FR3079509A1 - PUMPING DEVICE FOR A FLUID OR VISCOUS PRODUCT AND STORAGE AND DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF A FLUID OR VISCOUS PRODUCT INTEGRATING IT - Google Patents

Abstract

A pumping device (14) particularly adapted for emptying a storage device comprising a flexible bag, comprises a suction duct (20) at the end of which is a suction member (21) which has a pierced side wall by several suction ports (31, 32, 38), which allows to suck the product contained in the bag without tearing. The suction member (21) is further provided with sieves (33, 34, 39) reversibly attached to the suction ports (31, 32, 38) to prevent portions of the flexible bag from being sucked into the suction ports. These sieves are reversibly fixed in front of the suction holes, which allows the screens to be removed when cleaning the suction holes.

Description

LINK TO A PRIOR APPLICATION The present application constitutes a division of the prior patent application n ° 1254092 filed on May 3, 2012, itself division of the application n ° 0904793 filed on October 7, 2009, the content of which is included here by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a pumping device for the suction of a fluid or viscous product, in particular a fluid or viscous product contained in the storage device. The invention also relates to an assembly for the storage and distribution of a fluid or viscous product.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART Document EP 1 120 357 describes a container for viscous products comprising a flexible bag and a rigid protective envelope. This container is very advantageous because it avoids having to wash the rigid protective envelope and saves money since the same rigid envelope can be used indefinitely. However, in this document, the bag is never completely emptied and the result is that part of the viscous product is unused.

To solve this problem, document EP1783065 proposes a device for storing a fluid product which notably comprises a rigid envelope, a flexible bag and a load distribution flange placed in the rigid envelope, said distribution flange load that can slide substantially vertically inside the rigid envelope. This collar is integral with the pump base used to empty the flexible bag and it descends vertically into the rigid envelope as the fluid is pumped. Thus, in this embodiment, the flexible bag is emptied by crushing by folding back on itself as the collar is lowered into the container. This device allows to have less loss of viscous product. However, there is always a part of the viscous product which remains in the bag and which is therefore lost. In addition, the presence of the collar generates an additional cost in the manufacture of the device. Another drawback of this device lies in the fact that the collar tends not to descend vertically into the container and to become blocked when it descends.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art, and in particular by proposing a device for storing a fluid or viscous product in which it is possible to pump almost all of it. of the fluid or viscous product contained in the device, without using an accessory which adds an additional cost to the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pumping device which makes it possible to optimize the pumping of the fluid or viscous product which it contains.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping device which pumps the fluid or viscous product without damaging the flexible bag which contains it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping device which is easily cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping device which makes it possible to easily suck up the most viscous products.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set of storage and distribution of a fluid product which is inexpensive and which makes it possible to suck up a large quantity of product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process for recovering the fluid or viscous product containing in the storage device according to the invention which is quick and simple.

To do this is proposed, according to a first aspect of the invention, a pumping device comprising a suction duct at the end of which is a suction member, in which the suction member has a wall side pierced by several suction ports.

Advantageously, the suction member is provided with sieves reversibly fixed in front of the suction orifices.

Advantageously, the suction orifices have a diameter between 1 cm and 5 cm.

This pumping device is particularly suitable for emptying the storage device which comprises a flexible bag. Indeed, the suction member is provided with suction ports located on its side wall. Thus, when the suction member is placed at the bottom of the flexible bag, the suction ports allow the product contained in the bag to be suctioned without tearing it.

In addition, to prevent parts of the flexible bag from being sucked into the suction ports, screens are placed in front of the suction ports. These sieves are reversibly attached to the suction ports, allowing the sieves to be removed when cleaning the suction ports.

Furthermore, the side walls of the bowl make it possible to guide the suction member towards the bottom of the bowl when the suction member is introduced into the rigid container according to the invention.

Advantageously, the reversible attachment between the screens and the suction member takes place as follows:

the sieves include a spherical or circular grid and a threaded cylinder with a diameter equal to the diameter of the grid;

the suction ports have a cylindrical wall provided with complementary threads.

Thus, the threaded cylinder allows the screens to be screwed into the suction ports.

This pumping device is preferably a piston pump and preferably a hydraulic oil piston pump. The invention relates in particular to airless pumps fitted with hoses up to 80 ml.

The invention also relates to a pumping device, which is preferably a hydraulic piston pump, which further comprises:

a hydraulic oil inlet hose, a hydraulic oil outlet hose, a pumped product outlet hose, the oil inlet hose, the oil outlet hose and the flexible 'evacuation of the pumped product being arranged to be all parallel with the suction duct.

For this, the oil inlet hose, the oil outlet hose and the hose for discharging the pumped product are preferably included in a linear sheath which is aligned with the suction duct.

In this way, the pumping device comprises a long linear flexible formed by the sheath. This long linear hose can easily slide into an opening. In addition, the fact of placing the hydraulic oil inlet and outlet hoses in the same sheath as the hose for discharging the pumped product, on the one hand makes it possible to cool the inlet and outlet hoses hydraulic oil and on the other hand to heat the hose for discharging the pumped product. The fact of heating the hose for discharging the pumped product makes it possible to fluidize the fluid or viscous product and therefore to facilitate the transit of the fluid or viscous product through the hose for discharging the pumped product.

Advantageously, the sheath which surrounds the three hoses is thermally insulating in order to optimize the heat exchanges between the three hoses.

However, one can also consider replacing the sheath with a link that attaches the oil inlet hose, the oil discharge hose and the hose for discharging the pumped product so that these remain parallel with the suction duct.

Advantageously, the suction member comprises a cylindrical body provided with a rounded end, the cylindrical body being provided with a cavity which passes through the cylindrical body from side to side, the suction orifices being located from side on the other side of the cavity. This geometry of the suction member is particularly suitable for the storage devices according to the invention since it makes it possible to suck all the product stored at the bottom of the bowl well.

The invention also relates to an assembly for the storage and distribution of a fluid or viscous product, in particular of the coated type, comprising:

a device for storing a fluid or viscous product comprising a container which comprises a rigid envelope having a lower part and an open upper part and a rigid bowl situated inside the lower part of the envelope, the bowl comprising a side wall which forms, inside the bowl, an angle between 100 ° and 170 ° with the envelope, and a flat bottom, and a pumping device as described above.

The rigid envelope may be frustoconical or cylindrical and have a symmetry of revolution about a reference axis. In the following, we will designate by "vertical" a direction parallel to this reference axis and by "horizontal", a direction perpendicular to this reference axis.

The angle between the side walls and the envelope is between 100 ° and 170 °, that is to say if we take a vertical plane, which passes through the reference axis and which cuts the rigid envelope, the rigid envelope defines in this plane a first straight line and the side wall of the bowl defines in this plane a second straight line. The first line defined by the rigid envelope and the second right defined by the side wall of the bowl intersect, if one is placed inside the container, at an angle between 100 ° and 170 °.

Advantageously, the angle formed inside the container by the side wall of the bowl and the envelope is between 135 ° and 155 °.

The storage device therefore comprises a rigid bowl disposed at the bottom of the container and the walls of which are inclined at a lesser slope than the walls of the envelope so as to guide the product contained in the container towards the bottom. of the container. The side walls of the bowl therefore allow an accumulation of the product residue at the bottom of the bowl, which facilitates the recovery of the product. In addition, the walls of the bowl, which are oblique, constitute a transition between the walls of the envelope which are substantially vertical and the bottom which is substantially horizontal, so that there is no sharp angle to inside the container and therefore there is no corner in which product residues could accumulate. This container geometry therefore avoids product loss.

Advantageously, the envelope is frustoconical or cylindrical in order to present a minimum of recesses in which the stored product could be housed.

The rigid outer envelope is preferably frustoconical so as to be able to stack the containers on top of each other when they are empty.

Advantageously, the envelope is frustoconical and the bowl has a height such that when two frustoconical envelopes are stacked one in the other, the bowl is between the two frustoconical envelopes without interfering with their stacking. In this way, two stacked frusto-conical envelopes, in which there is no bowl occupy the same space as two stacked frusto-conical envelopes in which there is a bowl.

According to different embodiments:

the envelope and the bowl are made in a single piece, preferably by molding;

the envelope and the bowl are initially two separate parts which are subsequently assembled;

the flat bottom of the bowl can be limited by the side wall of the bowl so that there is no bottom between the shell and the bottom edge of the side wall of the bowl. This embodiment allows savings during the manufacture of the container, since it suffices to produce a cylindrical or frustoconical tubular envelope open at its two ends and to insert the bowl therein;

the flat bottom of the bowl can continue up to the envelope so as to close not only the lower end of the bowl but also the lower end of the envelope. To make a container according to this embodiment, a cylindrical or frustoconical casing closed at one of these ends is preferably produced, closed at a flat bottom, and then a frustoconical bowl open at these two ends is inserted at the bottom of this casing. The flat bottom of the bowl is then constituted by the part of the flat bottom of the envelope which is included inside the side walls of the bowl.

Advantageously, the storage device according to the invention further comprises a waterproof flexible bag capable of containing the fluid or viscous product, the flexible bag being disposed inside the container, the flexible bag being able to marry the walls. inside the container when it contains the fluid or viscous product. In this way, the product is contained in a flexible bag which can be discarded or recycled after use. Thus, the container is not soiled and it can be reused indefinitely.

According to different embodiments:

the flexible bag is made of silicone, which makes it possible to have a bag in which the viscous product does not adhere, which limits the loss of product; in general, any material to which the fluid or viscous product contained in the bag does not adhere can be used preferentially for the production of the bag;

the flexible bag is biodegradable.

In the case where the assembly for storing and distributing a fluid or viscous product is intended to contain a viscous product of the coated type, then the suction member preferably has a planar end of substantially equal dimensions. to those at the bottom of the bowl. Thus, the suction member can descend to the bottom of the bowl and suck up all the product that is at the bottom of the bowl.

The invention also relates to a storage and distribution assembly in which the container further comprises a cover secured to the open upper part of the container, the cover being pierced by an opening capable of being traversed by the member. suction and by part of the sheath, the sheath being able to slide through the opening so that the suction member can descend to the bottom of the bowl.

Thus, the opening of the cover makes it possible to guide the sheath so that the suction member descends vertically in the direction of the bottom of the bowl. In addition, the walls of the bowl also allow the suction member to be guided so that it descends vertically towards the bottom of the bowl.

Advantageously, the sheath is fixed to a strapping ring disposed around the cover, the sheath being fixed so as to allow the suction member to descend to the bottom of the bowl.

The sheath can also be attached to a junction between the cover and the envelope.

According to another embodiment, the invention also relates to a storage and distribution assembly which comprises:

a cylindrical or frustoconical container provided with a pierced lid;

a pumping device according to the invention.

Thus, the opening of the cover guides the pumping member so that the suction member descends vertically towards the bottom of the container.

The invention also relates to a method of emptying a device for storing a fluid or viscous product as described above using pumping means comprising at least one suction duct at the end of which is a suction member, the bag having a free end initially closed, the bag containing a viscous product, the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

Place a lid pierced by an opening on the upper part of the container,

Take out the free end of the bag through the opening,

Open the free end of the flexible bag and introduce the suction device into it,

Tightly seal the free end of the flexible bag around the suction duct,

Aspirate the fluid or viscous product thanks to the suction member which descends towards the bottom of the bowl as the product is aspirated, the suction duct sliding inside the opening until 'until the suction member reaches the bottom of the bowl.

Advantageously, the pumping means consist of a pumping device according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a method of emptying a device for storing a fluid or viscous product as described above using a suction rod as described above, the bag having one end initially closed free, the bag containing a fluid product, the process being characterized in that it comprises the following stages:

Place a lid pierced by an opening on the upper part of the container,

Take out the free end of the bag through the opening,

Open the free end of the flexible bag and introduce the rigid tube so that it descends to the bottom of the bowl,

Tightly seal the free end of the flexible bag around the suction duct using the ring or the collar of the suction rod,

Aspirate the fluid using the rigid tube, the bag being sucked against the suction pipe during the aspiration of the fluid.

The methods according to the invention then preferably include a step of removing the suction rod or means for pumping the bag which takes place once the bag is almost empty.

The methods according to the invention then preferably comprise a step of purifying the bag during which the bag is raised from the bottom of the container by passing through a rolling device which makes it possible to push all the residual product which remained in the bag towards the bottom of the bag. Thus, the residual product is accumulated at the bottom of the bag so as to form a pocket of residual product. The bottom of the residual product pocket is then opened, for example with a cutter or any other cutting product and the residual product is poured into a full bag so as to be reused.

The laminating device according to the invention is preferably constituted by two superposed rollers between which the bag can pass. The distance between the two rollers is chosen according to the product to be recovered.

The laminating device according to the invention is also preferably provided with means making it possible to raise the bag from the bottom of the container through the opening of the lid.

The rolling device according to the invention is preferably secured to the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

Figure 1, a schematic sectional view of a storage device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2, a schematic perspective view of a storage device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3, a schematic sectional view of a storage device according to an embodiment of the invention which comprises a flexible bag;

Figure 4, a schematic side view of a pumping device according to the invention which comprises a suction member;

Figure 5, a schematic side view of the suction member of the pumping device of Figure 4 according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6A, a schematic side view of the suction member of the pumping device of Figure 4 according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6B, a schematic front view of the suction member of the pumping device of Figure 4 according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6C, a schematic side view of a sieve according to the invention;

Figure 7, a schematic side view of a storage and distribution assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8, a schematic side view of the storage and distribution assembly of Figure 7 when it is almost empty;

Figure 9, a schematic side view of a storage and distribution assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10, a schematic view of a suction rod according to the invention;

Figure 11, a schematic view of a storage and distribution assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12, a schematic view of the storage and distribution assembly of Figure 11 after emptying;

Figures 13 to 15, a schematic representation of the stages of purifying the bag of a storage device according to the invention.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT FIG. 1A represents a storage device according to an embodiment of the invention. This storage device consists of a container 1 which extends along a reference axis 2. The container 1 comprises an envelope 3 which is frustoconical around the reference axis 2. The envelope 3 comprises an upper part 3A which is open and a lower part 3B which is closed by a bottom 4 which is planar. Envelope 3 is rigid. The casing 3 is preferably made of high density polyethylene. The casing 3 preferably comprises peripheral ribs 10 for stiffening. The envelope 3 can also be made of any other rigid plastic or metal.

The container 1 also includes a bowl 5 which is inserted inside the lower part 3B of the casing 3. The bowl 5 is frustoconical around the reference axis 2. The bowl 5 is rigid. The bowl 5 is preferably made of high density polyethylene. The bowl 5 can also be made of any other rigid plastic material or metal.

The bowl 5 has side walls 6 and a flat bottom 8. The flat bottom 8 of the bowl 5 is formed here by the part of the bottom 4 of the casing 3 which is between the side walls 6 of the bowl 5.

The side walls 6 of the bowl form with the envelope 3 an angle between 100 and 170 °, which is preferably equal to 140 °, that is to say that if we take a plane which passes through the reference axis 2, for example the plane in which the cut of FIG. IA is made, the envelope 3 cuts this plane by defining a first straight line 3 ′, and the side walls 6 of the bowl 5 cut this plan in a second straight line 6 '. The first straight line 3 ’and the second straight line 6’ intersect at an angle oc equal to 140 °. The angle oc is taken inside the container.

The storage device preferably comprises a cover which closes the upper part 3A of the envelope.

The container 1 of Figure IA can have a capacity of 601, 1001 or 1401. Whatever the capacity of the container 1, the dimensions of the bowl and the opening of the upper part 3A of the envelope does not change, only changes the height of the container. In this way, the bowls of the 601, 1001 or 1401 containers can be produced with a single mold. The only change is the height of the casing 3. According to another embodiment, not shown, the dimensions of the covers are identical for the containers of different capacities. It is then the diameter of the bowl that varies.

Figure IB shows two containers 1a and 1b according to Figure 1 stacked one in the other. Indeed, the containers 1a and 1b are dimensioned so as to save space by stacking them. For this, the outer diameter DI of the bottom 4a of the envelope 3a of the container 1a is equal to the inner diameter D2 of the envelope which is at a height H1 of the bottom 4. Thus, when a first container is stacked the in a second container 1b, the bottom 4a of the envelope of the first container 1a is at a height H1 from the bottom 4b of the envelope of the second container. The bowl 5b of the second container has a height less than or equal to H1 so that the bowl 5b of the second container is entirely comprised between the bottom 4a of the first container 1a and the bottom 4b of the second container 1b. Thus, the bowl 5b does not hinder the stacking of the containers la and lb and the total height of the two containers la and lb stacked is equal whether the containers have a bowl or not.

2 shows a container 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the envelope 3 of the container 1 has no bottom. By cons, the bowl 5 has a bottom 8. Therefore, between the envelope and the bowl, there is no bottom. This embodiment is more economical since it suffices to produce a tubular envelope 3 in which a bowl 5 provided with a bottom 8 is inserted.

Advantageously, the storage device also comprises a flexible bag 9 contained in the container 1. Such a storage device is shown schematically in section in Figure 3. The flexible bag 9 is preferably sufficiently flexible to match the interior walls container 1 when it contains a fluid or viscous product, but strong enough not to tear during transport of the storage device. The flexible bag 9 is airtight so that the fluid or viscous product that it contains does not dry. The flexible bag 9 has a free end 11 which is hermetically closed during storage of the fluid or viscous product. Advantageously, the storage device also comprises a cover 12 which closes the upper part 3A of the container 1. The cover 12 preferably has in its center an opening 13. The opening 13 is located on the reference axis 2.

Figure 4 schematically shows a pumping device 14 according to the invention. This pumping device is particularly suitable for viscous products of the coated type. This pumping device 14 includes a suction pipe 20 at the end of which is a suction member 21. The suction pipe 20 extends along an alignment axis 25. The pumping device 14 also includes a flexible hydraulic oil inlet 22, a hydraulic oil discharge hose 23 and a hose for discharging the pumped product 24. The hydraulic oil hoses 22, hydraulic oil discharge 23 and discharge of the pumped product 24 are arranged so that they are all parallel to the alignment axis 25. The hydraulic oil hoses 22, hydraulic oil discharge 23 and pumped product discharge 24 are surrounded by a sheath 26 which extends along the alignment axis 26. The sheath 26 is thermally insulating and it makes it possible to optimize the heat exchanges between the hoses of arrival and discharge of hydraulic oil from a share, and the product discharge hose being pumped on the other hand. In fact, the hose for discharging the pumped product is rather cold, while the hoses for the delivery and discharge of hydraulic oil are hot. The hydraulic oil inlet and outlet hoses therefore make it possible to heat the hose for discharging the pumped product, which makes it possible to fluidize the pumped product and therefore to improve its transit through the hose for discharging the product. pump. The sheath 26 preferably extends over a length of 2.5 m and it also makes it possible to facilitate the handling of the hoses. The pumping device according to the invention is completely linear and can pass through openings.

A suction member 21 of the pumping device according to the invention is shown more precisely in Figure 5. The suction member 21 also extends along the alignment axis 25. This member suction 21 comprises a cylindrical pump foot 27 under which there is a support 28 which rests on a plate 29. The support 28 is removable and it allows the pump foot 27 to rest at the bottom of a flexible bag without tearing it. To this end, the plate 29 has rounded edges 30 so as not to tear the flexible bag. The plate 29 has larger transverse dimensions than the support 28 so that the side walls of the support 28 are exposed. The pump foot 27 and the support 28 each have suction orifices, respectively 31 and 32. These suction orifices 31 and 32 are located on the side walls of the pump foot 27 and of the support 28. Each orifice 31, 32 is covered with a screen 33, 34 in the form of a grid. The openings of these grids are more or less large depending on the fluid or viscous product to be pumped. The screens 33, 34 are reversibly attached to the suction ports so that they can be removed when cleaning the suction ports.

Figures 6A and 6B show a suction member 21 according to another embodiment, respectively in side view and in front view. This suction member 21 comprises a cylindrical body 35 at the end of which is a rounded end 36. The cylindrical body 35 is traversed right through by a through cavity 37. Two suction orifices 38 are located on either side other of this through cavity 37. Each suction orifice 38 is circular. A screen 39 is located in front of each suction port 38.

A screen 39 is shown more precisely in Figure 6C. The screen 39 consists of a spherical grid 40 at the base of which there is a threaded cylinder 41. The threaded cylinder 41 is intended to be screwed into a complementary thread 42 which is located on the inner wall of the suction orifices 42.

Referring to Figure 7, a set of storage and distribution of a fluid or viscous product according to the invention is described. This storage and distribution unit is particularly well suited to viscous products of the coated type. This assembly comprises a storage device as described with reference to FIG. 3. This storage device comprises a container 1 and a flexible bag 9 which is located inside the container 1. The flexible bag 9 contains a fluid or viscous. The fluid or viscous product is preferably a paint or a coating. The container 1 is closed by a cover 12. The storage and distribution assembly also includes a pumping device 14 as described with reference to FIG. 4.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, a method of emptying the storage and distribution assembly of Figure 7 is described. Initially, the flexible bag 9 contains the product to be pumped and it is closed. First, pull the free end 11 of the flexible bag 9 through the opening 13 of the cover 12 and open it. The pumping device is placed above the storage device so that the reference axis 2 of the container and the alignment axis 25 of the pumping device are merged.

The suction member 21 is then introduced into the flexible bag 9 so that the suction member 21 soaks in the product to be pumped. The free end 11 of the flexible bag is then closed around the suction duct 20 in a sealed manner, by means of a clamp 15. The hoses 20, 22, 23, 24 are all parallel to the alignment axis 25 and therefore they can slide through the opening 13 of the cover 12.

The sheath 26 of the pumping device can be fixed to the junction 16 between the cover 12 and the casing 3 so that the length of the sheath from the junction 16 is large enough for the member suction 21 can descend to the bottom of the bowl.

The suction member 21 is preferably cylindrical, as shown in Figure 5. In this case, the plate 30 of the suction member has a diameter D3 equal to the diameter D4 of the bottom 8 of the bowl . In this way, the suction member 21 can come to rest on the bottom 8 of the bowl 5. The suction member 21 can also be similar to the suction member 21 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B . In this case, the suction member 21 preferably has a body 35 of diameter D5 substantially equal to the diameter D4 of the bottom 8 of the bowl 5.

The suction member 21 sucks the product contained in the flexible bag 9. The product rises through the suction duct 20 and then through the hose for discharging the pumped product 24. The heat produced by the hoses hydraulic oil inlet and outlet 22 and 23 heats the hose for discharging the pumped product and promotes its circulation in the hose for discharging the pumped product 24.

As the product is sucked by the suction member 21, the flexible bag 9 is emptied. The suction member 21 descends into the container 1 in the direction of the bottom of the bowl 5. For this, the sheath 26 slides through the opening 13 until the suction member touches the bottom 4. The opening 13 makes it possible to guide the sheath 26 so that it slides vertically in the direction of the bottom of the container. The descent of the suction member ends when there is almost no product left in the flexible bag and the suction member touches the bottom 4 of the bowl. The product is then concentrated in the bowl 5, as shown in Figure 8, and the suction member 21 finishes sucking the remaining product until it touches the bottom of the bowl.

When the suction member is at the bottom of the bowl, the sieves prevent the flexible bag from being damaged by suction or that the ends of the flexible bag are sucked.

Once the suction is complete, the flexible bag 9 is empty. It is then enough to reassemble the suction member by pulling on the sheath from outside the container. The flexible bag, which is always integral with the suction duct then rises with the suction member through the opening 13. Once removed from the container, the flexible bag can be detached from the suction duct. If there is still some product in the flexible bag, it can then be passed through rollers to recover the product residue. The flexible bag can then be reprocessed separately or discarded. The container is always kept clean and can be used again and again.

We can then open the cover of the storage device and replace an empty flexible bag inside the container. The new flexible bag can then be filled and sealed. The cover can then be replaced and the emptying method described above can again be used.

Between two product aspirations, the screens of the pumping device can be removed from the suction member so that the suction ports can be cleaned.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment in which the sheath of the pumping device is not fixed to the junction between the cover and the container but suspended thanks to a rolling gantry 17 which vertically guides the sheath 26. The rolling gantry can be provided with a device making it possible to lower the suction member through the opening 13. In this case, the container 1 may not have a cover since it is the rolling gantry which provides the guidance vertical of the suction member. This embodiment is particularly suitable for heavy pumps.

One can also consider suspending the sheath from the roof of a vehicle with an elastic which must be flexible enough to allow the descent of the suction member into the container and rigid enough to hold the member. right suction when it touches the bottom of the bowl.

FIG. 10 represents a suction rod according to an embodiment of the invention. This suction rod 50 comprises a rigid tube 51 pierced at its end with a suction port 52. The pierced end of the rigid tube is covered with a strainer 53 which completely surrounds the end of the tube and makes it possible to prevent impurities from entering the rigid tube. The suction pipe also includes a suction pipe 54 through which the pumped product passes. The suction rod also comprises a ring 55 fixed to the suction duct at a chosen distance from the pierced end of the tube 51.

The suction rod is connected to a pump (not shown) which makes it possible to raise the pumped product through the tube and the suction duct. This suction pipe is preferably used to pump relatively fluid paint-type products.

Figures 11 and 12 show a storage and distribution assembly according to another embodiment of the invention which is particularly suitable for low viscosity paint type products. A method of emptying a bag is also described with reference to these figures.

This storage and distribution assembly includes a storage device according to the invention which comprises a container 1 in which there is a bag 9. The bag 9 is filled with paint to be pumped. This storage and distribution assembly also comprises a suction rod 50 as shown in FIG. 10. The suction rod 50 is introduced into the bag 9 so that the end of the rigid tube, or in l occurrence the part of the strainer which protects the end of the rigid tube, touches the bottom of the bowl 5. The free end 11 of the bag is then closed hermetically around the suction duct 54 thanks to the ring 55 so that the free end 11 of the bag is maintained at a given height H from the bottom of the bowl 5. The fixing of the free end 11 of the bag is sufficiently solid so that the free end of the bag remains at the height H when pumping the product contained in the bag.

The product is then pumped using the suction rod. During this pumping, the walls of the bag are sucked against the suction rod as can be seen in Figure 12 thanks to a "suction cup" effect. Once a maximum amount of product has been pumped, the suction rod is removed from the bag 9.

The product residue remaining in the bag is then recovered according to additional steps of the method according to the invention which are illustrated in Figures 13 to 15. These additional steps can also be applied to the method described with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

To perform these additional steps, the storage and distribution assembly according to the invention preferably comprises a laminating device 56 consisting of two rollers 57 and 58 and a crank 59. The spacing between the two rollers is chosen so that the bag can pass through the two rollers. In addition, the distance between the two rollers should not be too great so that the passage of the bag between the two rollers pushes the residue of product at the bottom of the bag. To facilitate the entry of the bag, an articulation can be provided between the two rollers 57 and 58.

To perform these steps, the storage and distribution assembly according to the invention preferably includes a cover 12 disposed on the container 1, the cover being pierced by an opening 13 sufficiently wide for the bag 9 containing the residue of product can pass through this opening. The laminating device 56 can be integral with the cover 12 or it can be fixed on the cover when it is desired to purify the residual product contained in the bag.

Thus, once the suction rod or the pumping device removed from the bag, the free end 11 of the bag is slid through the rolling device, as shown in FIG. 13. The crank 59 is then actuated so as to raise the bag 9 from the bottom of the bowl 5 by passing it between the two rollers 57, 58. Thus, during the passage of the bag between the two rollers, the residual product contained in the bag is pushed back towards the bottom of the bag as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14.

When all of the residual product has been pushed back to the bottom of the bag, the “bag / laminating device / cover” assembly is removed from container 1 and placed on top of another container full of product as shown in FIG. figure 15. The bottom of the bag is then opened, for example with a cutter, so that the product residue is poured into the new bag. Thus, these steps allow a minimum loss of product.

Claims (10)

1. Pumping device (14) comprising a suction duct (20) at the end of which is a suction member (21), characterized in that: the suction member (21) has a pierced side wall by several suction ports (31, 32, 38). 2. Pumping device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction member (21) is further provided with screens (33, 34, 39) reversibly fixed in front of the suction ports ( 31, 32, 38). 3. Pumping device (14) according to claim2, characterized in that: the screens (33, 34, 39) comprise a spherical or circular grid (40) and a threaded cylinder (41) of diameter equal to the diameter of the grid (40); the suction ports (31, 32, 38) have a cylindrical wall provided with complementary threads (42). 4. Pumping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pumping device (14) is a piston pump. 5. Pumping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises: a hydraulic oil inlet hose (22), a hydraulic oil outlet hose (23), a pumped product outlet hose (24), the oil inlet hose (22), the oil drain hose (23) and the pumped product drain hose (24) being arranged to be parallel with the suction duct (20). 6. Pumping device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the oil inlet hose (22), the oil discharge hose (23) and the hose for discharging the pumped product (24) are contained in a sheath aligned with the suction duct. 7. Pumping device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction member (21) comprises a body (35) cylindrical provided with a rounded end (36), the body (35) cylindrical being provided with a cavity (37) which passes through the cylindrical body (35) right through, the suction orifices (38) being located on either side of the cavity [37). 8. Storage and distribution assembly for a fluid or viscous product comprising: a device for storing a fluid or viscous product comprising a container (1) which comprises: i. a rigid envelope (3) having a lower part (3B) and an open upper part (3A), ii. a rigid bowl (5) located inside the lower part (3A) of the casing (3), the bowl (5) comprising iii. side walls (6) which form an angle (oc) of between 100 ° and 170 ° with the envelope (3), and iv. a flat background (8). v. a flexible flexible bag (9) for containing the fluid or viscous product, the flexible bag (9) being disposed inside the container (1), the flexible bag (9) being able to fit inside the container (1 ) when it contains the fluid or viscous product. a pumping device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, the suction member (21) having a flat end of dimensions substantially equal to those of the flat bottom (8) of the bowl (5). 9. Storage and distribution assembly according to claim 8, the pumping device of which is at least according to claim 6, characterized in that the container (1) further comprises a cover (12) integral with the upper part (3A) open of the container, the cover (12) being pierced by an opening (13) capable of being traversed by the suction member (21) and by a part of the sheath (26), the sheath (26) being suitable to slide through the opening (13) so that the suction member (21) can descend to the bottom of the bowl (5). 10 10. Storage and distribution assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sheath (26) is fixed to a strapping ring disposed around the cover (12), the sheath (26) being fixed so as to allow the lowering of the suction member (21) at the bottom of the bowl (5).