GB2193952A

GB2193952A - Pumping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2193952A
Application number: GB08616194A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Ralph Kirby
Original assignee: ALENTEC ORION Ltd
Current assignee: ALENTEC ORION Ltd
Priority date: 1986-07-02
Filing date: 1986-07-02
Publication date: 1988-02-24
Also published as: GB8616194D0; EP0251781A2; EP0251781A3

Abstract

A pump apparatus for removing viscous material from a container (1) comprises a pump assembly (3) adapted to fit sealingly within the container to extract material from the container beneath a seal of the assembly. A rigid mounting means (4) for the assembly is movable in use upwardly and downwardly on second mounting means (5). The second mounting means (5) are movable in a translational direction along elongate support means (6) to bring the assembly into position for pumping other containers (2). The apparatus enables successive containers to be pumped in quick succession but without any loss in the rigidity of the pumping apparatus. The viscous material may be printing ink, or mastic for car spraying. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB2193952A 1 SPECIFICATION example and with reference to the accom

panying drawing, the single figure of which is Pumping apparatus a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the present invention.

The present invention relates to a pumping 70 Referring now to the drawing, there is apparatus. More particularly, but not exclu- shown a container 1 of material being pumped sively, it relates to an apparatus for pumping and a spare container 2 of material which will viscous material from containers. be pumped at some time when needed in the Although other uses may be envisaged, the future. Additional spare containers may be present invention has been developed for use 75 provided.

in removing printing ink from containers. Such The material is pumped by means of a ink is in general pseudo plastic and difficult to pump assembly comprising a pump 3 which is pump. The established method is to lower adapted to drop within the container 1 under into a topless container a pump assembly its own weight and is fitted with a seal (not comprising a seal adapted to fit the container 80 shown) to force the material within the con and a pump to withdraw material from the tainer to the pump inlet. The pump 3 is beneath the seal. In general, the pump as- mounted to an assembly 4 which is adapted sembly will descend within the container under to slide on rails 5 and, at least in an upward its own weight but means need to be pro- direction, is powerable by means of a motor vided to withdraw the assembly when the 85 (not shown) or hydraulic means.

container has been pumped dry. The vertical rails 5 are adapted to slide Difficulties arise during changeover of con- along elongate horizontal supports 6 which tainers. One method used hitherto has been to can be made as long as desired. There are suspend the pump assembly from a pillar four points of contact between vertical rails 5 about which is is rotatable. This enables at 90 and horizontal supports 6 such that the verti least two containers to be used concurrently cal rails 5 are always held rigidly.

but suffers from a disadvantage that the pump In order to use the apparatus, the vertical assembly cannot be mounted rigidly. This may rails 5 and pump assembly 3, 4 carried cause problems when the pump assembly is thereby are aligned with the container 1. The attempting to descend through the pseudo 95 pump 3 is then actuated and descends under plastic material being pumped. its own weight and by reason of the vacuum More commonly, the pump assembly is sup- created by removal of material beneath it.

ported by means of a pair of vertical stands Meanwhile, one or more other containers 2 so that it may move rigidly upwardly and may be placed against a check rail (not downwardly with respect thereto. This overshown) so that they are in position to be comes the disadvantage of lack of rigidity but acted upon by the pump assembly. When the means that the pump assembly can only be container 1 is empty, the pump assembly is used in one vertical disposition. Thus, in order lifted therefrom by means of the motor or to change containers, the old container must hydraulic means until the seal (not shown) is first be removed and a fresh container be 105 clear of the container.

moved into its place. This requires a certain The entire assembly, including the pump amount of down time which is not always support 4 and vertical rails 5 is then moved convenient. along the elongate support 6 until it is in posi- It is an object of the present invention to tion to cooperate with a full container 2. As provide an apparatus which overcomes the 110 can be seen, this procedure may be repeated above dis-advantages and enables containers as many times as needed, doubtless by which to be pumped in quick succession but without time the empty containers have been replaced any loss in the rigidity of the pumping appara- by further full ones. Every time the pump as tus. sembly comes into operation, it is held rigidly According to the present invention there is 115 and thus will not deviate from a straight for- provided a pump apparatus for removing vis- ward downward path. However, it can easily cous material from containers thereof, the be moved to act on an adjacent container.

apparatus comprising a pump assembly The apparatus may be used in such applica- adapted to fit sealingly within a container to tions as pumping printing inks or for, e.g., extract material from the container beneath a 120 mastic for car spraying. Particularly in the case seal of the assembly, a rigid mounting means of printing inks, it is often desired to provide for the assembly which is movable in use up- cotnainers of several different colours. In such wardly and downwardly on second mounting a case, it is possible to provide elongate sup means, said second mounting means being ports 6 which carry two or more sets of verti movable in a translational direction along elon- 125 cal rails 5 each of which bears a respective gate support means to bring said assembly assembly for a different colour printing ink.

into position for pumping one or more other

Claims

containers. CLAIMS

An embodiment of the present invention will 1. A pump apparatus for removing viscous now be more particularly described by way of 130 material from containers thereof, the apparatus 2 GB2193952A 2 comprising a pump assembly adapted to fit sealingly within a container to extract material from the container beneath a seal of the as sembly, a rigid mounting means for the as sembly which is movable in use upwardly and downwardly on second mounting means, said second mounting means being movable in a translational direction along elongate support means to bring said assembly into position for pumping one or more other containers.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, "1 wherein said second mounting means com prises a pair of substantially vertical rails along 11 which the assembly can move or be moved.
3. An apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said elongate support means comprises a pair of substantially hori zontal rails along which said second mounting means can be moved.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rigid mounting means is adapted to rest on the upper rim of the container at at least some point in the pumping operation.
5. A pumping apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accom panying drawing.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3 RD.

Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.