Laboratory mixing kneading machine

Abstract

In a method for producing a laboratory mixing kneader (L), a drive (1) is connected to a gearbox (2), a double mixing kneader housing (3) is connected to a dome (4) and to a support (5), transmission gears for two kneading shafts are arranged in the gearbox (2), the two kneading shafts project into the mixing kneader housing (3) in a working position, and the drive (1) and the support (5) are connected to the dome (4) and the support (5). The gear box (2) is connected to one side of the double-mixing kneader shell (3) through a support (5), the volume of the double-mixing kneader shell (3) ranges from 500 milliliters to 2500 milliliters, and the double-mixing kneader shell (3), the dome (4) and the support (5) are manufactured in an additive mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a method for producing a laboratory mixing and kneading machine and a laboratory mixing and kneading machine. Background Art

[0002] Such laboratory mixing and kneading machines are already known and are often used in various forms and designs. For example, DE 20 2022 100 573 U1 discloses a laboratory mixing and kneading machine comprising a processing chamber housing and a kneading shaft arranged in the processing chamber housing, wherein the processing chamber housing consists of a housing, an end plate and a rear wall, the housing and the end plate are statically arranged on a frame, and the kneading shaft and the rear wall are movably arranged on the frame, wherein in the rest position, the kneading shaft together with the rear wall is pulled out of the housing, and in the operating position, the kneading shaft is arranged in the housing and the rear wall closes the housing.

[0003] Another laboratory mixing kneader is disclosed in DE 2 115 428 A1. In this laboratory kneader, the kneading bars cover the entire cross section of the kneading container during movement, and kneading is improved by using two pairs of kneading bars, one pair of which moves along a hypocycloidal path and the other pair of which moves along an epicycloidal path, thus working through the entire cross section of the container and at the same time generating significant shear stresses in the process material by rotating in opposite directions to one another.

[0004] Application Task

[0005] The task of the present application is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. Specifically, a laboratory mixing and kneading machine will be provided, which can be flexibly adapted to different requirements of laboratory use and can be quickly disassembled, assembled and connected to existing standard laboratory connections. Utility Model Content

[0006] The method for manufacturing a laboratory mixing kneader and the laboratory kneader disclosed in the present application produce a solution to the problem.

[0007] The present application discloses a method for manufacturing a laboratory mixing and kneading machine, wherein a drive is connected to a gearbox, a double mixing and kneading machine housing is connected to a dome and a bracket, wherein a transmission gear for two kneading shafts is arranged in the gearbox, wherein the two kneading shafts extend into the mixing and kneading machine housing in a working position, wherein the gearbox is connected to one side of the double mixing and kneading machine housing via a bracket, the volume of the double mixing and kneading machine housing is 500 ml to 2500 ml, and the double mixing and kneading machine housing, the dome and the bracket are additively manufactured, and a temperature control channel is additively manufactured in the wall of the double mixing and kneading machine housing.

[0008] Preferably, a dome temperature control channel is additively manufactured in the dome wall of the dome.

[0009] The present application discloses a laboratory mixing and kneading machine, comprising a drive, a gearbox, a double mixing and kneading machine housing, a dome and a bracket, wherein the drive is connected to the gearbox, wherein the transmission gear drives two kneading shafts in the gearbox, wherein the gearbox is connected to one side of the double mixing and kneading machine housing through the bracket, wherein the double mixing and kneading machine housing forms a dome flange, the dome is connected to the double mixing and kneading machine housing through the dome flange, the double mixing and kneading machine housing has a wall, the wall has a temperature control channel, the temperature control channel is recessed in the wall, the volume of the double mixing and kneading machine housing is 500 ml to 2500 ml, and the dome flange is formed as a whole with the double mixing and kneading machine housing.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0011] In the method for manufacturing a laboratory mixing kneading machine of the present application, the drive is connected to the gear box. In addition, the double mixer kneading machine housing is connected to the dome via the dome flange. In addition, the double mixing kneading machine housing is connected to a bracket, which is integrally formed with two spacer webs.

[0012] The gearbox is provided with transmission gears for the two kneading shafts. The two kneading shafts are driven by a driver via the transmission gears. The two kneading shafts extend into the housing of the twin mixer in the working position. The working position means that the gearbox moves towards the housing of the twin mixer and is at least temporarily connected to the housing of the twin mixer. For this purpose, the gearbox is connected to one side of the housing of the twin mixer via a bracket.

[0013] The one side is the side that is open in the double mixer housing and faces the gear box. This side is closed by the front plate of the bracket.

[0014] The volume of the twin mixing and kneading machine housing is 500 ml to 1100 ml. Mixing and kneading machines of this size have not yet been manufactured. The features that would be included can only be manufactured in a time-consuming and cost-intensive manner. These features include, for example, heating coils, which are not suitable for such a small volume and can only be replaced by extensive welding work.

[0015] The individual volume specifications are defined below. 500 ml to 2500 ml defines the volume of the empty (ie without shaft) but domed dual mixer housing. According to this definition, the volume of a preferred laboratory mixer is about 2000 ml.

[0016] For double mixer housings only, the following exact volume data are available:

[0017] - Empty twin mixer housing including dome nozzle resulting in volume share: 1680 ml.

[0018] - Empty twin mixer housing in horizontal zone eight (i.e. the rotation zone of the shaft): 1570 ml.

[0019] - When the shaft is inserted, the remaining empty volume of the twin mixer housing, without the dome flange part: 1130 ml. This 1130 ml is also the usable processing volume, i.e. the mixing volume. The volume displaced by the shaft is therefore 220 ml.

[0020] Precisely because of the small volume, it has been impossible to manufacture conventional mixing and kneading machines without using additive processes until now, simply for cost reasons.

[0021] Only additive manufacturing made it possible for particularly stressed components such as the twin mixer housing, dome and bracket to have all the required functions (such as printed heating in the form of temperature control channels, as well as strength, especially compressive strength and durability) while at the same time making the laboratory mixer so light that two people can lift, carry and put it down.

[0022] These important parts in particular had not been additively manufactured in mixing and kneading machines until now because of the widespread belief that they lacked compressive strength. This belief surprisingly proved to be wrong.

[0023] Furthermore, the temperature control channels are additively manufactured on one wall of the double mixing and kneading machine housing. In this way, various shapes of temperature control channels can be realized. Previously, heating coils were often welded to the surface of the mixing and kneading machine housing, which was very costly. These were designed as half shells in the cross-section. Now, these can also be shown in the cross-section as a rectangular or cuboid or a partial cuboid or a mixture thereof as temperature control channels.

[0024] Furthermore, dome temperature control channels can be additively manufactured in the dome wall of the dome. This has the advantage that the dome can be cooled or heated depending on the specifications of the steam generated.

[0025] In addition, further temperature control channels can be additively manufactured in the end plate wall of the end plate of the support, wherein the two spacer webs of the support are formed in one piece and the two spacer webs of the support are additively manufactured using the cavities. These additional temperature control channels require the same additional work as already described for the temperature control channels. A further advantage of the cavities provided in the spacer webs is that corresponding vibrations, for example vibrations of the gearbox, cannot be transmitted to the twin mixing kneader housing and vice versa. The spacer webs and their respective cavities perform a buffering function.

[0026] Furthermore, the dome flange can be formed integrally with the housing of the double mixing kneader, so that the dome nozzle temperature control channel can be additively manufactured on the dome support wall of the dome support. Due to the use of additive manufacturing technology, the limited space on the dome flange can be taken into account. For example, one or more inlets for air extraction or for sensors, etc. can be provided on the dome flange, and this available limited space can be effectively used for the dome nozzle temperature control channel.

[0027] The total volume of the process chamber and the dome is 500 ml to 2500 ml. The process chamber consists of the volume of the twin mixer kneader housing including the dome nozzle and is 500 ml to 2500 ml. This is based on the non-operating position, i.e. when the kneading shafts are not retracted into the twin mixer kneader housing. The dome and any condenser make up the rest of the total volume.

[0028] The laboratory mixing and kneading machine of the present application consists of a drive, a gearbox, a double mixing and kneading machine housing, a dome and a support. The drive is connected to the gearbox, and the transmission gear in the gearbox drives two electrically heatable kneading shafts. The two kneading shafts arranged in the gearbox via the transmission gear are arranged in such a way that the two kneading shafts extend into the double mixer housing in the working position. As a result, the product to be processed is mixed and kneaded by the two kneading shafts to achieve the desired reaction or product viscosity.

[0029] In this context, it should be mentioned that a laboratory mixing and kneading machine can be manufactured in particular by the process described above.

[0030] Compared to oil heated shafts, this article provides electrically heated shafts using heating cartridges. The advantage of this is that the center distance between the shafts can be smaller. This in turn means that no rotating seal head is required. This facilitates a compact design.

[0031] The gearbox is connected to a first side of the twin mixer kneader housing via a bracket, whereby the twin mixer kneader housing forms a dome flange via which the dome is connected to the twin mixer kneader housing. The twin mixer kneader housing has a process chamber with a volume of 500 ml to 2500 ml.

[0032] The housing of the two-mixing kneader has a wall, wherein the wall has a temperature control channel, which is embedded in the wall. The wall of the two-mixing kneader housing has a material protrusion on the outside in the area of ​​the temperature control channel, and a depression is arranged in the wall next to the material protrusion. The wall is smooth toward the processing chamber.

[0033] In the context of this application, embedding means inserting the temperature control channel into the solid material of the wall or removing it from the solid material. This is done by additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing).

[0034] The temperature control channel serves to guide a temperature control medium which can have different temperature levels from cold to hot and different states of aggregation. The wall of the mixer housing can have a temperature control channel which can extend onto the surface of the mixer housing. However, it is also possible to have a plurality of temperature control channels with different medium sources, which can also have different temperatures.

[0035] The support consists of two spacer bars and an end plate, which is preferably manufactured in one piece with these spacer bars. The support locates the dual mixer housing axially to the gearbox. The end plate has a further temperature control channel, which is embedded in the end plate wall. This has the advantage that the processed product is also kept at the required temperature in the end plate area. The end plate has two shaft channels, into which bushings for the shaft seals are integrated via packings.

[0036] The bracket is additively manufactured. The bracket consists of only one component, with two spacer bars to absorb the torques generated during processing. The torque is transmitted to the gearbox via two spacer webs. The spacer bars are not made of solid material but are designed to adapt to the loads. This saves money and weight. Since the bracket is manufactured in one piece, handling during assembly and / or disassembly is easier for the user, as there are fewer screws and sealing surfaces.

[0037] The end plates of the support close the mixer housing on the side facing the gearbox. The back plate closes the mixing and kneading machine housing on the side facing away from the gearbox.

[0038] The dome has a dome temperature control channel. The dome temperature control channel is also recessed into the dome. The dome temperature control channel is also used, for example, to keep the generated steam at a desired temperature or to bring it to a desired temperature.

[0039] The dome flange is integrally formed with the twin mixer housing and has a dome nozzle temperature control channel embedded in the dome support wall. The dome flange is mainly used to connect the twin mixer housing to the dome. This should be done in a simple and quick detachable and connectable manner.

[0040] The laboratory mixer preferably has carrying handles. Two people can lift it using the handles provided and carry it to another location without difficulty. The laboratory mixer-kneader is designed to be installed in a standardized laboratory fume hood. The compact dimensions and low weight are attributed to this field of application.

[0041] The temperature control channel, the further temperature control channel, the dome nozzle temperature control channel and the dome temperature control channel can be connected to each other in a corresponding manner. In another embodiment, each temperature control channel can also have its own medium source with different temperatures.

[0042] The individual components of the laboratory mixer-kneader are easy to assemble and disassemble. This is because, for example, the dome, condenser, adapter, sight glass, etc. are connected using Tri-Clamps instead of flange connections with many screws.

[0043] All components heated by media, such as the mixer housing, end walls, domes, dome nozzles, condensers and adapters, are manufactured using additive manufacturing. This enables the production of geometries that are not possible using conventional methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Further advantages, features and details of the present application will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laboratory mixing and kneading machine according to the present application;

[0046] Figure 2 is used with Figure 1 A front view of a double mixing kneader housing for use with the laboratory mixing kneader in FIG. 1; and

[0047] Figure 3 is used with Figure 1 Longitudinal cross-section of a bracket used in a laboratory mixing and kneading machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figure 1 A laboratory mixer-kneader L is shown. The laboratory mixer-kneader L comprises a drive 1, a gearbox 2, a dual mixer-kneader housing 3, a dome 4 and a bracket 5. The drive 1 is connected to the gearbox 2 so that a transmission gear (not shown in detail) drives two kneading shafts (also not shown in detail) in the gearbox 2. The gearbox 2 is connected to one side 22 of the dual mixer-kneader housing 3 via the bracket 5.

[0049] The twin mixer housing 3 in turn forms a dome flange 6 on the upper side 23 facing away from the base surface (not shown in detail), via which the dome 4 is connected to the twin mixer housing 3. The base surface here is the surface on which the laboratory mixer L is mounted in the position of use. The volume of the twin mixer housing 3 is 500 ml to 2500 ml.

[0050] The gearbox 2 and the drive 1 are slidably arranged on a linear guide 34 of a movable support structure 35. The gearbox 2 can be moved on the linear guide 34 so that the gearbox 2 together with the support 5 can be separated from the twin mixing kneader housing 3, for example, to gain access to the kneading shaft, which can be cleaned more easily.

[0051] The support structure 35 is preferably a metal frame which can be locked in the desired position and released again by means of one or more roller suspensions 36. Handles 38 make it easier to transport and move the support structure 35 together with the laboratory mixer-kneader L using rollers 42 arranged on the support structure 35. Adjustable feet 39 make it easier to align the laboratory mixer-kneader L horizontally.

[0052] The twin mixing kneader housing 3 is also arranged on the support structure 35. However, in the present embodiment, the twin mixing kneader housing 3 is preferably not displaceable, but is fixedly connected to the support structure 35 via support feet 37. However, it is also within the scope of the present application to arrange the twin mixing kneader housing 3 detachably and / or displaceably on the support structure 35 and to arrange the gearbox 2 in a fixed position. It is also possible to arrange both the gearbox 2 and the twin mixing kneader housing 3 movably. In this case, the linear guide 34 must be adjusted accordingly.

[0053] The entire laboratory mixing and kneading machine L is thus arranged on a single support structure 35 and can thus also be moved as a whole. For this purpose, the laboratory mixing and kneading machine L has a handle 38 .

[0054] according to Figure 2 The housing 3 of the double mixing kneader has a wall 7 surrounding a processing chamber 18, which in turn can accommodate an electrically heatable kneading shaft (not shown in detail). The wall 7 has a temperature control channel 8 or several temperature control channels 8. The temperature control channel 8 or several temperature control channels 8 are embedded in the wall 7. The wall 7 also has one or more material protrusions 16 on the outer side 24 in the region of the (one or more) temperature control channels 8, and a depression 17 is arranged in the wall 7 next to the material protrusion 16 or between two material protrusions 16. In this way, the material protrusions 16 and the depressions 17 are arranged alternately on the outer side 24. The temperature control channel 8 is arranged below the material protrusion 16 so that the temperature control channel 8 extends between the material protrusion 16 and the processing chamber 18.

[0055] The dome flange 6 on the upper side 23 of the twin mixing kneader housing 3 is preferably formed integrally with the twin mixing kneader housing 3. The dome flange 6 can be used to connect the dome 4 to the twin mixing kneader housing 3. The dome 4 also has a dome temperature control channel 21 in its dome wall 25. The dome flange 6 also has a dome nozzle temperature control channel 15 embedded in the dome support wall 14.

[0056] In addition to the walls 7 and the side surfaces 22 , the twin-mix kneader housing 3 also has a rear wall 33 . The side surfaces 22 and the rear wall 33 almost close the twin-mix kneader housing 3 .

[0057] according to Figure 3The support 5 comprises two spacer webs 9 and 10 and an end plate 11, and is preferably made of these in one piece. The spacer webs 9 and 10 are used to keep the gearbox 2 at a certain distance from the double mixing kneader housing 3. The spacer webs 9 and 10 are each provided with a fastening link 26 on the end opposite to the end plate 11, whereby the support 5 can be fixed on the outer side 27 of the gearbox 2. Between them, the spacer webs 9 and 10 accommodate the two kneading shafts mentioned above, which lead from the gearbox 2 to the double mixer housing 3. The support 5 uses two pins (not shown in detail) to locate the position of the support 5 on the gearbox 2, so that the double mixing kneader housing 3 is quasi-axially and radially positioned to the gearbox 2.

[0058] The end plate 11 serves to connect the support 5 to the side surface 22 of the twin mixing kneader housing 3. Fastening holes 29 in the end plate 11 or fastening holes in the side surface 22 (not shown in detail) serve to fasten these two elements together.

[0059] The end plate 11 also has a further temperature control channel 12 which is moulded into the end plate wall 13. The end plate 11 also has two shaft channels 19 and 20.

[0060] The temperature control channel 8 , the further temperature control channel 12 , the dome nozzle temperature control channel 15 and the dome temperature control channel 21 are connected to one another in a corresponding manner.

[0061] Reference numerals list

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Claims

1. A laboratory mixing and kneading machine (L) comprising a drive (1), a gear box (2), a double mixing and kneading machine housing (3), a dome (4) and a support (5), wherein: The drive (1) is connected to the gearbox (2), wherein the transmission gear drives two kneading shafts in the gearbox (2), wherein the gearbox (2) is connected to one side of the twin-mixing kneader housing (3) via the bracket (5), wherein the twin-mixing kneader housing (3) forms a dome flange (6), and the dome (4) is connected to the twin-mixing kneader housing (3) via the dome flange (6), Features: The double mixing kneader housing (3) has a wall (7), the wall (7) has a temperature control channel (8), the temperature control channel (8) is recessed in the wall (7), the volume of the double mixing kneader housing (3) is 500 ml to 2500 ml, and the dome flange (6) is formed as a whole with the double mixing kneader housing (3).

2. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The support (5) is integrally formed of two spacer webs (9, 10) and an end plate (11), wherein the end plate (11) has a further temperature control channel (12) formed in the end plate wall (13).

3. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 2, characterized in that The end plate (11) has two shaft passages (19, 20), wherein bushings for shaft seals are integrated into the shaft passages (19, 20) via packings.

4. The laboratory mixing and kneading machine (L) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The dome (4) has a dome temperature control channel (21).

5. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The bracket (5) axially positions the twin-mixing kneader housing (3) to the gearbox (2).

6. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The dome flange (6) has a dome nozzle temperature control channel (15) embedded in the dome support wall (14).

7. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The wall (7) has a material elevation (16) on the outer side in the region of the temperature control channel (8), and a depression (17) is arranged in the wall (7) adjacent to the material elevation (16).

8. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The wall (7) is smooth towards the processing chamber (18).

9. The laboratory mixer (L) according to claim 1, characterized in that The twin mixer housing (3) accommodates an electrically heatable shaft.

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