate-side heating device that is in contact with the liquid surface and is capable of heating the stored liquid may be provided.

According to the above configuration, in addition to heating the stored liquid from the radial outside of the container by the container-side heating device, the stored liquid can be heated from the liquid surface side by the plate-side heating device. As a result, the pump device of the present invention can heat the stored liquid more efficiently.

In the pump device of the present invention, the container-side heating device includes a plurality of heating units that generate heat when energized, a detection unit that detects a relative position between the container and the pump unit, and the heating unit. The energization adjusting device is provided with an energizing adjusting device for adjusting the energizing state of the unit, and the energizing adjusting device adjusts the energizing state of the heating unit and the power supply circuit connecting each of the plurality of heating units and the power supply. It has an energization adjustment unit, and the energization adjustment unit adjusts the energization based on the detection information by the detection unit, and the heating unit in the heating target region at the position corresponding to the suction port is sucked. It is characterized in that the temperature is higher than that of the heating portion in the heating target region located at a position away from the mouth.

In the pump device of the present invention, the energization state of the heating unit is adjusted by the energization adjusting device according to the relative position between the container and the pump unit detected by the detection unit. As a result, the heating portion in the heating target region located at the position corresponding to the suction port is heated to a higher temperature than the heating portion in the heating target region located at a position away from the suction port. Therefore, according to the pump device of the present invention, the stored liquid in the heating target region in which the suction port is arranged can be efficiently heated according to the relative position between the container and the pump portion. For example, when the container and the container-side heating device can be moved while maintaining the position of the pump section with respect to the entire pump device, the heating section that generates heat can be switched stepwise according to the displacement of the liquid level. can. As a result, in the pump device of the present invention, the stored liquid in another heating target region is continuously heated while gradually switching the heating target region to be heated in response to the displacement of the liquid surface. Can be suppressed.

Here, when a switch unit is provided in each of the plurality of heating units and a power supply circuit corresponding to each switch unit is provided, it is possible to flexibly control the heating unit to generate heat. On the other hand, there may be a case where it is not assumed that all the heating parts are heated among the plurality of heating parts. For example, when three or more heating portions are provided and one or two heating portions generate heat depending on the position of the suction port, the situation where all the heating portions generate heat does not occur. As a result of diligent studies by the inventor of the present invention in consideration of such a situation, if appropriate control is performed using a multi-throw type switch having a plurality of contacts in the energization adjusting device, the device configuration and the control method can be simplified. We have come to the conclusion that we can contribute even more to the conversion.

In the pump device of the present invention provided by the above findings, the energization adjustment unit includes a plurality of multi-throw switches having a plurality of contacts, and each of the contacts corresponds to each of the heating units. The power supply circuit is connected, and the energization adjusting unit adjusts the energization by changing the combination of contacts to be in a conductive state in the multi-throw type switch.

According to the above configuration, by appropriately changing the combination of contacts to be in a conductive state in the multi-throw type switch, it is possible to appropriately operate the heating unit at the place where heating is required. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, the device configuration and control method of the pump device can be further simplified.

The pump device of the present invention has a detection unit that detects a relative position between the container and the pump unit, and the container-side heating device has a plurality of heating units that can heat the stored liquid by heat generation. The heat generation state of the heating unit may be controlled based on the detection information of the detection unit.

According to the above configuration, the relative position between the container and the pump portion can be detected to determine the position of the suction port with respect to the container, and the stored liquid in the corresponding heating target region can be heated.

In the pump device of the present invention, the heating target region corresponding to the position of the suction port and the heating target region adjacent to the heating target region in the decreasing direction of the liquid level are set from other heating target regions. The container-side heating device may be operated so as to have a high temperature.

According to the above configuration, in addition to the heating target region corresponding to the position of the suction port, the stored liquid can be preliminarily heated in the heating target region adjacent to the heating target region in the decreasing direction of the liquid level. can. For example, the temperature and viscosity of the stored liquid, the room temperature, and the like can be taken into consideration to preliminarily heat the stored liquid slightly away from the suction port. As a result, the pump device of the present invention can pump out the stored liquid more efficiently.

In the pump device of the present invention, the pump portion includes a male screw portion having a male screw shape, and a rotor that rotates by transmitting rotational power and a female screw-shaped through hole into which the male screw portion can be inserted are formed. It is desirable that the pump is a uniaxial eccentric screw pump having a stator.

According to the above configuration, the stored liquid can be pumped up with high quantitativeness and strong suction force.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pump device capable of suppressing the generation of bubbles and the deterioration of the liquid property of the stored liquid, reducing the cost required for heating the stored liquid, and pumping the stored liquid in the container. can.

It is a perspective view which shows the pump device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the pump device of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the pump part of the pump device of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the follow plate provided with the plate-side heating device in the pump device of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the elevating device of the pump device of FIG. 1 and the container side heating device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the detection part of the pump device of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the energization adjustment device, the detection part, and the control part of the pump device of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement of the suction port of the pump device of FIG. 1 and the area to be heated. It is a figure which shows an example of the control of the heater part of the pump device of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the pump device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the energized state of the heater part of the pump device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the energized state of the heater part of the pump device of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pump device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The pump device 10 is used to pump out the stored liquid 1 stored in the container 2 such as a pail can or a drum can.

The reservoir 1 described in this embodiment is a high-viscosity liquid such as a paste-like or cream-like food material, a sealant, or the like. The stored liquid 1 is housed in a container 2 such as a pail can. The liquid to be pumped out by the pump device of the present invention is not limited to the high-viscosity liquid. The pump device of the present invention may pump out a low-viscosity liquid.

When the container 2 is arranged in the pump device 10, the container 2 is arranged so that the axial direction is along the vertical direction. Therefore, the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1 housed in the container 2 is displaced in the vertical direction of the stored liquid 1. More specifically, the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1 contained in the container 2 is such that the stored liquid 1 is pumped out from the container 2 and the remaining amount of the stored liquid 1 stored in the container 2 decreases. Along with this, it is displaced downward with respect to the container 2. In the following description, the displacement direction (vertical direction) of the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1 may be described as "fluctuation direction X".

As shown in FIG. 1, the pump device 10 includes a pedestal portion 12, a support column portion 14, a pump portion 20, an elevating device 40 (moving device), a container-side heating device 50, a follow plate 70 (plate portion), and a control unit 90. have. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pump device 10 has an energization adjusting device 60 and a detection unit 80.

The pump device 10 is configured such that the support column portion 14 is erected with respect to the pedestal portion 12 so as to extend in the vertical direction (variation direction X). Further, the pump device 10 has a configuration in which the pump unit 20 and the elevating device 40 are attached to the support column portion 14.

The pump unit 20 is for sucking and transporting the stored liquid 1. As the pump unit 20 of the present embodiment, a uniaxial eccentric screw pump of a positive displacement rotary pump is adopted. As shown in FIG. 2, the pump portion 20 is attached to the upper end of the strut portion 14 via the bracket 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pump unit 20 has a stator casing 22, a stator 26, a rotor 28, a power transmission unit 32, and a drive unit 36. As shown in FIG. 3, the pump unit 20 has a configuration in which the stator 26, the rotor 28, the power transmission unit 32, and the like are housed inside the stator casing 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pump unit 20 is provided with a first opening 21a and a second opening 21b. The pump unit 20 makes the first opening 21a function as a suction port 24, and can pump the stored liquid 1 from the container 2 at a predetermined flow rate. Further, the pump unit 20 can make the second opening 21b function as a discharge port 34. A transfer pipe (not shown) is connected to the second opening 21b, and the stored liquid 1 can be transferred to another container or the like via the transfer pipe.

By rotating the rotor 28 in the forward direction, the pump unit 20 can make the first opening 21a function as the suction port 24 and the second opening 21b as the discharge port 34. Further, by rotating the rotor 28 in the reverse direction for maintenance or the like, the pump unit 20 sucks the cleaning liquid from the second opening 21b and discharges the sucked cleaning liquid or the like from the first opening 21a. It is possible to clean the internal space of the stator casing 22 and the like.

The stator 26 is a member made of an elastic body typified by rubber, a resin, or the like, and has a substantially cylindrical appearance shape. The material of the stator 26 is appropriately selected according to the type and properties of the stored liquid 1 to be pumped out by the pump device 10. An insertion hole 27 is formed in the stator 26, and the inner peripheral surface 26a has n rows and has a single-stage or multi-stage female screw shape. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the stator 26 is formed with an insertion hole 27 having a multi-stage female screw shape with two threads.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotor 28 is a metal shaft body, and has a single-stage or multi-stage male screw shape with n-1 rows. In the present embodiment, the rotor 28 has a male screw shape eccentric with one row. The rotor 28 has a substantially perfect circular cross-sectional shape at any position in the longitudinal direction. The rotor 28 is inserted into the insertion hole 27 formed in the stator 26 described above, and is freely eccentric and rotatable inside the insertion hole 27.

When the rotor 28 is inserted through the stator 26, the outer peripheral wall 28a of the rotor 28 and the inner peripheral surface 26a of the stator 26 are in close contact with each other at the tangent line, and the inner peripheral surface 26a of the stator 26 and the outer peripheral wall of the rotor 28 are in close contact with each other. A fluid transport path 30 (cavity) is formed between 28a and 28a. The fluid transport path 30 extends spirally in the longitudinal direction of the stator 26 and the rotor 28.

When the rotor 28 is rotated in the insertion hole 27 of the stator 26, the fluid transport path 30 advances in the longitudinal direction of the stator 26 while rotating in the stator 26. Therefore, when the rotor 28 is rotated, the fluid (reservoir 1) is sucked into the fluid transport path 30 from one end side of the stator 26, and the fluid is confined in the fluid transport path 30 among both ends of the stator 26. It can be transferred toward one end and discharged at the other end of the stator 26.

The power transmission unit 32 is for transmitting power from the drive unit 36 to the rotor 28 described above. The power transmission unit 32 connects the rotation shaft of the drive unit 36 and the rotor 28 so as to allow eccentric rotation. The power transmission unit 32 can be variously selected such as a flexible rod and an old dam joint.

The elevating device 40 (moving device) is provided to displace the relative positions of the container 2 and the container-side heating device 50 with respect to the pump portion 20. More specifically, the elevating device 40 raises or lowers the container 2 and the container-side heating device 50 along the fluctuation direction X, so that the container 2 and the container-side heating device 50 with respect to the pump portion 20 are raised or lowered. The relative position can be displaced.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the elevating device 40 includes a rail portion 42, a slider portion 44, and a support base 46.

The rail portion 42 is provided as a guide member for moving the slider portion 44 in the fluctuation direction X. The rail portion 42 is attached to the strut portion 14 so that the longitudinal direction is in a posture along the fluctuation direction X. Further, the slider portion 44 is attached to the rail portion 42. The slider portion 44 is movable by sliding on the rail portion 42.

The support base 46 is provided to support the container 2. The support base 46 is formed with a flat stacking surface 46a so that the container 2 can be stacked. Further, the support base 46 is attached to the slider portion 44 via the connecting portion 48. Further, a container-side heating device 50 is attached to the connecting portion 48. Therefore, the container 2 and the container-side heating device 50 move in the fluctuation direction X as the slider portion 44 moves.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pump portion 20 is attached to the upper end of the strut portion 14 via a bracket 16 so as to be in a posture along the fluctuation direction X. In other words, the pump unit 20 is arranged in a state of maintaining a relative position with respect to the support column portion 14. Therefore, when the support base 46 is displaced with respect to the support column portion 14, the container 2 stacked on the support base portion 46 changes its relative position with respect to the pump portion 20. In other words, the pump device 10 of the present embodiment relatively moves the pump unit and the container 2 by maintaining the position of the pump unit 20 and moving the container 2. As a result, in the pump device 10, when the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1 is displaced according to the change in the remaining amount of the stored liquid 1 in the container 2, the liquid level F is arranged in the vicinity of the suction port 24. Displace the container 2 (support base 46).

As for the mechanism for moving the slider portion 44 of the elevating device 40, for example, a rotation mechanism connected to the slider portion 44 may be provided and may be manually operated or powered by a motor or the like. Further, a mechanism such as a cylinder may be provided as a mechanism for moving the slider portion 44. Various structures of the elevating device 40 for moving the slider portion 44 can be selected.

The container-side heating device 50 is provided for heating the stored liquid 1 contained in the container 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the container-side heating device 50 is arranged around the container 2. The container-side heating device 50 of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of heater portions 52 (heating portions) that generate heat due to electric resistance. The heater unit 52 is in a heat generation state in which heat is generated when the power is turned on, and is in a non-heat generation state in which heat is not generated when the power is cut off.

Further, as will be described in detail later, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) heater units 52 are connected to a switch unit 62 that switches between energization and disconnection for each of the heater units 52. Therefore, each heater unit 52 can switch between a heat-generating state and a non-heating state, respectively. The container-side heating device 50 controls each heater unit 52 to either a heat-generating state or a non-heating state, and a heating state of whether or not to heat the stored liquid 1 for each heating target region R described later. Can be switched.

As shown in FIG. 5, the container-side heating device 50 includes a first heater unit 52a, a second heater unit 52b, and a third heater unit 52c as a plurality of heater units 52. The first heater portion 52a, the second heater portion 52b, and the third heater portion 52c are arranged along the fluctuation direction X. The container-side heating device 50 heats the heater unit 52 so that the stored liquid 1 in the container 2 can be heated from the radial outside of the container 2. Further, the container-side heating device 50 can heat the stored liquid 1 in the fluctuation direction X of the container 2 over a predetermined range by the heater unit 52.

The container-side heating device 50 forms a heating target region R of 3 in which the stored liquid 1 inside the container 2 can be heated by generating heat from the heater unit 52. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the container-side heating device 50 has a first heating target region R1 in which the stored liquid 1 is heated by heating the first heater portion 52a, and a second heater. The second heating target region R2 in which the stored liquid 1 is heated by heating the portion 52b, and the third heating target region R3 in which the stored liquid 1 is heated by heating the third heater portion 52c. To form.

The container-side heating device 50 heats the heater portion 52 of 1 or 2 and does not generate heat of the other heater portion 52, so that the heating target region R of 1 and the other heating target region R are heated. Can be different. In other words, in the container-side heating device 50, the portion where the stored liquid 1 is heated and the portion where the stored liquid 1 is heated or the stored liquid 1 is not heated at a relatively low temperature in the fluctuation direction X of the container 2. It is possible to form a portion and make the heating state different among a plurality of heating target regions R. The pump device of the present invention may be capable of switching the heat generation state of the heater unit (heating unit) stepwise or steplessly. For example, the pump device of the present invention creates a heat generation state in which the temperature differs between a plurality of heating target regions, and makes the heating state of a part of the heating target region different from the heating state of another heating target region. You may.

The energization adjustment device 60 is provided to adjust the energization of the heater unit 52 under the control of the control unit 90 based on the detection information of the detection unit 80 described later. As shown in FIG. 7, the energization adjustment device 60 includes a switch unit 62 (energization adjustment unit) and a power supply circuit 64. The energization adjusting device 60 adjusts the energization by the switch unit 62 based on the detection information of the detection unit 80 transmitted via the control unit 90, and controls the heat generation state of the heater unit 52.

The switch unit 62 is a so-called one-pole single-throw type switch. The switch unit 62 is capable of switching the energization state of the heater unit 52 connected to the power supply channel 66 via the power supply circuit 64. The energization adjusting device 60 can allow energization to the heater unit 52 by turning on the switch unit 62, and can cut off energization to the heater unit 52 by turning it off. The switch unit 62 operates based on a control signal output from the control unit 90.

As shown in FIG. 7, the energization adjusting device 60 of the present embodiment is provided with a switch unit 62, a power supply circuit 64, and a power supply channel 66 so as to correspond to each heater unit 52. More specifically, the energization adjusting device 60 of the present embodiment includes a switch unit 62a corresponding to the first heater unit 52a, a power supply circuit 64a, a power supply channel 66a, a switch unit 62b corresponding to the second heater unit 52b, and a power supply. The circuit 64a, the power supply channel 66b, the switch unit 62c corresponding to the third heater unit 52c, the power supply circuit 64c, and the power supply channel 66c are provided. Therefore, the energization adjusting device 60 can individually control the energization for each heater 52.

The detection unit 80 is provided to detect the position of the slider unit 44 in the fluctuation direction X. The detection unit 80 can detect the displacement amount of the slider unit 44 by, for example, an encoder, but in the present embodiment, the position of the slider unit 44 can be detected by providing the three sensors 82. ing. More specifically, the detection unit 80 includes a first sensor 82a, a second sensor 82b, and a third sensor 82c. The detection unit 80 can detect the presence / absence of the slider unit 44 by the first sensor 82a, the second sensor 82b, and the third sensor 82c. The detection signal output from the detection unit 80 is utilized in the control unit 90 to derive the position of the slider unit 44, as will be described in detail later.

The follow plate 70 (plate portion) is provided to press the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1 contained in the container 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the follow plate 70 has a substantially disk-like appearance having a predetermined thickness.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the follow plate 70 has a diameter that substantially matches the inner diameter of the container 2. Therefore, when the follow plate 70 is fitted into the container 2, the follow plate 70 is arranged so as to close the container 2 and is substantially in close contact with the liquid level F of the stored liquid 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the follow plate 70 is attached to the pump portion 20. More specifically, the follow plate 70 is attached to the pump portion 20 so as to surround the first opening 21a (suction port 24). Therefore, the position of the pressing surface 70a (lower surface in FIG. 3) arranged on the storage liquid 1 side of the follow plate 70 and the position of the suction port 24 substantially coincide with each other in the fluctuation direction X of the container 2. Further, the follow plate 70 is attached to the pump portion 20. Therefore, the follow plate 70 is movable in the fluctuation direction X together with the pump device 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the follow plate 70 is attached to the pump portion 20 so as to surround the end portion of the stator casing 22.

The follow plate 70 of the pump device 10 of the present invention may include a plate-side heating device 72. For example, the plate-side heating device 72 provided on the follow plate 70 shown in FIG. 4 is provided as an electric heater that generates heat due to electric resistance. The plate-side heating device 72 is arranged on the pressing surface 70a side of the follow plate 70, and can heat the stored liquid 1 while contacting the liquid surface F. As a result, the pump device 10 can heat the stored liquid 1 from the outer side in the circumferential direction of the container 2 by the container-side heating device 50, and also heats the stored liquid 1 by the plate-side heating device 72. be able to.

Subsequently, the position of the container 2 and the control of the heated state in the pump device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. As described above, in the pump device 10 of the present embodiment, energization control (heat generation control) is performed on each heater unit 52 under the control of the control unit 90 based on the detection information of the detection unit 80.

For example, in the state shown in FIG. 7, that is, in the state where the slider unit 44 is detected by the third sensor 82c and the slider unit 44 is not detected by the second sensor 82b, the stored liquid 1 in the first heating target region R1 is heated. , The stored liquid 1 in the second heating target region R2 is not heated or is preheated. More specifically, in a state where the slider unit 44 is detected by the third sensor 82c and the slider unit 44 is not detected by the second sensor 82b, the control unit 90 sets the first heater unit 52a to a heat generation state (on). Energization control is performed to put the second heater unit 52b in a heat generation state (on) or a non-heat generation state (off).

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the slider unit 44 is detected by the second sensor 82b and the third sensor 82c, the slider unit 44 is located adjacent to both the second sensor 84 and the third sensor 86. It is arranged in Ps1. Further, the suction port 24 is in a state of being arranged in the first heating target region R1 to be heated by the first heater portion 52a.

In this way, when the slider unit 44 is detected by the second sensor 82b and the third sensor 82c, the control unit 90 controls the first heater unit 52a and the second heater unit 52b as shown in FIG. 9A. Is set to a heat generation state (on), and energization control is performed to set the third heater unit 52c to a heat generation state (on) or a non-heat generation state (off). As a result, the stored liquid 1 in the first heating target region R1 and the second heating target region R2 is heated, and the stored liquid 1 in the third heating target region R3 is not heated or is preheated. Will be. When the third heating target region R3 is in a heat generation state, the stored liquid 1 in the second heating target region R2 can be preheated. In the pump device of the present invention, the heating target region at a position corresponding to the suction port of the pump unit may not be heated depending on the state of the stored liquid. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, after the stored liquid 1 in the first heating target region R1 located at the position corresponding to the suction port 24 of the pump unit 20 has been heated to a predetermined temperature range. At the timing when the pumping of the stored liquid 1 in the first heating target region R1 is about to end, the first heater portion 52a in the first heating target region R1 may be in a non-heat generation state (off).

Further, when the remaining amount of the stored liquid 1 changes with the pumping of the stored liquid 1 from the state shown in FIG. 8A, the pump device 10 raises the slider portion 44 and the liquid level F becomes the follow plate 70. The container 2 is displaced so as to come into contact with the pressing surface 70a. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the liquid level F displaces the position of the container 2 with respect to the fluctuation direction X by a distance L1 as the remaining amount of the stored liquid 1 changes, the slider portion 44 also changes in the fluctuation direction accordingly. Move a distance L1 to X.

As shown in FIG. 8B, when the slider portion 44 rises by a distance L1 in the fluctuation direction X, the slider portion 44 is arranged at the position Ps2 adjacent to both the first sensor 82a and the second sensor 82b, and the suction port 24 is arranged. It is in a state of being arranged in the second heating target region R2 to be heated by the second heater unit 52b.

In this way, when the slider unit 44 is detected by the first sensor 82a and the second sensor 82b, the control unit 90 puts the first heater unit 52a in a non-heat generation state (off) as shown in FIG. 9B. ), The second heater section 52b is set to the heat generation state (ON), and the third heater section 52c is set to the heat generation state (ON). As a result, the first heating target region R1 is in a non-heated state, and the second heating target region R2 and the third heating target region R3 are in a heated state.

In this way, the pump device 10 can make the heating state of the heating target region R in which the suction port 24 is arranged different from that of the other heating target region R. As a result, the pump device 10 heats the stored liquid 1 in the heating target region R in which the suction port 24 is arranged, and does not heat the stored liquid 1 in the other heating target region R, or has a relatively low temperature. Warm with. As a result, the pump device 10 heats the stored liquid 1 in the vicinity of the suction port 24 to reduce the viscosity, smoothly pumps out, and the stored liquid 1 that has not yet reached the pumping target area continues to be heated. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the liquid property of the stored liquid 1.

As described above, the pump device 10 has a heating target region R in which the suction port 24 is arranged and a heating target region R in the decreasing direction of the liquid level F, based on the detection information detected by the detection unit 80. Can be controlled to be heated to a higher temperature than the other heating target region R.

As described above, when the slider portion 44 is detected by the second sensor 82b and the third sensor 82c, the suction port 24 is in a state of being arranged in the first heating target region R1. In this case, the first heater unit 52a and the second heater unit 52b can be in a heat generation state (on), and the third heater unit 52c can be in a non-heat generation state (off). As a result, the stored liquid 1 in the vicinity of the suction port 24 arranged in the first heating target region R1 and the stored liquid 1 in the second heating target region R2 in the decreasing direction of the liquid level F are heated, and other heating is performed. It is possible to prevent the stored liquid 1 in the warm target region R from being continuously heated more than necessary.

Further, the pump device 10 determines the position of the suction port 24 based on the detection information detected by the detection unit 80, and the heating target area R in which the suction port 24 is arranged and the heating target adjacent thereto are heated. It is possible to control the heating of the area.

In this way, when the slider portion 44 is detected by the second sensor 82b and the third sensor 82c, the suction port 24 is in a state of being arranged in the first heating target region R1. In this case, the first heater unit 52a and the second heater unit 52b are set to the heat generation state (on), and the third heater unit 52c is set to the non-heat generation state (off). As a result, the stored liquid 1 in the vicinity of the suction port 24 arranged in the first heating target region R1 is heated and the adjacent stored liquid 1 is preheated, so that the stored liquid 1 in the other heating target region R becomes. It is possible to prevent the heating from being continued more than necessary. The pump device of the present invention heats the stored liquid in one heating target region at a position corresponding to the suction port, and preheats or preheats the stored liquid in the heating target region in the direction of decreasing the liquid level. It may be controlled without heating.

Further, in the pump device of the present invention, as the detection unit, a device capable of detecting the displacement amount of the detected member such as an encoder or a limit switch may be used instead of the sensor.

The switching control of the heater unit 52 described above can be similarly applied to the pump device 100 according to the second embodiment described later.

<Second embodiment>
Subsequently, the pump device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The pump device 100 includes a pedestal portion 12, a strut portion 14, a pump portion 20, an elevating device 40, a follow plate 70, a detection unit 80, and a control unit 90. Since these configurations are the same as each configuration of the pump device 10 according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pump device 100 has a container-side heating device 150 and an energization adjusting device 160 in addition to the above configuration.

The container-side heating device 150 of the present embodiment includes four heater units 152. More specifically, the container-side heating device 50 includes a first heater unit 152a, a second heater unit 152b, a third heater unit 152c, and a fourth heater unit 152d. The container-side heating device 150 has a configuration in which these four heater units 152 are arranged in the fluctuation direction X. Further, similarly to the heater unit 52 in the first embodiment, the heater unit 152 is in a heat generation state in which heat is generated when the power is turned on, and is in a non-heat generation state in which heat is not generated when the power is cut off.

The container-side heating device 150 can heat the stored liquid 1 in the four heating target regions R100 by generating heat in each heater unit 152. More specifically, the container-side heating device 150 can heat the stored liquid 1 in the first heating target region R101 by heating the first heater portion 152a. Similarly, the container-side heating device 150 heats the stored liquid 1 in the second heating target region R102 by heating the second heater portion 152b, and heats the third heater portion 152c to generate the third heating. By heating the stored liquid 1 in the heating target region R103 and heating the fourth heater unit 152d to generate heat, the stored liquid 1 can be heated in the heating fourth heating target region R104.

The energization adjustment device 160 is configured to be able to adjust the energization to the four power supply circuits 164 by the two switch units 162 (energization adjustment unit) and the two power supply channels 166. Specifically, the energization adjusting device 160 adopts a so-called two-pole double-throw type switch as the switch unit 162, so that the two power supply circuits 164 can be opened and closed by one operation of the switch unit 162.

Specifically, of the two switch units 162, the first switch unit 162x is connected to the first power supply channel 166a. A power supply circuit 164a connected to the first heater unit 152a is connected to the first pole 162a of the switch unit 162x, and a power supply circuit 164c connected to the third heater unit 152c is connected to the second pole 162c. Therefore, by switching the switch unit 162x, one of the first heater unit 152a and the third heater unit 152c is set to the energized state (heat generation state), and the other is set to the non-energization state (non-heat generation state). Can be done.

Further, the second switch unit 162y is connected to the second power supply channel 166b. A power supply circuit 164b connected to the second heater unit 152b is connected to the first pole 162b of the switch unit 162y, and a power supply circuit 164d connected to the fourth heater unit 152d is connected to the second pole 162d. Therefore, by switching the switch unit 162y, one of the second heater unit 152b and the fourth heater unit 152d is set to the energized state (heat generation state), and the other is set to the non-energized state (non-heat generation state). Can be done.

Since the energization adjusting device 160 has the above-described configuration, the first heater unit 152a and the second heater unit 152b can be changed by changing the combination of the contacts that are in the conductive state in the two switch units 162x and 162y. It is possible to control the energization (heat generation control) of the four heater units 152 including the third heater unit 152c and the fourth heater unit 152d.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first pole 162a is turned on in the first switch unit 162x, the second pole 162c is turned off. Further, when the first pole 162b is turned on in the second switch unit 162y, the second pole 162d is turned off. By operating the switch units 162x and 162y in this way, the pump device 100 energizes the first heater unit 152a and the second heater unit 152b to generate heat, and causes the first heating target region R101 and the second heating target. The reservoir 1 in the region R102 can be heated.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the first pole 162a is turned off in the first switch unit 162x, the second pole 162c is turned on. Further, when the first pole 162b is turned on in the second switch unit 162y, the second pole 162d is turned off. By operating the switch units 162x and 162y in this way, the pump device 100 energizes the second heater unit 152b and the third heater unit 152c to generate heat, and causes the second heating target region R102 and the third heating target. The reservoir 1 in the region R103 can be heated.

Like the pump device 100 of the present embodiment, a multi-throw type switch (two-pole double-throw type switch in the present embodiment) having a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) contacts is adopted as the switch unit 162. As a result, the operation of the heater unit 152 at a location requiring heating can be finely controlled while suppressing the switch unit 162 and the power supply channel 166 to the minimum. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, the device configuration and control method of the pump device 100 can be further simplified.

Although the pump device 10 and the pump device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the heater unit can be switched between a heat generation state (on) and a non-heat generation state (off) by energizing the heater unit (heating unit). The heating state controlled by is not limited to this. For example, the pump device of the present invention may be capable of switching the heat generation state of the heating unit stepwise or steplessly. Specifically, the pump device of the present invention can switch to two or more heat generation states having different temperatures, and if the heated state of a part of the heating target area is different from the heating state of another heating target area. You may let me.

Further, the above-mentioned pump device 10 shows an example in which the container-side heating device 50 is provided in the entire circumferential direction of the container 2, but the pump device of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the container-side heating device of the pump device of the present invention may be provided with a heating device such as a heater unit intermittently around the container 2 in the circumferential direction.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the plate-side heating device 72 is provided on the follow plate 70 side in addition to the container-side heating devices 50 and 150 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the plate is not limited thereto. The side heating device 72 may not be provided. Further, another heating device may be provided in place of the plate-side heating device 72 or in addition to the plate-side heating device 72.

Further, the stored liquid 1 to be pumped by the pump device of the present invention may be contained in a container having any shape. For example, the container may have a circular cross-sectional shape such as a pail can or a drum can, or may have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape such as an Ito can.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the container 2 is movable in the fluctuation direction X and the position of the pump unit 20 is maintained, but the pump device of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pump device of the present invention may maintain the position of the container and may make the pump portion movable. Further, in the pump device of the present invention, both or one of the pump unit and the container-side heating device may be movable by the moving device.

The pump device of the present invention can be suitably used for a pump that pumps out a stored liquid such as a sealing agent or a food material stored in a container such as a pail can.

1 Reservoir 2 Container 10,100 Pump device 20 Pump section 24 Suction port 26 Stator 28 Rotor 40 Lifting device 50, 150 Container side heating device 52, 152 Heater section 60, 160 Energization adjustment device 62, 162 Switch section (energization adjustment) Department)
64,164 Power supply circuit 70 Follow plate 72 Plate side heating device 80 Detection unit 82 Sensor F Liquid level R Heating target area R1, R100 First heating target area R100 Heating target area X Fluctuation direction

Claims (9)

A pump unit that pumps up the stored liquid stored in the container,
A container-side heating device that is placed around the container and heats the stored liquid through the container,
Has a control device
The pump unit can be moved relative to the container in the direction of fluctuation of the liquid level that fluctuates according to the pumping of the stored liquid.
The container-side heating device can change the temperature condition for each of a plurality of heating target regions formed in the fluctuation direction.
The control device is adjacent to the heating target region at a position corresponding to the suction port of the pump unit, the heating target region at a position corresponding to the suction port, and the liquid level decreasing direction with respect to the heating target region. A pump device for operating the container-side heating device so that the temperature is higher than that of the other heating target regions in one or a plurality of heating target regions. The container-side heating device
It is equipped with a plurality of heating units that heat the stored liquid by heat generation.
By making the heat generation states of the plurality of heating portions different, the heating state of one or more of the heating target regions is different from the heating state of the other heating target regions. The pump device according to claim 1. The pump device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container has a moving device capable of moving in the fluctuation direction of the liquid level. It has a plate portion attached to the pump portion and arranged so as to cover the liquid level inside the container.
The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pump portion and the plate portion move in the fluctuation direction in accordance with the fluctuation of the liquid level due to the pumping of the stored liquid. The container-side heating device includes a plurality of heating units that generate heat when energized.
A detection unit that detects the relative position between the container and the pump unit,
It is equipped with an energization adjusting device that adjusts the energizing state of the heating unit.
The energization adjustment device
A power supply circuit that connects each of the heating units provided and the power supply,
It has an energization adjusting unit that adjusts the energizing state of the heating unit.
The energization adjustment is performed by the energization adjustment unit based on the detection information by the detection unit, and the heating unit in the heating target region at the position corresponding to the suction port is located at a position away from the suction port. The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature is higher than that of the heating portion in the heating target region. The energization adjustment unit is provided with a plurality of multi-throw switches having a plurality of contacts.
A power supply circuit corresponding to each of the heating portions is connected to each of the contacts.
The pump device according to claim 5, wherein the energization adjusting unit adjusts energization by changing the combination of contacts to be in a conductive state in the multi-throw switch. It has a detection unit that detects the relative position between the container and the pump unit.
The container-side heating device includes a plurality of heating units that can heat the stored liquid by heat generation.
The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heat generation state of the heating unit is controlled based on the detection information of the detection unit. The heating target region corresponding to the position of the suction port and the heating target region adjacent to the heating target region in the decreasing direction of the liquid level are said to have a higher temperature than the other heating target regions. The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the container-side heating device is operated. The pump unit
A rotor that has a male-screw part that has a male-screw shape and is rotated by transmitting rotational power.
The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pump is a uniaxial eccentric screw pump having a stator having a female screw-shaped through hole into which a male screw portion can be inserted.

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