Patent ID: 6913048

Claim:
An apparatus for coupling first and second storage and/or transport units for transfer of a product from the first unit into a second unit, comprising: the first unit having a first closing flap in a first pipe socket at a first end; the second unit having a second closing flap in a second pipe socket at a second end; a swiveling device and a safety device which move the closing flaps from a closed position into a locked position, and into an open position; in the closed position, the first closing flap tightly closes the first unit off from the atmosphere at the first end and the second closing flap tightly closes the second unit off from the atmosphere at the second end, and at least one of the first and second closing flaps and the first and second pipe sockets are moveable relative to one another; in the locked position the first and second pipe sockets are firmly connected to one another; in the open position at least one of the first and second closing flaps and the first and second pipe sockets are firmly connected to one another where at least one flow-through opening for the product is open from the first unit into the second unit; a single actuation device via which the safety device is driven for changing from the closed position into a locked position where the first and second units are sealed relative to one another and the first and second pipe sockets are firmly joined to one another; and the swivel device being driven for moving into and subsequently moving out of the open position, and subsequently the safety device is driven for changing from the locked position into the closed position.