Vibration device, heating device and method for drying moist workpieces

Abstract

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a vibration device (1), in particular for drying workpieces, comprising a vibration drive (2) and a work container (3) for treating the workpieces (4), wherein the work container (3) can be excited to container vibrations by means of the vibration drive (2), wherein the work container (3) has a container bottom (6), wherein at least a partial section (7) of the work container (3) is formed in a channel-like manner along a partial section (8) of an annular circumference (9) or the entire work container (3) is formed in a channel-like manner along an annular circumference (9), wherein the container bottom (6) rises in a circumferential direction (12) extending along at least a partial segment (11) of the annular circumference (9) in a circumferential direction (12) extending along the partial segment (11) of the annular circumference (9), wherein the work container (3) has at least one drop step (13),wherein a gap (14) is formed at or adjacent to the drop step (13), the gap having a gap inlet (15) and a gap outlet (16), wherein in the operating position of the vibration device (1) the gap inlet (15) is arranged higher than the gap outlet (16) and wherein the gap (14) is bounded by at least one first heatable wall (18). According to further aspects, the invention relates to a heating device, a vibration device comprising a heating device according to the invention, and a method for drying moist workpieces.

Description

field of technology

[0001] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a vibration device, in particular for drying workpieces, comprising a vibration drive and a working container, in particular for receiving workpieces and drying medium, which is in particular granulate, for treating the workpieces, wherein the working container can be excited to container vibrations by means of the vibration drive, wherein the working container has a container bottom, wherein at least a partial section of the working container is designed in a channel-like manner along a partial section of a ring circumference or the entire working container is designed in a channel-like manner along a ring circumference, wherein the container bottom, in a use position of the vibration device, rises along at least a partial segment of the ring circumference in a ring circumferential direction running along the partial segment of the ring circumference, in particular continuously, wherein the working container,in particular on the container bottom, has at least one drop step and wherein a gap is formed on the drop step or adjacent to the drop step, which has a gap inlet and a gap outlet.,

[0002] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for drying moist workpieces. State of the art

[0003] Vibration devices for drying workpieces, also known as vibration dryers, are known in the art. They can be used, for example, to dry workpieces that have previously undergone wet grinding or wet polishing. In a conventional, commercially available vibration dryer, a work container is held in a vibrating position on a set of compression springs, which in turn are mounted on a base frame. The work container is circularly curved. A vibration drive has a drive motor that is positioned vertically in the center bordered by the work container and is connected to an imbalance at both the top and bottom ends of its drive shaft.With appropriate adjustment of the imbalances, the work bowl can be excited during operation by means of a vibration drive to vibrate. These vibrations cause the drying medium fed into the work bowl and the workpieces surrounded by it to be transported around the center of the work bowl. The bottom of the ring-shaped work bowl is designed to rise and then fall vertically back down to the lower level. In use, workpieces to be dried are usually fed into the work bowl containing heated drying granules via a lateral hopper. The contact between the workpieces and the drying granules that occurs during relative movement gradually dries the workpieces. In order to separate the workpieces from the drying granules after the drying process, a sieve is installed at the end of the rise on the drop stage, through whose openings only the drying granules can fall.If, in continuous drying, the workpieces are to be led out of the device after just one cycle in the work container, the sieve is positioned so that the workpieces are guided out of the work container via the sieve. Otherwise, i.e. if the workpieces are to be dried in multiple cycles during batch drying, the sieve is positioned so that the workpieces can fall back to the lower level through a passage formed. In the prior art, the drying granulate is heated by means of electric heaters that are attached to the base of the vibration device, i.e. underneath the work container. The convection heat heats the air between the base and the work container. This heats the work container, in particular the base area, and heat is then transferred from the heated base area to the drying granulate circulating above it.During operation, the drying granulate can reach a temperature in the range of 40–60 degrees Celsius. The moisture adhering to the workpieces is adsorbed by the drying medium and then evaporates. In addition to the drying effect, drying in a granulate dryer also has the positive effect of lightly polishing the workpieces, thus avoiding stains caused by moisture drying on them, which is possible with other drying processes. Although such conventional vibrating drying devices offer numerous possible applications, a disadvantage is that during operation, practically their entire steel structure must be heated up to achieve sufficient heating of the drying granulate. This requires a considerable amount of heating energy.

[0004] EP 1 523 931 A1 discloses a vibration device according to the preamble of claim 1. A vibration device is also known from EP 3 033 985 A1. Summary of the invention

[0005] Against the background described above, the object of the invention, according to its first aspect, is to provide an advantageous vibration device, in particular for drying workpieces. In particular, the aim is to reduce the energy required for drying workpieces compared to the conventional vibration dryers described above.

[0006] Against the background described above, the invention, according to its further aspect, is based on the object of providing an advantageous method for drying workpieces. In particular, the aim is to reduce the energy required for drying workpieces compared to the conventional drying method described above.

[0007] According to its first aspect, relating to a vibration device, the invention proposes to achieve the object by arranging the gap inlet higher than the gap outlet in the position of use of the vibration device, and by bordering the gap by means of at least one first heatable wall. The gap functionally forms a heating shaft through which the drying medium, in particular drying granules, flows during each complete circulation in the working container. The gap, which can be heated by means of at least one heatable wall, advantageously enables a much more direct heat transfer from the heating device to the drying medium compared to the prior art described at the beginning in text section

[0005] . The disadvantage of the prior art, namely that heating elements in the base frame, in order to heat the drying granules, practically also heat the entire vibration device, and the high associated heating energy requirement orThe correspondingly high heating costs can thus be advantageously avoided with the invention. A vibration device according to the invention can also be referred to as a vibration dryer in view of its ability to efficiently heat drying medium, in particular drying granules, and the associated ability to dry workpieces. Unlike conventional vibration dryers, a vibration dryer according to the invention is suitable for directly heating the drying medium by means of the at least one heatable wall defining the gap. As described below, it is also possible for the gap used for heating to be bordered not only by one heatable wall, but by two or more heatable walls.Preferably, a vibration device according to the invention does not contain any other heating devices other than one or more such heating devices, thus enabling efficient heating of the drying medium. Compared to a conventional vibration dryer, the heating shaft described above can thus replace the heating elements previously mounted in the base frame in a vibration dryer according to the invention.

[0008] One possible application for vibration devices according to the invention is, for example, the drying of workpieces that have previously undergone a vibratory finishing treatment with an aqueous additive. A vibration device according to the invention is suitable, for example, for heating corn cob meal or crushed walnut shells, which can be selected as the drying medium. It is also possible to convert a conventional vibration dryer into a vibration dryer according to the invention by subsequently installing a gap (heating shaft) bordered by at least one heatable wall.

[0009] There are numerous possibilities for the expedient and advantageous further development of a vibration device according to the invention.

[0010] It is possible for the ring circumference mentioned above, as a geometric reference shape, to extend in a plane parallel to or inclined to a mounting plane of the vibration device. It is possible for an outer edge of the working container, for example, to run along an (imaginary) circular-cylindrical shape in a partial section of the ring circumference in which the working container is formed along the ring circumference, although other edges are also possible. The gap can preferably be bordered by two heatable walls. It is possible for the two walls to extend vertically in a use position of the vibration device.It is preferred that the gap is bordered by two walls, of which at least a first wall is heatable or of which both walls are heatable, wherein each of the two walls has a surface profile and wherein, in the position of use, each of the two walls is arranged vertically with respect to a profile center plane of its surface profile. A position of use is understood to be a position preferred for use, in which the vibration device is set up on a horizontal surface, with the container base bordering the underside of the container. The gap, i.e. the space between the two walls, serves as a chute for the drying granulate to be heated. Instead of a vertical orientation of the two walls or, if applicable, their profile center planes, an inclined alignment, for example parallel to one another, of the two walls orif necessary, their profile center planes.

[0011] It is expediently possible for the working container to comprise a first container section which merges into the channel-like sub-section of the working container or is a component of the channel-like sub-section, and which has a first container base section which is arranged in front of the drop step with respect to the ring circumferential direction, and wherein the working container comprises a second container section which merges into the channel-like sub-section of the working container or is a component of the channel-like sub-section, and which has a second container base section which is arranged behind the drop step with respect to the ring circumferential direction, wherein in the position of use of the vibration device the first container base section is arranged higher than the second container base section.An advantageous embodiment is seen in that the gap is bordered by two spaced-apart, opposing walls, one of these two walls being the first heatable wall and the other of these two walls being a second heatable wall. Compared to a design in which the gap is bordered by one or more walls, only one of which is heatable, this can enable the transfer of a comparatively larger heat flow.

[0012] It is possible for the vibration device to have heating means for heating the first heatable wall and in particular for heating the second wall mentioned. It is possible for the first heatable wall to be adapted for heat transfer to be coupled to the heating means or to be coupled to the heating means. It is also possible for the second wall mentioned for heat transfer to be adapted for heat transfer to be coupled to the heating means or to be coupled to the heating means and thus also be a heatable wall. Such an adaptation can be advantageous with regard to assembly and disassembly and / or with regard to heat transfer with the lowest possible losses.

[0013] As already mentioned, it is possible for the vibration device to have or form a heating device that encompasses the first heatable wall, in particular the second heatable wall, and in particular the heating means, wherein the heating device is the only heating device, in particular the only heating device for directly heating the drying medium when it is located in the working container. This promotes the most efficient heating of the drying granulate and thus the most efficient drying of workpieces.

[0014] Advantageously, there is the possibility that the heating device has a housing in which the first heatable wall and the second heatable wall are arranged, wherein the housing is fastened or, in particular detachably, fastenable in the working container adjacent to the drop step, in particular adjacent to the drop step, wherein the housing in particular has thermal insulation. Such housing insulation advantageously prevents or at least reduces the spread of heat from the heatable wall(s) into the adjacent components of the vibration device. Furthermore, the housing enables a modular design. It is possible for such a modular heating device having a housing to be easily fastened in a vibration device if required (e.g.for the purpose of retrofitting a conventional vibration device) or can be removed from the vibration device again after loosening the fastening. Although this offers advantages and is shown as an example in the figures accompanying this description, such a housing or a modular construction of a heating device is not required for the present invention. Instead, it is also possible to directly structurally integrate components of a heating device with at least one heatable wall defining a gap into the vibration device.

[0015] It is possible for the gap inlet to be arranged vertically above the gap outlet in the use position or laterally offset above the gap outlet, wherein the gap outlet is arranged in particular above the second container base section and spaced apart from it in the use position of the vibration device. The design can preferably be selected such that, during operation of the drying device, a desired residence time of the drying granules in the gap or heating shaft is established, also depending on the volume flow of the drying granules circulating in the working container.

[0016] A simple design can be achieved by the possibility that the first heatable wall and in particular the second heatable wall can be heated electrically and / or by means of a fluidic heat carrier.

[0017] It is expediently provided that the vibration drive is suitable for generating container vibrations, wherein, when drying medium, in particular granulate such as corn meal, is located in the working container, the drying medium can be conveyed in the working container along the ring circumferential direction by means of the container vibrations. For this purpose, the vibration drive can be mechanically, in particular rigidly, coupled to the working container in a manner suitable for transmitting vibrations. It is possible for the vibration drive to have a drive motor and an unbalanced mass that can be rotated by means of the drive motor, or for the vibration drive to have at least one drive motor and a plurality of unbalanced masses that can be rotated by means of the drive motor. Unbalanced vibration drives are known to a person skilled in the art, so they will not be discussed in detail here.To keep the working container vibratable on the vibration device, it is possible for the vibration device to have a base and for the working container to be resiliently supported on the base by means of springs, in particular by means of cylindrical compression springs. It is considered expedient for generating the desired vibrations to have the drive motor with a drive shaft arranged perpendicularly with respect to a mounting plane of the vibration device, and for the working container to extend around the drive motor in a projection view directed toward the mounting plane of the vibration device.

[0018] With regard to the gap that forms the heating or drop shaft, it is possible for the cross-sectional profile of the gap between the gap inlet and the gap outlet to have a zigzag-shaped and / or wave-shaped profile. Alternatively or in combination, it is possible for the distance between the two walls, between which the gap is bordered, to be adjustable and releasably fixable. This in each case enables various designs through which the residence time of the drying medium, in particular drying granulate, in the gap and thus the heat energy that can be transferred in the gap can be advantageously tailored to existing practical requirements. The distance between the two walls can preferably be adjusted orbe that during operation, on the one hand, the drying granulate is passed through without any "jam", which could lead to excessive heating, but on the other hand the distance is not so great that the drying granulate can move through the gap or chute in completely free fall without any braking effect, particularly in the case of cascade-shaped, diagonally arranged wall sides without their braking effect; if it passes through the gap too quickly, the drying granulate will heat up too little. If the walls bordering the gap have diagonal surfaces on their side facing the gap, this can increase the time the drying granulate spends passing through the gap and, as a result, increase the amount of heat transferred. The drying granulate is drawn through the gap or chute as it passes through the gap.The heating shaft is heated, on the one hand, by the heated air between the two walls, and, on the other hand, by coming into contact with the surfaces of the walls facing the gap, of which one wall or both walls are heatable. The shape and orientation of the surfaces of the two walls bordering the gap are preferably selected such that the container vibrations generated by the vibration drive have only a supporting effect, or at most a supporting effect, on the movement of the drying granulate through the heating shaft (i.e., gap).Particularly preferably, the said design and orientation of the surfaces, particularly in conjunction with the surface quality of the surfaces, is such that, when operation is terminated by switching off the vibration drive, the drying medium (in particular drying granules) emerges from the gap and falls into the work container solely due to the force of gravity acting on it. This is important for safety, as it prevents residual heat from occurring when the vibration device is switched off, which could potentially ignite drying granules lying on the heatable wall(s). By switching off the vibration drive of the container, the movement of the drying granules / workpiece mixture in the container is stopped, so that no further drying granules enter the gap or heating shaft.

[0019] It is possible for a first surface profile to be formed on a front side of the first heatable wall facing the second heatable wall, said first surface profile having protruding regions and recessed regions with respect to an imaginary profile center plane of the first surface profile, and for a second surface profile to be formed on a front side of the second heatable wall facing the first heatable wall, said second surface profile having protruding regions and recessed regions with respect to an imaginary profile center plane of the second surface profile, wherein protruding regions of the first heatable wall are opposite recessed regions of the second heatable wall, and wherein recessed regions of the first heatable wall are opposite protruding regions of the second heatable wall. It is possible for a cascade-shaped design of the falling orThe heating shaft borders opposite sides of the two walls, at least one of which is heatable. With regard to the profile center planes, it is preferred that, in a position of use of the vibration device, they each extend vertically and laterally spaced from one another. Alternatively, an inclined orientation of the profile center planes, deviating from a vertical, would be conceivable, whereby the two profile center planes could again extend parallel to one another, for example. It is possible for the protruding regions to have a pointed crest or a pointed edge, and for the recessed regions to have a pointed or linear base.The design can be such that a respective protruding region is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, that a respective recessed region is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, and that, with regard to pairs of a protruding region and an adjacent recessed region, a flat surface of the protruding region and a flat surface of the recessed region lie in a common geometric plane. The spatial design can be such that the protruding regions extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile as ribs with a uniform rib cross-sectional profile in the rib longitudinal direction, and that the recessed regions extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile as grooves with a uniform groove cross-sectional profile in the groove longitudinal direction.

[0020] It is expedient to select a shape, orientation and, in particular, surface quality of the surfaces of the wall or of the two walls that delimit the gap so that drying granules move through the heating shaft or through the heating device having the gap solely by the force of gravity acting on the drying granules.

[0021] The aforementioned heating means can, for example, comprise a first electrical heating element, such as in particular a heating wire, for coupling to the first heatable wall, and in particular comprise a second electrical heating element, such as in particular a heating wire, for coupling to the second heatable wall. It is possible for the first electrical heating element to bear against the first heatable wall and / or for the second electrical heating element to bear against the second heatable wall. It is possible for a respective heating wire to be bent into a respective heating coil extending parallel to a respective plane.

[0022] It is possible for the first heatable wall to have a rear side facing away from its front side, wherein at least one recess is formed on the rear side into which an electrical heating coil, which is a component of the heating means, or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means, can be inserted or is inserted, and for the second heatable wall to have a rear side facing away from its front side, wherein at least one recess is formed on the rear side into which an electrical heating coil, which is a component of the heating means, or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means, can be inserted or is inserted. Such a design can advantageously contribute to heat transfer to the wall or to the two walls with as little loss as possible.It is possible for the working container to have an inner wall adjoining the container bottom and an outer wall adjoining the container bottom, wherein the container bottom and / or the inner wall and / or the outer wall have a coating that has a lower thermal conductivity compared to metal, in particular compared to steel. This can advantageously contribute to ensuring that as little heat as possible is transferred from the heated drying medium, in particular drying granules, to components of the vibration device adjacent to the outside of the working container.

[0023] It is possible for the container base to have a total of two or three or four or more drop steps, for the container base to rise, in particular continuously, between each two drop steps in a container base region which extends, in particular continuously, along a respective partial segment of the ring circumference, wherein this container base region extends, in particular, from one drop step to the other drop step, for a gap to be formed on or adjacent to each drop step, for each gap to have a gap inlet and a gap outlet, wherein, in the position of use of the vibration device, the gap inlet is arranged higher than the gap outlet, and for each gap to be bordered by at least one heatable wall or by two heatable walls which are spaced apart from one another across the gap.This design option can advantageously influence the amount of heat that can be transferred to the drying medium during each circulation of the drying medium in the working container.

[0024] It is possible for the vibration device to have a control device, for a temperature sensor to be arranged on the first heatable wall, which cooperates with the control device to control an adjustable temperature of the first heatable wall, and in particular for a temperature sensor to be arranged on the second heatable wall, which cooperates with the control device to control an adjustable temperature of the second heatable wall. In this way, a desired temperature can be set, thus preventing excessive or insufficient heating.

[0025] A design is considered expedient in which the vibration device has a sieve bottom which, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device, extends above the gap inlet and covers the gap inlet, in particular horizontally, and which has sieve bottom openings, wherein the sieve bottom is arranged adjacent to the first container bottom section. The size of the sieve bottom openings present in the sieve bottom and passing through it can be matched to the size of the particles of the drying medium (in particular to the size of the granules) and to the size of the workpieces to be dried, such that the particles of the drying medium, but not the workpieces, can fall through the sieve bottom openings. In this way, the drying medium can be separated from the workpieces.

[0026] It is possible for the vibration device to have a bridge which is displaceable in a longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position, wherein the bridge has a bridge base which is adjacent to a passage opening, wherein, when the bridge is in its first position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device above the second container base section, the passage opening opens a passage whose cross-sectional area is larger than respective cross-sectional areas of the sieve base openings, and wherein, when the bridge is in its second position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device above the second container base section, the bridge base completely or predominantly closes the passage.The bridge is expediently movably coupled to the work container in such a way that vibrations of the work container are also transmitted to the bridge, so that during operation, workpieces present on the bridge floor of the bridge can be transported away from the work container in a direction away from the work container. This advantageously enables, during operation of the vibration dryer according to the invention, by appropriately selecting the position of the bridge, as required, either to guide workpieces out of the work container after just one, in particular complete, circulation in the work container by means of the vibrating bridge floor (continuous drying) or, in the other position of the bridge, to allow the workpieces to fall back to the lower level of the work container and thus to retain them in the work container for at least one further circulation for further drying (batch drying).

[0027] As already explained, one advantage of the vibration device according to the invention for drying workpieces lies in a more efficient, since more direct, transfer of heat energy to the drying medium compared to the prior art. Since the floor and walls of the work container are not required to transfer or conduct heat (in fact, such transfer or conduction is undesirable), they can be partially or completely thermally insulated, for example using PU insulation inside and out, so that less heat is released from the work container to the outside. By means of a heating device according to the invention, on the one hand the conventional vibration dryers described above, but on the other hand also circular vibrators without heating that were built for vibratory finishing, can be further developed into a vibration device according to the invention. The latter can, for example,This can be advantageous when special running characteristics are required for problematic workpieces. This requires that the rotary vibrator's work bowl has a suitable drop step.

[0028] According to its further aspect, relating to a method for drying moist objects, the invention proposes to achieve the object by comprising the following steps: providing a vibration device according to the invention, introducing drying medium, in particular in granular form, and one or more moist workpieces into the work container, exciting the work container to vibrate by means of the vibration drive, so that the drying medium is conveyed into contact with the workpiece or workpieces in the work container along the ring circumferential direction by means of the container vibrations, and heating the first heatable wall and in particular the second heatable wall by means of the heating means. Regarding possible further developments, effects, and advantages in this context, reference is also made to the remaining description.In addition, there are further possibilities for practical design:.

[0029] It is possible that the drying medium is a granulate, in particular corn meal. It is possible that the drying medium has water adsorptive properties and / or water absorptive properties.

[0030] It is possible for the drying medium to be conveyed in the working container along the ring's circumferential direction in several consecutive cycles, with the drying medium passing, in particular falling, through the gap defined by the first heatable wall and in particular by the second heatable wall during each cycle. It is also possible for the workpiece(s) to be conveyed in the working container along the ring's circumferential direction either in a single cycle (continuous drying) or in several consecutive cycles (batch drying).

[0031] One control parameter that influences the heating output during operation is the temperature of the heatable wall or walls. Another control parameter for the heating output during operation is the setting of the vibration drive, which determines the amount of drying granulate that is passed through the gap, i.e. through the heating shaft, per unit of time. Another control parameter that influences the heating output during operation is the distance between the two walls defining the gap. This distance, depending on the amount of drying granulate per unit of time, also determines the falling speed and thus the residence time between the two walls and the type of heating (via air, via contact with the walls). Short description of the drawings

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a vibration device according to the invention according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 a side view of the vibration device according to viewing direction II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a plan view of the vibration device according to viewing direction III in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 in enlargement a partial section along section plane IV-IV according to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a detailed enlargement of section V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 perspective the Fig. 4 shown partial section with closed heating device; Fig. 7 which in Fig. 6 shown situation, but with heating device shown in section; Fig. 8 perspective the Fig. 6, Fig. 7 heating device shown; Fig. 9 perspective view of the inside of the housing Fig. 8 shown heating device; Fig. 10 in an exploded view further components of the heating device for inclusion in the Fig. 9 shown inner housing part; Fig. 11 perspective the Fig. 8, but without the heating device shown in Fig. 8 sieve bottom also shown; Fig. 12 perspective and in comparison to the Fig. 8 to 11 show an enlarged view of the outer part of the housing; Fig. 13 shows in perspective and in enlargement an upper section of the Fig. 1, wherein a bridge of the vibration device is in a position in comparison to Fig. 1 other position; Fig. 14 a partial section along section plane XIV-XIV according to Fig. 13; Fig. 15 perspective the Fig. 1, with its bridge shown raised in an exploded view; Fig. 16 shows in perspective an exploded view of the Fig. 15 shown bridge, Fig. 17 shows in perspective the upper section of the vibration device according to Fig. 13, where Fig. 17 deviating from Fig. 13 the work container contains workpieces and drying medium; Fig. 18 one compared to Fig. 17 enlarged partial section along section plane XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 17; Fig. 19 perspective the Fig. 17 shown upper section of the vibration device, wherein the bridge is in a Fig. 17 different and to Fig. 1 matching position; and Fig. 20 a partial section along section plane XX-XX in Fig. 19, in comparison, enlarged. Description of the embodiments

[0033] In the Fig. 1 to 3, a vibration device 1 according to the invention is initially shown in its entirety according to an exemplary embodiment. With regard to a heating device of the vibration device 1, which will be described in more detail later, this can also be referred to as a drying device or as a vibration drying device. It comprises a vibration drive 2 and a working container 3, which is designed to hold workpieces 4 and drying medium 5 (cf. Fig. 17 to 20). The drying medium 5 can preferably be granules, such as corn meal, which are suitable for absorbing water and thus for the drying treatment of moist workpieces 4. The working container 3 can be excited to container vibrations by means of the vibration drive 2. The working container 3 has a container bottom 6. A partial section 7 of the working container 3 extends in a channel-like manner along a partial section 8 of an imaginary geometric ring circumference 9. In a use position of the vibration device 1, in which it is fastened to a horizontal base 10 with the working container 3 pointing upwards, the container bottom 6 extends continuously rising along a partial segment 11 of the ring circumference 9 in a ring circumferential direction 12 running along the partial segment 11 of the ring circumference 9. Fig. 3 shows a top view of the geometric (i.e. imaginary) ring circumference 9 concentric with a central axis xx of the vibration device 1 in a dashed representation, wherein the aforementioned partial segment 11 extends between the two arrowheads shown. In the exemplary embodiment, the container base 6 has a drop step 13 which extends vertically downwards from a free end of a first container base section 21, which extends as an extension to the upper end of the container base 6 rising in the partial segment 11. This is shown in Fig. 4. There it is also shown that adjacent to the drop step 13, a gap 14 is formed, which has a gap inlet 15 and a gap outlet 16, wherein in the shown position of use of the vibration device 1, the gap inlet 15 is arranged vertically above the gap outlet 16. According to the sectional view of Fig. 4, the gap cross-sectional profile 17 of the gap 14 in the example has a zigzag shape. The gap 14 extends between a first heatable wall 18 and a second heatable wall 19, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0034] Fig. 4 also shows that the working container 3 has a first container section 20, which adjoins the partial section 7 of the working container 3 at its upper end as a horizontal extension and which has the first container bottom section 21. The first container bottom section 21 is oriented with respect to the ring circumferential direction 12 (cf. Fig. 3) in front of the drop step 13. Furthermore, the working container 3 comprises a second container section 22, which merges into the sub-section 7 of the working container 3 at its lower end and which has a second container bottom section 23, which is arranged behind the drop step 13 with respect to the ring circumferential direction 12. In the use position of the vibration device 1 (cf. Fig. 2) Thus, the first container bottom section 21 is arranged at a higher level than the second container bottom section 23, ie the vertical distance of the first container bottom section 21 from the substrate 10 is greater than the vertical distance of the second container bottom section 23 from the substrate 10.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows that the first heatable wall 18 and the second heatable wall 19 are spaced apart from each other at the gap 14.

[0036] The vibration device 1 comprises heating means 24 for heating the first heatable wall 18 and the second heatable wall 19. The first heatable wall 18 and the second heatable wall 19 are each adapted for heat transfer to a coupling with the heating means 24. In this context, Fig. 10, that the first heatable wall 18 has a rear side 26 facing away from its front side 25 bordering the gap 14, in which a recess 27 (in Fig. 10 concealed) into which an electrical heating coil 28, which is a component of the heating means 24, is inserted in the use state. Comparably, the second heatable wall 19 has a rear side 30 facing away from its front side 29 adjacent to the gap 14, in which rear side 30 a recess 31 is formed into which an electrical heating coil 32, which is also a component of the heating means 24, is inserted in the use state. In the example, in the use state, a cover plate 33 is screwed to the rear side 26 of the first heatable wall 18 to cover the heating coil 28. In the second heatable wall 19, a cover plate 34 is screwed onto the rear side 30 to cover the heating coil 32. In order to heat the two heating coils 28, 32, they can be connected to an electrical power source not shown in the figures, which can also be a component of the heating means 24.According to the preceding description, the vibration device 1 thus has a heating device 35, which in the example has the first heatable wall 18, the second heatable wall 19, the heating means 24, and in the example (ie, not necessarily) a housing 36 in which the first heatable wall 18 and the second heatable wall 19 are arranged. The housing 36 is shown in the example in . Fig. 4 is screwed to a fall step wall 37 of the fall step 13 in a manner not shown in detail (see the screw flanges in Fig. 11). Although in the example the heating device 35 is shown in terms of its housing 36 (see, for example, the Fig. 4 and Fig. 11) is designed as a module that can be removed from the vibration device 1 after loosening the screw connections, for example for cleaning purposes, and releasably reattached thereto as needed, this is not required for the present invention. Instead, it would also be possible, for example, to integrate one or more heatable walls and, in particular, other components of a heating device directly or permanently into the vibration device 1.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows that the gap inlet 15 is arranged vertically above the gap outlet 16, wherein the gap outlet 16 is arranged above the second container bottom section 23 in the position of use of the vibration device 1.

[0038] The vibration drive 2 of the vibration device 1 is in Fig. 2 is obscured and therefore shown in dashed lines. In the example, it is an unbalanced vibration drive which has a drive motor 38 and on its vertically oriented drive shaft an unbalance 39 at the upper end and an unbalance 39' at the lower end. Unbalanced vibration drives are known to a person skilled in the art, so they will not be discussed in detail here. The vibration drive 2 is enclosed by a cylindrical housing 40, which borders the working container 3 on its outside. The vibration drive 2 is suitable for generating vibrations of the working container 3. The vibration drive 2 is adapted so that by means of the container vibrations, when drying medium, such as corn meal, is located in the working container 3 (cf. the Fig. 17 to 20), the drying medium in the working container 3 can be conveyed along the ring circumferential direction 12. In the exemplary embodiment, this has the effect that, for example, drying medium initially located in the second container section 22 is conveyed into the sub-segment 11 of the ring circumference 9 and therein on the continuously rising container base 6 up to the comparatively higher second container section 22, from where it finally passes through the first container section 20 to the gap 14. Fig. 4 shows a sieve bottom 41, which, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device 1, is arranged horizontally above the gap inlet 15, thereby covering the gap inlet 15. The sieve bottom 41 has sieve bottom openings 42 and adjoins the first container bottom section 21 with respect to the transport direction of the drying medium 5. The cross-sectional areas of the sieve bottom openings 42 can be dimensioned so large that a desired drying medium 5, e.g., corn meal, has a somewhat smaller cross-section, allowing it to fall through the sieve bottom openings 42 toward the gap 14. At the same time, the respective cross-sectional area of ​​the sieve bottom openings 42 can be dimensioned smaller than the smallest cross-section of workpieces 4 selected in an example for a drying treatment in the vibration device 1.The dimensions can be selected in such a way that workpieces 4 cannot fall through the sieve bottom openings 42, but instead (cf. . Fig. 4) are transported in the transport direction over the sieve bottom 41.

[0039] In order to be able to carry out the container vibrations for the transport of the drying medium 5 and workpieces 4, the working container 3 is resiliently supported by means of springs 43 on a base 44 of the vibration device 1.

[0040] If drying medium 5 (see the Fig. 17 to 20) from above through the sieve bottom openings 42 to the gap inlet 15, it passes through the gap 14 during subsequent movements caused by gravity and leaves this through the gap outlet 16. While passing through the gap 14, the drying medium 5 comes into contact with the front sides 25, 29 of the heatable walls 18, 19 facing the gap 14. This results in heating and in particular drying of the drying medium 5, which after exiting the gap 14 is available in this thermally prepared state for renewed circulation through the work container 3, in which the drying medium 5 can be used to dry moist workpieces 4.In the example shown, thermally treated drying medium 5 falls from the gap 14 first onto the second container section 23, from where it reaches the channel-like section 7 of the working container 3 by means of vibrations generated by the vibration drive 2. In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the distance between the two heatable walls 18, 19, by means of which the gap 14 is bordered, is adjustable and releasably fixable. Thus, in the gap cross-sectional profile 17, the gap width of the gap 14 can be suitably selected and adjusted depending on the volume flow of the drying medium 5 selected for an application and in particular a desired intensity of heat transfer to the drying medium 5. The enlarged partial section of . Fig. 5 shows that, in the exemplary embodiment, a first surface profile 45 is formed on the front side 25 of the first heatable wall 18 facing the second heatable wall 19, said first surface profile having protruding regions 47 and recessed regions 48 with respect to an imaginary profile center plane 46. A second surface profile 49 is formed on a front side 29 of the second heatable wall 19 facing the first heatable wall 18, said second surface profile having protruding regions 51 and recessed regions 52 with respect to an imaginary profile center plane 50 of the second surface profile 49. Protruding regions 47 of the first heatable wall 18 are opposite recessed regions 52 of the second heatable wall 19, and recessed regions 48 of the first heatable wall 18 are opposite protruding regions 51 of the second heatable wall 19.In the example, the protruding regions 47, 51 each form a pointed edge (a pointed tip in the sectional view), and the recessed regions 48, 52 each form a linear base (pointed in the sectional view). Each protruding region 47, 51 is bordered by two flat surfaces at right angles to one another, and each recessed region 48, 52 is likewise bordered by two flat surfaces at right angles to one another. For pairs consisting of a protruding region 47, 51 and an adjacent recessed region 48, 52, one flat surface of the protruding region 47 or 51 and one flat surface of the recessed region 48, 52 lie in a common geometric plane (cf. also . Fig. 5). As for example from Fig. 5 in conjunction with Fig. 10, the protruding areas 47, 51 extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile 17 (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 5) as ribs with a uniform rib cross-sectional profile in the rib longitudinal direction, and the rear areas 48, 52 extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile 17 as grooves with a uniform groove cross-sectional profile in the groove longitudinal direction.

[0041] As already mentioned, the housing 40 of the vibration drive 2 borders the working container 3 on its inside. In this respect, the working container 3 has an inner wall adjoining the container bottom 6. Furthermore, the working container 3 has an outer wall 54 adjoining the container bottom 6 (see, for example, also Fig. 13). In the exemplary embodiment, the container bottom 6, the inner wall 53, and the outer wall 54 have a coating (not shown in detail in the figures) which has a lower thermal conductivity compared to steel.

[0042] From the Fig. 13 to 20, it is clear that the vibration device 1 comprises a bridge 55, which is displaceable in a longitudinal direction L between a first position and a second position. The bridge 55 comprises a bridge base 56, which is adjacent to a passage opening 57. The Fig. 17 and Fig. 18 show the bridge 55 in its first position, in which the bridge 55 releases a passage 58 above the second container bottom section 23 (see Fig. 18), whose cross-sectional area is larger than the respective cross-sectional areas of the sieve bottom openings 42 and is thereby larger than cross-sections of workpieces 4 shown in the example and selected for a drying treatment, so that the workpieces 4, as in Fig. 18, can fall through the passage 58 from the sieve bottom 41 onto the second container bottom section 23. This makes it possible to transport the workpieces 4 in a renewed pass through the vibrating work container 3 during continuous vibration operation of the vibration device 1, so that they are in relative movement to and in alternating contact with the drying medium thermally prepared by means of the heating device 35 and can thus be further dried and, depending on the nature of the drying medium 5, also polished.

[0043] In contrast, the Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 shows an operating state of the vibration device 1, in which the bridge 55 is in its second position. This results in the bridge base 56 reaching the Fig. 17, Fig. 18 existing passage 58 above the second container bottom section 23 completely closes. As Fig. As shown in Figure 20, this results in workpieces 4, which are transported in the direction of the arrows shown above the workpieces 4 due to the container vibrations, being transported out of the vibration device 1 via the bridge floor 56 after crossing the sieve floor 41 in order to terminate the drying process. On the other hand, the drying medium 5, after passing through the heating device 35, returns to the working container 3 as described above (see also Fig. 20), and is available for renewed circulation in the working container 3. In this position of the bridge 55, the sieve bottom openings 42 of the sieve bottom 41 are kept open by means of the passage opening 57 of the bridge 55, so that drying medium 5 can fall downwards through the sieve bottom openings 42. In Fig. 18 and Fig. 20, it is schematically indicated within the gap 14 by upwardly directed arrows that heat rises in the gap 14, which promotes the heat transfer to the drying medium 5. The further arrows, directed downwards or diagonally downwards, schematically show the path of the drying medium 5 through the heating device 35. In order to be able to adjust the gap width continuously, the Fig. The housing inner part 67 shown in Figure 9 has two elongated holes 60 on each of its side walls, each penetrating through the side walls. A clamping screw 61 (see Figure 9) protrudes from the outside through each elongated hole 60. Fig. 11) and is inserted into a threaded bore 73 in the second heatable wall 19 (cf. Fig. 5) and can be tightened if necessary. Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 shows that a hood 62 is attached to the top of the bridge 55 in a manner not shown in detail (e.g., by screwing or gluing). A bolt 64 is screwed to the top of the hood 62, on the top of which is an actuating element 63. The bolt 64 engages through a longitudinal groove 65 in a fastening part 66, which can be fastened to the top of the work container 3 by means of screws. By moving the actuating element 63 along the longitudinal groove 65, the bridge 55 can be moved back and forth between its first position and its second position.

[0044] Fig. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the heating device 35 contained in the vibration device 1 shown in the preceding figures. The heating device 35 can therefore be understood as a component of a vibration device 1 according to the invention.

[0045] It is understood that the heating device 35 may have further components, such as a power source, a connecting cable for connecting the power source to the heating coil 28, 32, etc. The housing 36 of the heating device 35 has the Fig. 9 shown housing inner part 67 and the one in Fig. 12 (compared to Fig. 9 (enlarged) shown housing outer part 68, by which in the example (i.e. not necessarily) the sieve bottom 41 is carried. The housing outer part 68 can be pushed onto the housing inner part 67 in such a way that sleeves 69 of the length-adjustable device 59, which protrude from an inner side of the housing outer part 68 into its interior, come into contact with an end wall 71 of the housing inner part 67 in the region of their associated through openings 70, so that by means of four screws 72 (cf. Fig. 4 and Fig. 8) in each of the corner areas, a screw connection 59 is provided. Optional adjustment or modification of the gap width and releasable fixation of a desired gap width of the gap 14 is made possible on both sides of the housing inner part 67 by means of two elongated holes 60 each, through each of which a clamping screw 61 passes and is screwed into a respective threaded bore 73 in the second heatable wall 19 and can be clamped therein. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show in solid lines the position of the second heatable wall 19, in which it is spaced as far as possible from the first heatable wall 18, so that the largest possible width of the gap 14 results. Based on this, the second heatable wall 19 can be moved, if necessary, to reduce the gap width after loosening the clamping screws 61 in the direction of the Fig. 5, along the slots 60 until the surface profile 49 of the second heatable wall 19 coincides with the dashed contour (also designated as 49). In this position, the width of the gap 14 is smaller than Fig. 5 is significantly reduced, being less than half of the maximum possible gap width.

[0046] In the figures, reference numeral 74 designates a hopper by means of which workpieces 4 and / or drying medium 5 can be filled into the work container 3, depending on requirements.

[0047] The above statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which each independently develop the state of the art by at least the following combinations of features, whereby two, several or all of these combinations of features can also be combined, namely:

[0048] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that a gap 14 is formed on the drop step 13 or adjacent to the drop step 13, which gap has a gap inlet 15 and a gap outlet 16, that in the use position of the vibration device 1 the gap inlet 15 is arranged higher than the gap outlet 16 and that the gap 14 is bordered by means of at least one first heatable wall 18.

[0049] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the working container 3 comprises a first container section 20, which merges into the channel-like partial section 7 of the working container 3 or is a component of the channel-like partial section 7, and which has a first container base section 21, which is arranged in front of the drop step 13 with respect to the ring circumferential direction 12, and wherein the working container 3 comprises a second container section 22, which merges into the channel-like partial section 7 of the working container 3 or is a component of the channel-like partial section 7, and which has a second container base section 23, which is arranged behind the drop step 13 with respect to the ring circumferential direction 12, wherein in the position of use of the vibration device 1 the first container base section 21 is arranged higher than the second container base section 23.

[0050] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the gap 14 is bordered by two spaced-apart, opposite walls, wherein one of these two walls is the first heatable wall 18 and wherein the other of these two walls is a second, in particular heatable, wall 19.

[0051] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration device 1 has heating means 24 for heating the first heatable wall 18 and in particular for heating the second wall 19 and that the first heatable wall 18 is adapted to be coupled to the heating means 24 for heat transfer or is coupled to the heating means 24, wherein in particular the second wall 19 is adapted to be coupled to the heating means 24 for heat transfer or is coupled to the heating means 24.

[0052] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration device 1 has or forms a heating device 35 which comprises the first heatable wall 18, in particular the second heatable wall 19 and in particular the heating means 24, wherein the heating device 35 is the only heating device, in particular the only heating device for directly heating drying medium when this is located in the working container 3.

[0053] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the heating device has a housing 36 in which the first heatable wall 18 and the second heatable wall 19 are arranged, wherein the housing 36 is fastened or, in particular detachably, fastenable adjacent to the drop step 13 in the working container 3, wherein the housing 36 has, in particular, thermal insulation.

[0054] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the gap inlet 15 is arranged in the use position vertically above the gap outlet 16 or laterally offset above the gap outlet 16, wherein the gap outlet 16 is arranged in the use position of the vibration device 1 in particular above the second container bottom section 23.

[0055] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the first heatable wall 18 and in particular the second heatable wall 19 can be heated electrically and / or by means of a fluidic heat carrier.

[0056] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration drive 2 is suitable for generating container vibrations, wherein by means of the container vibrations, when drying medium 5, in particular granulate such as corn meal, is located in the working container 3, the drying medium 5 can be conveyed in the working container 3 along the ring circumferential direction 12.

[0057] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration drive 2 has a drive motor 38 and an unbalanced mass 39, 39' which is rotatable by means of the drive motor 38, or that the vibration drive 2 has at least one drive motor 38 and a plurality of unbalanced masses 39, 39' which are rotatable by means of the drive motor 38.

[0058] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration device 1 has a base 44 and that the working container 3 is resiliently supported on the base 44 by means of springs 43, in particular by means of cylinder compression springs.

[0059] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the drive motor 38 has a drive shaft which is arranged vertically with respect to a mounting plane of the vibration device 1, and in that the working container 3 extends around the drive motor 38 in a projection view directed towards a mounting plane of the vibration device 1.

[0060] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that a gap cross-sectional profile 17 of the gap 14 between the gap inlet 15 and the gap outlet 16 has a zigzag-shaped course and / or a wave-shaped course.

[0061] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the distance between the two walls 18, 19, by means of which the gap 14 is bordered, is adjustable and releasably fixable.

[0062] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that a first surface profile 45 is formed on a front side 25 of the first heatable wall 18 facing the second heatable wall 19, which first surface profile has projecting regions 47 and recessed regions 48 with respect to an imaginary profile center plane 46 of the first surface profile 45, that a second surface profile 49 is formed on a front side 29 of the second heatable wall 19 facing the first heatable wall 18, which second surface profile 49 has projecting regions 51 and recessed regions 52 with respect to an imaginary profile center plane 50 of the second surface profile 49, wherein protruding regions 47 of the first heatable wall 18 are opposite recessed regions 52 of the second heatable wall 19 and wherein recessed regions 48 of the first heatable wall 18 are opposite protruding regions 51 of the second heatable wall 19.

[0063] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the protruding regions 47, 51 have a pointed tip or a pointed edge and the recessed regions 48, 52 have a pointed or linear base.

[0064] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that a respective protruding region 47, 51 is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, that a respective recessed region 48, 52 is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, and that with regard to pairs of a protruding region 47, 51 and an adjacent recessed region 48, 52, a flat surface of the protruding region 47, 51 and a flat surface of the recessed region 48, 52 lie in a common geometric plane.

[0065] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the protruding regions 47, 51 extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile 17 as ribs with a uniform rib cross-sectional profile in the rib longitudinal direction and that the recessed regions 48, 52 extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile 17 as grooves with a uniform groove cross-sectional profile in the groove longitudinal direction.

[0066] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the first heatable wall 18 has a rear side 26 facing away from its front side 25, wherein at least one recess 27 is formed on the rear side 26, into which an electrical heating coil 28, which is a component of the heating means 24, or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means 24, can be inserted or is inserted, and in that the second heatable wall 19 has a rear side 30 facing away from its front side 29, wherein at least one recess 31 is formed on the rear side 30, into which an electrical heating coil 32, which is a component of the heating means 24, or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means 24, can be inserted or is inserted.

[0067] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the working container 3 has an inner wall 53 adjoining the container bottom 6 and an outer wall 54 adjoining the container bottom 6, wherein the container bottom 6 and / or the inner wall 53 and / or the outer wall 54 has a coating which has a lower thermal conductivity compared to metal, in particular compared to steel.

[0068] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the container bottom 6 has a total of one drop step 13 or two or three or four or more drop steps 13, that in the use position of the vibration device 1, the container bottom 6 rises between each two drop steps 13 in a container bottom region which extends in particular continuously along a respective partial segment of the ring circumference 9, wherein this container bottom region extends in particular from one drop step 13 to the other drop step, that a gap 14 is formed on or adjacent to each drop step 13, that each gap 14 has a gap inlet 15 and a gap outlet 16, wherein in the use position of the vibration device 1, the gap inlet 15 is arranged higher than the gap outlet 16, and that each gap 14 is heated by means of at least one heatable wall 18 or by means of two heatable walls,which are spaced apart from each other at the gap 14,

[0069] A vibration device 1, which is characterized in that the vibration device 1 has a control device, that a temperature sensor is arranged on the first heatable wall 18, which cooperates with the control device for controlling an adjustable temperature of the first heatable wall 18, and in particular that a temperature sensor is arranged on the second heatable wall 19, which cooperates with the control device for controlling an adjustable temperature of the second heatable wall 19.

[0070] A vibration device 1, characterized in that the vibration device 1 has a sieve bottom 41 which extends, in particular horizontally, above the gap inlet 15 and covering the gap inlet 15 with respect to the position of use of the vibration device 1, and which has sieve bottom openings 42, wherein the sieve bottom 41 is arranged adjacent to the first container bottom section 21.

[0071] A vibration device 1, characterized in that the vibration device 1 has a bridge 55 which is displaceable in a longitudinal direction L between a first position and a second position, wherein the bridge 55 has a bridge bottom 56 which is adjacent to a passage opening 57, wherein, when the bridge 55 is in its first position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device 1 above the second container bottom section 23, the passage opening 57 opens up a passage 58 whose cross-sectional area is larger than respective cross-sectional areas of the sieve bottom openings 42, and wherein, when the bridge 55 is in its second position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device 1 above the second container bottom section 23, the bridge bottom 55 completely or predominantly closes the passage 58.

[0072] A method for drying moist workpieces 4, comprising the following method steps: providing a vibration device 1 which has at least the features mentioned in one of the sections

[0055] to

[0078] ,

[0081] ; introducing a drying medium 5, in particular in granular form, and one or more moist workpieces 4 into the work container 3; exciting the work container 3 to vibrate by means of the vibration drive 2, such that the drying medium 5 is conveyed into contact with the workpiece 4 or the workpieces 4 in the work container 3 along the ring circumferential direction 12 by means of the container vibrations; and heating the first heatable wall 18 and in particular the second heatable wall 19 by means of the heating means 24.

[0073] A method which is characterized in that the drying medium 5 is granulate, in particular corn meal.

[0074] A method which is characterized in that the drying medium 5 has adsorptive properties for water and / or that the drying medium 5 has absorptive properties for water.

[0075] A method which is characterized in that the drying medium 5 is conveyed in the working container 3 along the ring circumferential direction 12 in several successive circulations, wherein the drying medium 5 passes through, in particular falls through, the gap 14 which is bordered by the first heatable wall 18 and in particular by the second heatable wall 19 during each circulation.

[0076] A method which is characterized in that the workpiece 4 or the workpieces 4 are conveyed in the working container 3 along the ring circumferential direction 12 either in only one revolution or in several successive revolutions. List of reference symbols 1 vibration device 2 vibration drive 3 work containers 4 workpieces 5 Drying medium 6 Container bottom 7 Section 8 Section 9 ring circumference 10 Underground 11 sub-segment 12 Ring circumference direction 13 Fall stage 14 gap 15 Slot inlet 16 gap outlet 17 Gap cross-sectional profile 18 first heatable wall 19 second heatable wall 20 first container section 21 first container bottom section 22 second container section 23 second container bottom section 24 heating agents 25 Front 26 Back 27 Recess 28 heating coils 28 Front 30 Back 31 recess 32 heating coils 33 Cover plate 34 Cover plate 35 Heating device 36 housings 37 Fall step wall 38 drive motor 39 Unbalance 39' imbalance 40 housings 41 Sieve bottom 42 sieve bottom openings 43 springs 44 Base 45 first surface profile 46 Profile center plane 47 prominent areas 48 previous areas 49 second surface profile 50 Profile center plane 51 prominent areas 52 back areas 53 Interior wall 54 Exterior wall 55 Bridge 56 Bridge floor 57 Passage opening 58 passage 59 Screw connection 60 elongated holes 61 clamping screws 62 hood 63 Actuating element 64 bolts 65 Longitudinal groove 66 Fastening part 67 Housing interior 68 Housing outer part 69 sleeve 70 through openings 71 front wall 72 screw 73 threaded hole 74 hoppers L longitudinal direction

Claims

[1] Vibration device (1), in particular for drying workpieces, comprising a vibration drive (2) and a working container (3), in particular for receiving workpieces (4) and drying medium (5), which is in particular granulate, for treating the workpieces (4), wherein the working container (3) can be excited to container vibrations by means of the vibration drive (2), wherein the working container (3) has a container bottom (6), wherein at least a partial section (7) of the working container (3) is designed in a channel-like manner along a partial section (8) of a ring circumference (9) or the entire working container (3) is designed in a channel-like manner along a ring circumference (9), wherein the container bottom (6) in a use position of the vibration device (1) rises, in particular continuously, along at least a partial segment (11) of the ring circumference (9) in a ring circumferential direction (12) running along the partial segment (11) of the ring circumference (9),wherein the working container (3), in particular on the container bottom (6), has at least one drop step (13), and wherein a gap (14) is formed on the drop step (13) or adjacent to the drop step (13), which gap has a gap inlet (15) and a gap outlet (16), , characterized by that in the position of use of the vibration device (1) the gap inlet (15) is arranged higher than the gap outlet (16) and that the gap (14) is bordered by means of at least one first heatable wall (18). [2] Vibration device (1) according to claim 1, characterized byin that the working container (3) comprises a first container section (20) which merges into the channel-like partial section (7) of the working container (3) or is a component of the channel-like partial section (7), and which has a first container base section (21) which is arranged in front of the drop step (13) with respect to the ring circumferential direction (12), and wherein the working container (3) comprises a second container section (22) which merges into the channel-like partial section (7) of the working container (3) or is a component of the channel-like partial section (7), and which has a second container base section (23) which is arranged behind the drop step (13) with respect to the ring circumferential direction (12), wherein in the position of use of the vibration device (1), the first container base section (21) is arranged higher than the second container base section (23). [3] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the gap (14) is bordered by two spaced-apart, opposing walls, one of these two walls being the first heatable wall (18) and the other of these two walls being a second, in particular heatable, wall (19). [4] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vibration device (1) has heating means (24) for heating the first heatable wall (18) and in particular for heating the second wall (19), and that the first heatable wall (18) is adapted for heat transfer to be coupled to the heating means (24) or is coupled to the heating means (24), wherein in particular the second wall (19) is adapted for heat transfer to be coupled to the heating means (24) or is coupled to the heating means (24). [5] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the vibration device (1) has or forms a heating device (35) which comprises the first heatable wall (18), in particular the second heatable wall (19) and in particular the heating means (24), wherein the heating device (35) is the only heating device, in particular the only heating device for directly heating drying medium when this is located in the working container (3). [6] Vibration device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by in that the heating device has a housing (36) in which the first heatable wall (18) and the second heatable wall (19) are arranged, wherein the housing (36) is fastened or, in particular detachably, fastenable adjacent to the drop step (13) in the working container (3), in particular adjacent to the drop step (13), wherein the housing (36) in particular has thermal insulation. [7] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gap inlet (15) is arranged in the use position vertically above the gap outlet (16) or laterally offset above the gap outlet (16), wherein the gap outlet (16) is arranged in the use position of the vibration device (1) in particular above the second container bottom section (23). [8] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first heatable wall (18) and in particular the second heatable wall (19) can be heated electrically and / or by means of a fluid heat carrier. [9] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the vibration drive (2) is suitable for generating container vibrations, wherein by means of the container vibrations, when drying medium (5), in particular granulate such as corn meal, is located in the working container (3), the drying medium (5) in the working container (3) can be conveyed along the ring circumferential direction (12). [10] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vibration drive (2) has a drive motor (38) and an unbalanced mass (39, 39') which is rotatable by means of the drive motor (38), or that the vibration drive (2) has at least one drive motor (38) and a plurality of unbalanced masses (39, 39') which are rotatable by means of the drive motor (38). [11] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the vibration device (1) has a base (44) and that the working container (3) is resiliently supported on the base (44) by means of springs (43), in particular by means of cylinder compression springs. [12] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive motor (38) has a drive shaft which is arranged vertically with respect to a mounting plane of the vibration device (1), and that the working container (3) extends around the drive motor (38) in a projection view directed towards a mounting plane of the vibration device (1). [13] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a gap cross-sectional profile (17) of the gap (14) between the gap inlet (15) and the gap outlet (16) has a zigzag-shaped course and / or a wave-shaped course. [14] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distance between the two walls (18, 19) by means of which the gap (14) is bordered is adjustable and releasably fixable. [15] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat on a front side (25) of the first heatable wall (18) facing the second heatable wall (19), a first surface profile (45) is formed, which has protruding regions (47) and recessed regions (48) with respect to an imaginary profile center plane (46) of the first surface profile (45), that on a front side (29) of the second heatable wall (19) facing the first heatable wall (18), a second surface profile (49) is formed, which has protruding regions (51) and recessed regions (52) with respect to an imaginary profile center plane (50) of the second surface profile (49), wherein protruding regions (47) of the first heatable wall (18) are opposite recessed regions (52) of the second heatable wall (19), and wherein recessed regions (48) of the first heatable wall (18) protrude regions (51) of the second heatable wall (19). [16] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the protruding regions (47, 51) have a pointed tip or a pointed edge and the recessed regions (48, 52) have a pointed or linear base. [17] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a respective protruding region (47, 51) is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, that a respective recessed region (48, 52) is bordered by two flat, in particular mutually perpendicular, surfaces, and that with regard to pairs of a protruding region (47, 51) and an adjacent recessed region (48, 52), a flat surface of the protruding region (47, 51) and a flat surface of the recessed region (48, 52) lie in a common geometric plane. [18] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the protruding regions (47, 51) extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile (17) as ribs with a uniform rib cross-sectional profile in the longitudinal direction of the ribs and that the recessed regions (48, 52) extend transversely to the gap cross-sectional profile (17) as grooves with a uniform groove cross-sectional profile in the longitudinal direction of the groove. [19] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the first heatable wall (18) has a rear side (26) facing away from its front side (25), wherein at least one recess (27) is formed on the rear side (26) into which an electrical heating coil (28), which is a component of the heating means (24), or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means (24), can be inserted or is inserted, and in that the second heatable wall (19) has a rear side (30) facing away from its front side (29), wherein at least one recess (31) is formed on the rear side (30), into which an electrical heating coil (32), which is a component of the heating means (24), or a line for the passage of a fluid, which is a component of the heating means (24), can be inserted or is inserted. [20] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the working container (3) has an inner wall (53) adjoining the container base (6) and an outer wall (54) adjoining the container base (6), wherein the container base (6) and / or the inner wall (53) and / or the outer wall (54) has a coating which has a lower thermal conductivity compared to metal, in particular compared to steel. [21] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the container bottom (6) has a total of two or three or four or more drop steps (13), that in the use position of the vibration device (1), the container bottom (6) rises between each two drop steps (13) in a container bottom region which extends, in particular continuously, along a respective partial segment of the ring circumference (9), wherein this container bottom region extends, in particular, from one drop step (13) to the other drop step, that a gap (14) is formed on or adjacent to each drop step (13), that each gap (14) has a gap inlet (15) and a gap outlet (16), wherein in the use position of the vibration device (1), the gap inlet (15) is arranged higher than the gap outlet (16), and that each gap (14) is heated by means of at least one heatable wall (18) or by means of two heatable walls which are spaced apart from one another at the gap (14),is bordered., [22] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vibration device (1) has a control device, that a temperature sensor is arranged on the first heatable wall (18), which cooperates with the control device to control an adjustable temperature of the first heatable wall (18), and in particular that a temperature sensor is arranged on the second heatable wall (19), which cooperates with the control device to control an adjustable temperature of the second heatable wall (19). [23] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the vibration device (1) has a sieve bottom (41) which, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device (1), extends above the gap inlet (15) and covers the gap inlet (15), in particular horizontally, and which has sieve bottom openings (42), wherein the sieve bottom (41) is arranged adjacent to the first container bottom section (21). [24] Vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the vibration device (1) has a bridge (55) which is displaceable in a longitudinal direction (L) between a first position and a second position, wherein the bridge (55) has a bridge base (56) which is adjacent to a passage opening (57), wherein, when the bridge (55) is in its first position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device (1) above the second container base section (23), the passage opening (57) opens up a passage (58) whose cross-sectional area is larger than respective cross-sectional areas of the sieve base openings (42), and wherein, when the bridge (55) is in its second position, with respect to the position of use of the vibration device (1) above the second container base section (23), the bridge base (55) completely or predominantly closes the passage (58). [25] A method for drying moist workpieces (4), comprising the following method steps: providing a vibration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 4-24; introducing a drying medium (5), in particular in granular form, and one or more moist workpieces (4) into the working container (3); exciting the working container (3) to container vibrations by means of the vibration drive (2), so that the drying medium (5) is conveyed into contact with the workpiece (4) or the workpieces (4) in the working container (3) along the ring circumferential direction (12) by means of the container vibrations, and heating the first heatable wall (18) and in particular the second heatable wall (19) by means of the heating means (24). [26] Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the drying medium (5) is granulate, in particular corn meal. [27] Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized by that the drying medium (5) has adsorptive properties for water and / or that the drying medium (5) has absorptive properties for water. [28] Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized by that the drying medium (5) is conveyed in the working container (3) along the ring circumferential direction (12) in a plurality of successive circulations, wherein the drying medium (5) passes through, in particular falls through, the gap (14) which is bordered by means of the first heatable wall (18) and in particular by means of the second heatable wall (19) during each circulation. [29] Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized bythat the workpiece (4) or the workpieces (4) in the working container (3) is or are conveyed along the ring circumferential direction (12) either in only one revolution or in several successive revolutions.

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