Sub-quantity scale having an air nozzle along a conveying channel, and a method of operating a sub-quantity scale
A sub-quantity scale and method for transferring a sub-quantity are provided. The scale includes a product feeding device, a product distributing device and a plurality of sub-quantity storage containers for transferring the sub-quantities to a weighing device, from which the sub-quantities pass into a packaging container. The product is fed into the sub-quantity storage containers by using vibration conveyor devices, each of which has a conveying channel and is assigned to one of the sub-quantity storage containers. A nozzle device subjects a conveying surface of the conveying channel to an air flow oriented in the conveying direction. The nozzle device is arranged in a transfer area between the product distributing device and the conveying channel.
1. A sub-quantity scale comprising:
a product feeding device,
a product distributing device, and
a plurality of sub-quantity storage containers for transferring sub-quantities of a product to a weighing device, from which the sub-quantities pass into a packaging container,
vibration conveyor devices, between the product distributing device and the plurality of sub-quantity containers, which feed the product into the sub-quantity storage containers, each of which having a conveying channel and a conveying direction and being assigned to one of the sub-quantity storage containers, and
a nozzle device for subjecting a conveying surface of the conveying channel to an air flow oriented in the conveying direction, wherein the nozzle device is arranged in a transfer area between the product distributing device and the conveying channel, wherein the nozzle device is arranged below a transfer edge of the product distributing device and is recessed against the conveying direction of the conveying channel with respect to the transfer edge, in order to subject the product to the air flow during free fall from the product distributing device into the conveying channel.
2. The sub-quantity scale according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle device is arranged at a placement end of the conveying channel below a projection of the product distributing device, said projection overlapping the placement end and being limited by the transfer edge.
3. The sub-quantity scale according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle device is designed in such a manner that the conveying surface is subjected to the air flow in such a manner that an air cushion is formed on the conveying surface.
4. The sub-quantity scale according to claim 3 , wherein the nozzle device is designed in such a manner that the air flow has a substantially rectangular flow cross-section.
5. The sub-quantity scale according to claim 4 , wherein the nozzle device comprises at least one nozzle having a rectangular nozzle slot.
6. The sub-quantity scale according to claim 4 , wherein the nozzle device comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row and parallel to the conveying surface of the conveying channel.
7. A nozzle device for a sub-quantity scale according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle device forms a modular unit together with the conveying channel.
8. A method comprising:
transferring a sub-quantity of a product fed to a product distributing device by a product feeding device to a sub-quantity storage container, which serves to transfer the sub-quantities to a weighing device, from which the sub-quantities pass into a packaging container, wherein transferring comprises:
feeding the product into the sub-quantity storage containers by vibration conveyor devices, each of which has a conveying channel and a conveying direction and being assigned to one of the sub-quantity storage containers, and
in a transfer area between the product distributing device and the conveying channel, subjecting a conveying surface of the conveying channel to an air flow oriented in the conveying direction by a nozzle device, which is arranged below a transfer edge of the product distributing device and is recessed against the conveying direction of the conveying channel with respect to the transfer edge, in order to subject the product to the air flow during free fall from the product distributing device into the conveying channel.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the air flow is applied in such a manner that an air cushion is formed on the conveying surface of the conveying channel.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the air flow is applied in such a manner that the air flow is formed parallel to the conveying surface of the conveying channel.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the air flow is applied to the conveying surface in a discontinuous manner.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the air flow is applied to the conveying surface as a function of process parameters of the operation of the sub-quantity scale.
13. The method according to claim 12 , comprising applying the air flow while at the same time subjecting the conveying channel to vibrations.