Compounding device and compounding method

Abstract

This invention provides a mixing device and a mixing method. The mixing device includes: a mixing chamber containing a stirring element; and two material cylinders, each connected to the mixing chamber. Each material cylinder contains a pusher element, which is movable along its height to expel material from the cylinder into the mixing chamber. During the mixing process, the pushers in the two material cylinders move alternately, causing the material to flow back and forth through the stirring element in the mixing chamber, thereby achieving mixing. This invention addresses the problems of incompatibility with materials such as medical-grade silicone, resulting in uneven mixing and high residue levels in existing technologies.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mixing equipment technology, and more specifically, to a mixing device and a mixing method. Background Technology

[0002] Among existing adhesive mixing equipment, static mixing tubes, impeller-type mixing equipment, and planetary mixers are the three most commonly used types. When mixing multi-component medical-grade silicone and other materials, the high price of medical-grade silicone, with a single-use quantity of only about 2g, makes static mixing tubes unsuitable. Static mixing tubes leave 5-10g of residue after mixing, and being disposable plastic tubes with unwashable structures, they are not suitable for this purpose. Impeller-type mixing equipment is only suitable for materials with low viscosity; medical-grade silicone, being a paste-like, highly viscous substance, cannot be thoroughly mixed using an impeller. Planetary mixers generate significant heat during the mixing process for high-viscosity colloids, which can cause reactions in medical-grade silicone, which is thermosetting. Furthermore, planetary mixers cannot generate sufficient shear force for high-viscosity colloids, leading to incomplete mixing. If manual mixing is used instead of equipment, individual differences in technique make it difficult to guarantee consistency in batch production, and the high viscosity results in a very strenuous workload.

[0003] There is currently no effective solution to the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a mixing device and a mixing method to solve the problems of incompatibility with materials such as medical silicone, uneven mixing, and high residue in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present invention, a mixing device is provided, comprising: a mixing bin, wherein a stirring element is disposed within the mixing bin; and two material cylinders, each material cylinder being connected to the mixing bin, each material cylinder being provided with a pusher element, the pusher element being movably disposed along the height direction of the material cylinder to expel material from the material cylinder into the mixing bin; wherein, during the mixing process, the pusher elements in the two material cylinders move alternately to cause the material to flow back and forth through the stirring element in the mixing bin, thereby achieving mixing.

[0006] Furthermore, the mixing component includes a main shaft and mixing blades disposed on the main shaft. The main shaft extends along the length of the mixing bin. After the material enters the mixing bin, it flows through the mixing component to achieve mixing.

[0007] Furthermore, the stirring blades include helical stirring blades.

[0008] Furthermore, the volume of the material cylinder is set to be larger than that of the mixing silo.

[0009] Furthermore, the mixing device also includes: a base, on which a controller is provided; a first drive assembly, the output end of which is connected to the pusher of one of the material cylinders, the first drive assembly being used to drive the pusher of one of the material cylinders to move; a second drive assembly, the output end of which is connected to the pusher of another material cylinder, the second drive assembly being used to drive the pusher of the other material cylinder to move; wherein, the controller is electrically connected to the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, the first drive assembly includes a first cylinder and a first pneumatic push rod, the first pneumatic push rod being connected to a pusher of one of the material cylinders, and the second drive assembly includes a second cylinder and a second pneumatic push rod, the second pneumatic push rod being connected to a pusher of the other material cylinder.

[0011] Furthermore, the base is also equipped with a display panel, which is used to display at least one of the following: mixing frequency, mixing times, and material capacity.

[0012] Furthermore, the base is also equipped with control components, which are used to adjust at least one of the mixing frequency, mixing amount, and mixing times.

[0013] Furthermore, at least one material cylinder is connected to the mixing bin via a quick-release assembly.

[0014] Furthermore, the pusher component is a piston.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a mixing method is provided, the mixing method being performed based on the above-described mixing device, the mixing method comprising the following steps: acquiring mixing information, the mixing information including at least the number of reciprocations and the reciprocation frequency; generating a control instruction set based on the mixing information, the control instruction set being used to control the pushing components of two material cylinders to reciprocate so that the material flows through the stirring component in the mixing chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, before obtaining the mixing information, the mixing method also includes: obtaining material information, which at least includes the material type and the material quantity; and determining the mixing information based on the material information.

[0017] Furthermore, before generating the control instruction set, the method also includes: loading material into either of the two material cylinders, keeping the other of the two material cylinders empty, and pushing the pusher of the other of the two material cylinders to the bottom.

[0018] Applying the technical solution of this invention, two material cylinders are respectively connected to both ends of a mixing chamber. Pushers are installed inside the material cylinders. When the pusher on one side of the material cylinder moves forward, the material is pushed into the mixing chamber and stirred. The pushers on both sides move alternately back and forth, compressing the material. The material passes through the mixing chamber, and this repeated motion achieves mixing within the chamber, improving the uniformity of the material. This reciprocating motion causes the material to repeatedly pass through the stirring area in the center of the mixing chamber, greatly increasing the residence time and mixing path length. The material repeatedly passes through the stirring components within the mixing chamber, and the repeated stirring significantly improves mixing efficiency. The two material cylinders work alternately, and the pushers can be pushed completely to the bottom, reducing material residue. Simultaneously, this device only requires repeated pushing of the pushers, resulting in a simple structure and movement. It generates almost no heat during the mixing process, making it more suitable for mixing materials such as medical-grade silicone. This application's embodiment solves the problems of existing mixing devices being unsuitable for materials such as medical-grade silicone, resulting in uneven mixing and high residue levels. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the mixing apparatus according to the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the mixing method according to the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the mixing method according to the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the mixing method according to the present invention is shown.

[0024] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0025] 10. Mixing silo;

[0026] 20. Mixing components;

[0027] 21. Spiral stirring blade;

[0028] 30. Material cylinder;

[0029] 31. Pusher component;

[0030] 40. Base;

[0031] 41. Compressed air pipe;

[0032] 50. First driving component;

[0033] 51. First pneumatic push rod;

[0034] 60. Second drive component;

[0035] 61. Second pneumatic push rod;

[0036] 70. Display panel;

[0037] 80. Control components;

[0038] 90. Quick-release components. Detailed Implementation

[0039] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0040] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0041] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0042] Exemplary embodiments according to this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, for clarity, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same devices, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0043] Existing mixing equipment has the following disadvantages:

[0044] (1) 5-10g of silicone will remain in the mixing tube during the mixing process. Since medical silicone is very expensive and the amount used at one time is only about 2g, it is not suitable for this method.

[0045] (2) The impeller-type mixing equipment is only suitable for materials with low viscosity. The medical silicone we use is a paste-like high viscosity material, which cannot be fully mixed by the impeller.

[0046] (3) The planetary mixer uses the shear force formed by self-rotation and revolution to mix. The mixing process of high viscosity glue will generate a lot of heat. The medical silicone we use is thermosetting and will react. Moreover, due to its high viscosity, the central part cannot flow effectively and the mixing is uneven.

[0047] (4) Currently, we use manual stirring, but due to differences in individual techniques, we cannot guarantee the consistency of mass production. Furthermore, due to the high viscosity, the workload is very heavy.

[0048] Combination Figure 1 As shown, according to a specific embodiment of this application, a mixing device is provided.

[0049] Specifically, the mixing device includes: a mixing bin 10, in which a stirring element 20 is provided; and two material cylinders 30, each of which is connected to the mixing bin 10. Each material cylinder 30 is provided with a pusher 31, which is movable along the height direction of the material cylinder 30 to squeeze the material in the material cylinder 30 into the mixing bin 10. During the mixing process, the pushers 31 in the two material cylinders 30 move alternately so that the material flows back and forth through the stirring element 20 in the mixing bin 10, thereby achieving mixing.

[0050] Applying the technical solution of this embodiment, two material cylinders 30 are respectively connected to both ends of the mixing chamber 10. A pusher 31 is provided inside the material cylinder 30. When the pusher 31 of one side of the material cylinder 30 moves forward, the material is pushed into the mixing chamber 10 and stirred in the mixing chamber 10. The pushers 31 on both sides move back and forth alternately, squeezing the material. The material passes through the mixing chamber 10, and the material is mixed in the mixing chamber 10 through repeated reciprocating motion, which improves the uniformity of the material. This reciprocating motion makes the material repeatedly pass through the stirring area in the center of the mixing chamber 10, which greatly increases the residence time and mixing path length of the material in the mixing chamber 10. The material flows back and forth through the stirring component 20 in the mixing chamber 10, which significantly improves the mixing efficiency. The two material cylinders 30 work alternately, and the pusher 31 can be pushed completely to the bottom, reducing the amount of material residue. At the same time, this device only needs to repeatedly push the pusher 31 to move. The entire device has a simple structure and simple movement. It hardly generates heat during the mixing process, making it more suitable for mixing materials such as medical silicone. The embodiments of this application solve the problems of existing mixing devices being unsuitable for materials such as medical silicone, resulting in uneven mixing and excessive residue.

[0051] In this embodiment, the material can be a gel-like substance, such as medical-grade silicone; in other embodiments, it can be any other fluid material. The pusher 31 can be a piston or any movable component.

[0052] Specifically, the mixing component 20 includes a main shaft and mixing blades disposed on the main shaft. The main shaft extends along the length of the mixing chamber 10. After the material enters the mixing chamber 10, it flows through the mixing component 20 to achieve mixing.

[0053] In this embodiment, the main shaft extends along the length of the stirring component 20 and is fixedly connected to both ends of the mixing chamber 10, so that the stirring blades form a continuous channel in the chamber. When the material flows through, it is continuously divided and rotated by the stirring blades, so that no matter where the material is in the mixing chamber 10, it is subjected to a consistent shear force, thereby achieving radial uniform mixing of the entire cross section without dead angles, which significantly improves the mixing uniformity.

[0054] In this embodiment, two material cylinders 30 are located at the two ends of the mixing chamber 10. The alternating movement of the pusher 31 causes the material to reciprocate along the entire length of the mixing chamber 10. By pushing and pulling the pusher 31, all the material in the mixing chamber 10 is forced to pass through the high shear area of ​​the agitator 20, so that all the material participates in the mixing cycle, completely eliminating the mixing dead zone and ensuring the absolute uniformity of the mixing process.

[0055] Preferably, the stirring blades include a spiral stirring blade 21.

[0056] Preferably, the stirring blades are integrally molded. The spiral stirring blades 21 are made of plastic, but can also be made of stainless steel, and can be disposable or reusable.

[0057] In this embodiment, the spiral stirring blade 21 extends continuously in a spiral along the axial direction. When the pusher 31 of the left material cylinder 30 moves forward, the pusher 31 of the right material cylinder 30 moves backward, and vice versa. When the pusher 31 of the left material cylinder 30 moves backward, the pusher 31 of the right material cylinder 30 moves forward. When the material is pushed into the mixing chamber 10 by the pusher 31, the spiral stirring blade 21 divides the material into multiple thin layers circumferentially. The spiral structure causes each layer of material to rotate along the spiral trajectory, further improving the uniformity of mixing. Specifically, the spiral stirring blade 21 has no bearings or rotating shaft, avoiding the risk of wear.

[0058] Furthermore, the volume of the material cylinder 30 is set to be larger than the volume of the mixing bin 10.

[0059] In this embodiment, by making the volume of the material cylinder 30 larger than the volume of the mixing bin 10, the material in the material cylinder 30 can be quickly extruded and passed through the mixing bin 10. The material cylinders 30 operate alternately, and the material can pass through the smaller mixing bin 10 multiple times within a certain period of time, thereby making the material quickly and thoroughly mixed. In addition, setting the volume of the mixing bin 10 to be smaller can also reduce the amount of material remaining in the mixing bin 10 during the mixing process, thereby improving the utilization rate of the material.

[0060] In this embodiment, the diameter of the mixing hopper 10 is 3-5mm, specifically 3mm, 4mm, or 5mm, and the length is 4-6mm, specifically 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm. The volume of the material cylinder 30 can be 5ml, 10ml, 20ml, or 50ml. Different volumes of material cylinder 30 can be selected based on the amount of material to be mixed. For example, a 5ml material cylinder 30 can be used to mix 2g of material, and a 30ml material cylinder 30 can be used to mix 20g of material. Specifically, the material cylinder 30 can be a custom-made product with a Luer connector. In other embodiments, the dimensional parameters of the material cylinder 30 and the mixing hopper 10 can also be adaptively adjusted according to different usage requirements. Specifically, the mixing device also includes a base 40, a first drive assembly 50, and a second drive assembly 60. The base 40 is equipped with a controller. The output end of the first drive assembly 50 is connected to the pusher 31 of one of the material cylinders 30, and the first drive assembly 50 is used to drive the pusher 31 of one of the material cylinders 30 to move. The output end of the second drive assembly 60 is connected to the pusher 31 of the other material cylinder 30, and the second drive assembly 60 is used to drive the pusher 31 of the other material cylinder 30 to move. The controller is electrically connected to the first drive assembly 50 and the second drive assembly 60.

[0061] In this embodiment, the base 40 can precisely fix the installation positions of the first drive component 50 and the second drive component 60, ensuring that the movement axes of the two pushers 31 are aligned, avoiding jamming of the pushers 31, deformation of the material cylinder, or imbalance of the mixing ratio caused by installation misalignment, and effectively avoiding vibration and shaking generated during reciprocating motion. The first drive component 50 and the second drive component 60 independently drive the pushers 31 of the two material cylinders 30, and the two are controlled by a controller. When the first drive component 50 pushes the left pusher 31 forward to expel material, the second drive component 60 is in a pull-back state. When the left pusher 31 reaches the end of its stroke, the controller immediately instructs the second drive component 60 to advance forward, while the first drive component 50 retracts, realizing a precise alternating reciprocating motion of "push-pull-push-pull", ensuring that the stroke, speed, and duration of each reciprocating flow of material in the mixing chamber 10 are completely consistent, avoiding uneven pushing force caused by manual operation, and ensuring the consistency of the cycle during the mixing process.

[0062] Preferably, the base 40 is made of high-strength, high-rigidity stainless steel.

[0063] Specifically, the first drive assembly 50 includes a first cylinder and a first pneumatic push rod 51, the first pneumatic push rod 51 being connected to the pusher 31 of one of the material cylinders 30, and the second drive assembly 60 includes a second cylinder and a second pneumatic push rod 61, the second pneumatic push rod 61 being connected to the pusher 31 of the other material cylinder 30.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first drive assembly 50 and the second drive assembly 60 respectively adopt a "cylinder + pneumatic push rod" structure and are directly connected to the pusher 31 of the corresponding material cylinder 30. The first drive assembly 50 and the second drive assembly 60 use compressed air as a power source, eliminating the risk of electric sparks and electromagnetic interference, avoiding electrical safety hazards, and are suitable for medical clean rooms and strong magnetic field environments. The first pneumatic push rod 51 and the second pneumatic push rod 61 drive the pusher 31 to move through the linear expansion of compressed air in the cylinder. The air pressure in the cylinder can be controlled, the acceleration is relatively gentle, the thrust is stable, the response is fast, and there is no vibration, ensuring the stability of the mixing process. By using two independent cylinders and pneumatic push rods to drive the left and right material cylinders 30 respectively, the inlet pressure, flow rate, and exhaust speed of the first and second cylinders can be adjusted respectively, realizing the independent adjustment of the thrust and speed of the two pusher 31.

[0065] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, buffer pads or throttle valves can be integrated at both ends of the first cylinder and the second cylinder to achieve a soft landing at the end, effectively avoiding the impact of the pusher 31 movement on the material cylinder 30 and the mixing bin 10.

[0066] Preferably, a compressed air pipe 41 is provided on the base 40.

[0067] In this embodiment, compressed air in the compressed air pipe 41 is used for pneumatic drive to provide power to the first drive assembly 50 and the second drive assembly 60.

[0068] Preferably, the base 40 is further provided with a display panel 70, which is used to display at least one of the following: mixing frequency, mixing times, and material capacity.

[0069] In this embodiment, the display panel 70 displays key parameters in real time (e.g., frequency: 1.2Hz, number of times: 8 / 10, amount of adhesive: 2.0mL), making the operation threshold clear at a glance, avoiding the imbalance of adhesive ratio caused by human error, and improving the completion rate of high-precision mixing operations.

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, the display panel 70 displays not only the set value but also the remaining amount. When mixing is nearing completion, the panel may flash or change color to indicate that the process is about to end, allowing the operator to prepare in advance, avoiding uneven mixing due to insufficient mixing cycles, and improving the efficiency of the mixing process.

[0071] Specifically, the base 40 is also provided with a control operation element 80, which is used to adjust at least one of the mixing frequency, mixing amount, and mixing times.

[0072] In this embodiment, different materials have different viscosities and curing characteristics. The optimal mixing parameters (such as frequency, number of times, and material volume) can be customized manually. The control operation component 80 allows the operator to adjust the number of mixing times. For high-viscosity and difficult-to-mix materials, the number of mixing times can be increased to ensure uniform mixing. For heat-sensitive materials, the mixing frequency can be reduced to reduce shear heat accumulation. The material can be precisely controlled according to actual needs, avoiding waste and meeting the needs of diverse materials and application scenarios.

[0073] Specifically, at least one material cylinder 30 is connected to the mixing bin 10 via a quick-release assembly 90.

[0074] In one exemplary embodiment of this application, the quick-release assembly 90 includes a connecting seat, an adapter, an elastic seal, and an operating handle. The user aligns the material cylinder 30 with the mixing chamber 10 using the operating handle, inserts the adapter into the connecting seat until the seal contacts the sealing surface, and finally rigidly fixes the adapter to the connecting seat to prevent loosening. The design of the quick-release assembly 90 allows the user to easily and quickly detach the entire mixing chamber 10 from the material cylinder 30. The detached mixing chamber 10 can be placed independently and cleaned using ultrasonic cleaning, high-pressure spraying, or manual brushing to ensure that all surfaces, including the inner wall of the flow channel and the gaps in the spiral blades, are fully contacted by the cleaning fluid.

[0075] In this embodiment, the quick-release component 90 makes it easy to separate the material cylinder 30 from the mixing chamber 10. The operator can remove the entire material cylinder 30. Some residual colloid remains in the material cylinder 30, eliminating the need for difficult cleaning operations on the material cylinder 30. The interior of the mixing chamber 10 and the spiral stirring blade 21 remain clean, with only the material cylinder 30 being contaminated, thus avoiding contamination of the mixing chamber 10 and significantly improving cleaning efficiency. After mixing is completed, the material cylinder 30 can be discarded, avoiding secondary contamination and the risk of reuse. The quick-release component 90 is compatible with material cylinders 30 of various capacities. After replacing the material cylinder 30, there is no need to recalibrate or adjust the drive parameters, greatly improving the utilization rate of the mixing device.

[0076] In other embodiments, the quick-release assembly 90 may also be a threaded sealing ring structure, i.e., the material cylinder 30 and the mixing bin 10 are threadedly connected and sealed between them by a sealing ring; or the quick-release assembly 90 may also be a conical sleeve and a conical rod structure, i.e., one of the material cylinder 30 and the mixing bin 10 is a conical sleeve structure and the other is a conical rod structure, which are inserted and sealed by a sealing ring; or the quick-release assembly 90 includes a ball pin and a sealing ring, i.e., the material cylinder 30 and the mixing bin 10 are inserted and locked by a ball pin, and sealed between them by a sealing ring.

[0077] According to another specific embodiment of this application, a mixing method is also provided, the mixing method being performed based on the above-described mixing apparatus, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the mixing method includes the following steps:

[0078] Step S10: Obtain mixing information, which includes at least the number of reciprocating cycles and the reciprocating frequency;

[0079] Step S20: Based on the mixing information, a control instruction set is generated. The control instruction set is used to control the pusher 31 of the two material cylinders 30 to reciprocate so that the material flows back and forth through the agitator 20 in the mixing bin 10.

[0080] In step S10, the number of reciprocations and the reciprocation frequency of the pusher 31 can be obtained in real time and accurately through a high-precision displacement sensor or encoder, ensuring that each mixing process is executed precisely according to the preset number of times, and that the speed of each reciprocating motion is stable and controllable, avoiding bubbles caused by excessive frequency or uneven mixing caused by excessive frequency, thus significantly improving the product qualification rate.

[0081] In step S20, the control instruction set can be used to control the reciprocating frequency, the number of reciprocating cycles, the stroke of the pusher, etc., and can control the shearing rate. By controlling the timing, speed, displacement, and pressure of the movement of the two pushers 31 with high precision, a stable and orderly reciprocating motion is formed in the mixing bin. Through the instruction set, the mixing efficiency and mixing uniformity are significantly improved.

[0082] Based on steps S10 to S20, by obtaining the number of reciprocations and the reciprocation frequency of the pusher 31 in real time and accurately, it is ensured that each mixing process is executed precisely according to the preset number of times, and the speed of each reciprocating motion is stable and controllable, which significantly improves the mixing efficiency and mixing uniformity.

[0083] like Figure 3 As shown, in step S10, before obtaining the mixing information, the mixing method further includes:

[0084] Step S11: Obtain material information, which includes at least the material type and the material quantity.

[0085] Step S12: Determine the mixing information based on the material information.

[0086] In step S11, different types of materials have different viscosities and curing temperatures. By determining the type of material, the optimal process can be determined. By determining the amount of material, the number of mixing cycles can be determined. The mixing device can adjust parameters according to different material information to ensure uniform mixing each time.

[0087] In step S12, the material information includes viscosity, density, curing temperature, etc., and the mixing information includes mixing frequency, number of times, etc. By obtaining the material information and mixing information, uniform mixing of materials can be achieved, reducing the reliance on manual operation.

[0088] Based on steps S11 to S12, by determining the type and quantity of materials, the optimal process and the number of mixing cycles can be determined, achieving uniform mixing of materials and reducing reliance on manual operation.

[0089] It should be understood that the controller can pre-store the determination model of material information and mixing information. For example, by pre-setting the calculation model of material type, material quantity and corresponding mixing information, the mixing information can be automatically determined based on the acquired material information.

[0090] The material information can be input by the user through the control components set on the mixing device, or by a remote control terminal. The remote control terminal can be any terminal that communicates with the controller, such as a mobile phone, tablet, remote control, or computer. Alternatively, the material information can be automatically read by the detection mechanism set on the mixing device. The detection mechanism can obtain the material information through various detection methods. For example, it can obtain material images through a camera to determine the type and quantity of the material, or it can determine the quantity of the material through sensors inside the material cylinder.

[0091] In S20, before generating the control instruction set, the method further includes: loading material into either of the two material cylinders 30, keeping the other of the two material cylinders 30 empty, and pushing the pusher 31 of the other of the two material cylinders 30 to the bottom.

[0092] In this embodiment, by pushing the pusher 31 of the empty material cylinder 30 to the bottom, there is no air cavity inside the material cylinder 30, thus avoiding the generation of air bubbles. After the mixing is completed, the empty cylinder is convenient for holding the mixed material. During the reciprocating motion, the material is only pushed out from the loaded material cylinder 30, passes through the mixing chamber 10, and enters the empty cylinder, ensuring that all the material is discharged without any residue.

[0093] According to another specific embodiment of this application, an electronically controlled pneumatic device is also provided for mixing materials. In this embodiment, the device is primarily used for mixing two-component medical-grade silicone.

[0094] Specifically, the pneumatic device in this embodiment includes two material cylinders 30. The pneumatic device is controlled by an electronic control system to reciprocate and compress the internal silicone. The two-component silicone is uniformly mixed through the spiral blades in the mixing chamber 10 between the two material cylinders 30.

[0095] The mixing chamber 10 and the material cylinder 30 have a large volume difference. The silicone is repeatedly mixed in the two material cylinders 30, reducing the amount of colloid remaining in the mixing chamber 10. The mixing chamber 10 contains only two or three spiral blades, which are relatively short and leave less colloid. The mixing is achieved through reciprocating motion.

[0096] Specifically, there is a fixed spiral blade (i.e., the aforementioned spiral stirring blade 21) in the intermediate connecting pipe (i.e., the aforementioned mixing chamber 10). As the silica gel passes through the pipe, it will separate and twist in the middle, and the silica gel will be mixed repeatedly.

[0097] Specifically, two material cylinders 30 are connected to both sides of the intermediate connecting pipe. The two sides are compressed alternately to make the silicone flow back and forth in the intermediate connecting pipe, and the amount of silicone remaining inside is very small (less than 0.2g).

[0098] Specifically, the compressed air cylinders are operated by an electronic control system, providing stepwise power output. The cylinder push rods control the two material cylinders to alternately compress at 30°. The solenoid valves in the electronic control system adjust the air supply selection, pushing either the left or right pneumatic push rod to move. Each of the two solenoid valves controls the air intake of its corresponding pneumatic push rod. The frequency and number of cycles can be pre-matched according to the input amount of adhesive. There are preset models, and manual adjustment is also possible. The type of silicone, viscosity, and mixing ratio can all be used as mixing control parameters.

[0099] Specifically, the intermediate connecting pipe has a quick-release design, which makes it easy to clean the residual silicone after mixing.

[0100] Furthermore, the intelligent control system can arbitrarily set parameters according to different amounts of adhesive and different viscosities of silicone rubber.

[0101] Furthermore, the intermediate connecting pipe is a standard 2-point interface. After removing the empty material cylinder 30 connected to one end of the intermediate connecting pipe, the material cylinder 30 containing the mixed silicone can be directly used for subsequent injection molding operations without secondary dispensing, and is compatible with various specifications (such as 3 / 5 / 10 / 30 / 50mL).

[0102] Specifically, the mixing steps are as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0103] Step S1: Weigh the silicone according to the ratio and put it into the material cylinder 30. Assemble the material cylinder 30 to the left side of the middle connecting pipe.

[0104] Step S2: Push the pusher 31 of the other empty material cylinder 30 to the bottom and assemble it to the right side of the intermediate connecting pipe;

[0105] Step S3: Fix the pneumatic push rod;

[0106] Step S4: Select the corresponding silicone type on the controller, set the amount of silicone, and the system will automatically match parameters such as the number of reciprocating strokes and frequency.

[0107] Step S5: Confirm the parameters and start the device;

[0108] Step S6: Remove the cylinder and push rod device, remove the material cylinder 30, and the prepared silicone is ready for use;

[0109] Step S7: Disassemble the intermediate connecting tube and clean any residual silicone inside;

[0110] Step S8: Power off.

[0111] The technical solution adopted in this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0112] (1) It can mix the two components of silicone evenly and quickly;

[0113] (2) The mixing process generates almost no heat;

[0114] (3) Precise parameter control eliminates differences caused by human operation and greatly improves consistency;

[0115] (4) Significantly reduce workload;

[0116] (5) Improve work efficiency;

[0117] (6) No secondary repackaging is required, greatly reducing waste.

[0118] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0119] In addition to the above, it should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "another embodiment," and "embodiment" used in this specification refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment, which are included in at least one embodiment described in the general description of this application. The appearance of the same expression in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, the intention is to suggest that implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of this invention.

[0120] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0121] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mixing device, characterized in that, include: Mixing bin (10), wherein a stirring component (20) is provided inside the mixing bin (10); Material cylinder (30), there are two material cylinders (30), each material cylinder (30) is connected to the mixing bin (10), and each material cylinder (30) is provided with a pusher (31), the pusher (31) is movable along the height direction of the material cylinder (30) to squeeze the material in the material cylinder (30) into the mixing bin (10). During the mixing process, the pusher (31) inside the two material cylinders (30) moves alternately so that the material flows back and forth through the agitator (20) inside the mixing bin (10) to achieve mixing.

2. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The agitator (20) includes a main shaft and agitator blades disposed on the main shaft. The main shaft extends along the length of the mixing chamber (10). After the material enters the mixing chamber (10), it flows through the agitator (20) to achieve mixing.

3. The mixing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The stirring blades include a spiral stirring blade (21).

4. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The volume of the material cylinder (30) is set to be larger than the volume of the mixing bin (10).

5. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing device further includes: A base (40) is provided with a controller; A first drive assembly (50) is connected to the pusher (31) of one of the material cylinders (30) at its output end. The first drive assembly (50) is used to drive the pusher (31) of one of the material cylinders (30) to move. The second drive assembly (60) has its output end connected to the pusher (31) of another material cylinder (30). The second drive assembly (60) is used to drive the pusher (31) of the other material cylinder (30) to move. The controller is electrically connected to the first drive component (50) and the second drive component (60).

6. The mixing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first drive assembly (50) includes a first cylinder and a first pneumatic push rod (51), the first pneumatic push rod (51) being connected to the pusher (31) of one of the material cylinders (30), and the second drive assembly (60) includes a second cylinder and a second pneumatic push rod (61), the second pneumatic push rod (61) being connected to the pusher (31) of the other material cylinder (30).

7. The mixing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The base (40) is also provided with a display panel (70), which is used to display at least one of the following: mixing frequency, mixing times, and material capacity.

8. The mixing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The base (40) is also provided with a control operation component (80), which is used to adjust at least one of the mixing frequency, mixing amount, and mixing times.

9. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the material cylinders (30) is connected to the mixing bin (10) via a quick-release assembly (90).

10. The mixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pusher (31) is a piston.

11. A mixing method, characterized in that, The mixing method is performed using the mixing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-10, and the mixing method includes the following steps: Obtain mixing information, which includes at least the number of reciprocations and the reciprocation frequency; Based on the mixing information, a control instruction set is generated. The control instruction set is used to control the pusher (31) of the two material cylinders (30) to reciprocate so that the material flows back and forth through the agitator (20) in the mixing bin (10).

12. The mixing method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Before obtaining mixing information, the mixing method further includes: Obtain material information, which includes at least the material type and the material quantity; Based on the material information, the mixing information is determined.

13. The mixing method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Before generating the control instruction set, the method further includes: The material is loaded into either of the two material cylinders (30), the other of the two material cylinders (30) is kept empty, and the pusher (31) of the other of the two material cylinders (30) is pushed to the bottom.

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