Pumping device and method for conveying viscous media, in particular adhesives

Abstract

The invention includes a pumping device ( 1, 1 a ) and a method for conveying a viscous medium, in particular adhesives. The pumping device ( 1, 1 a ) has a cylinder unit ( 20 ) as well as a piston unit ( 22 ), which is at least partially contained within the cylinder unit ( 20 ), with the cylinder unit ( 20 ) and the piston unit ( 22 ) together forming a conveying means ( 2 ), which operates according to the reciprocating piston principle. The pumping device ( 1, 1 a ) further has at least one drive shaft ( 7 ) communicating with a motor, via which drive shaft ( 7 ) the cylinder unit ( 20 ) and the piston unit ( 22 ) are rotationally movable about a common axis, and the pumping device ( 1, 1 a ) also has a forced guide being mechanically coupled with the conveying means ( 2 ), by means of which forced guide the rotating movement of the conveying means ( 2 ) is convertible into an alternating forward and return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) for the purpose of pumping the respective viscous medium.

1 . A pumping device ( 1 ,  1   a ) for conveying a viscous medium, the pumping device comprising
 a cylinder unit ( 20 ) and a piston unit ( 22 ), which is at least partially contained within the cylinder unit ( 20 ), wherein the cylinder unit ( 20 ) and the piston unit ( 22 ) together form a conveying means ( 2 ), which operates according to the reciprocating piston principle;   at least one drive shaft ( 7 ) being in communication with a motor ( 50 ), wherein the cylinder unit ( 20 ) and the piston unit ( 22 ) are rotationally movable about a common axis via the drive shaft ( 7 ); and   force guide ( 38 ) being mechanically coupled to the conveying means ( 2 ), which force guide ( 38 ) converts the rotating movement of the conveying means ( 2 ) into an alternating forward and return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) for the purpose of pumping a viscous medium,   wherein the piston unit ( 22 ) and at least one connecting rod unit ( 19 ) are directly mechanically coupled with each other via a bearing journal connection ( 17 ), and   wherein the forward and return strokes of the piston unit ( 22 ) are effectable via the connecting rod unit ( 19 ), which is eccentrically movable via an adjustment mechanism ( 30 ) and which has a mechanical coupling to the conveying means ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The pumping device of  claim 1 , in which the piston unit ( 22 ) is guided in the cylinder unit ( 20 ) along a direction oriented approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drive shaft ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . The pumping device of  claim 2 , in which the cylinder unit ( 20 ) of the conveying means ( 2 ) has one or more inlets ( 23 ,  25 ) for the viscous medium, which inlets ( 23 ,  25 ) are oriented approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drive shaft ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . The pumping device of  claim 3 , in which the drive shaft ( 7 ) is torque-proofly in communication with the piston unit ( 22 ) of the conveying means ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The pumping device of  claim 4 , in which the drive shaft ( 7 ) at least partially provides a channel ( 36 ) for transporting the viscous medium, which channel ( 36 ) is in fluidic communication with the piston unit ( 22 ). 
     
     
         6 . The pumping device of  claim 5 , in which the at least one connecting rod unit ( 19 ), is in communication with an eccentrically acting adjustment mechanism ( 30 ) for the purpose of the forward and return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ). 
     
     
         7 . The pumping device of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one casing ( 33 ) which is immovably mounted to a conveyor housing ( 10 ) and has at least one aperture on its top and/or bottom side. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for conveying a viscous medium, comprising:
 rotating a cylinder unit ( 20 ) and a piston unit ( 22 ), which together form a conveying means ( 2 ), where the piston unit ( 22 ) is at least partially contained within the cylinder unit ( 20 ), about a common axis via a drive shaft ( 7 ), wherein a force guide ( 38 ) is mechanically coupled with the conveying means ( 2 ), which force guide ( 38 ), from the rotating movement, transfers an alternating forward and return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) to the conveying means ( 2 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , in which the force guide ( 38 ) effects at least one forward stroke and at least one return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) in the course of a complete rotation of the conveying means ( 2 ) by 360 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the drive shaft ( 7 ) is torque-proofly in communication with the piston unit ( 22 ) and the cylinder unit ( 20 ) is driven by the piston unit ( 22 ) with the rotating movement of the drive shaft ( 7 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the forward and return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) is effected via a connecting rod unit ( 19 ), which is eccentrically moved via an adjustment mechanism ( 30 ) and which has a mechanical coupling to the conveying means ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the forward stroke and the return stroke of the piston unit ( 22 ) are effected with the help of a bearing journal connection ( 17 ), which mechanically couples the cylinder unit ( 20 ) and the connecting rod unit ( 19 ) with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the conveying means ( 2 ) is rotated about an at least approximately vertically oriented axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , in which the viscous medium is conveyed toward an application unit of a labeling device and the viscous medium is applied to objects via the application unit. 
     
     
         16 . The pumping device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one casing ( 33 ) surrounds the entire conveying means ( 2 ). 
     
     
         17 . The pumping device of  claim 16  further comprising at least one application unit for adhesive, which application unit is coupled via fluidic pipe connections to the conveyor housing ( 10 ).