Granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder

Abstract

A granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder, characterized in that it comprises: a feed section that is connected to an external feeding device, wherein the inlet section serves to receive and temporarily guide the hard metal powder raw material; a granulation section connected to the feed section, wherein the granulation section serves to granulate the hard metal powder raw material conveyed from the feed section and to produce a mixture of particles and fine powder; a friction sieve section connected to the granulation section, wherein the friction sieve section serves for friction sieving of the mixture produced by the granulation section to produce qualified particles; a particle discharge section connected to the friction sieve section, wherein the particle discharge section serves to collect and discharge the friction-tested and sieved particles.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present utility model relates to the technical field of equipment for hard metal powder metallurgy and in particular a granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder. State of the art

[0002] In the production of hard metal powder using powder metallurgy, granulation and sieving of fine powder raw materials are often necessary to improve the powder's flowability and uniformity of filling, as well as the quality of the subsequent compression molding. Current granulation and sieving processes are mostly based on simple combinations of separate granulation machines and vibrating sieves. These processes allow for a certain degree of initial granulation and particle size separation of the powder and generally meet the initial requirements of conventional production.

[0003] However, existing granulation and screening processes have significant limitations in practical application. On the one hand, combining separate systems leads to insufficient integration of the process steps and frequent material transfers, thus increasing production time and energy consumption. On the other hand, conventional granulation machines mostly focus on extrusion forming and have an inadequate ability to separate clumped fine powders in the resulting mixture, so that the particle surfaces are excessively coated with powder; independent screening systems, conversely, exhibit low screening efficiency with moist, clumping-prone hard metal particles, easily leading to clumping problems. Furthermore, most existing systems cannot perform granulation, deagglomeration, screening, and collection continuously in a single enclosed space.They are characterized by low system integration, a large space requirement, and cumbersome cleaning and maintenance, which negatively impacts production efficiency and product quality stability.

[0004] Therefore, the design of a hard metal powder granulation and sieving device that efficiently integrates the process steps of granulation, deagglomeration and sieving, enables continuous closed production, effectively separates particles and fine powders, and improves particle uniformity and the degree of automation of production, represents a technical problem that needs to be improved in the field of hard metal powder metallurgy. Content of the utility model

[0005] Based on this state of the art, the present utility model aims to create a granulation and friction sieving machine for hard metal powders that overcomes the disadvantages of the existing granulation and sieving process, in particular inefficient separate process steps, poor particle uniformity, susceptibility to contamination, incomplete sieving and low system integration.

[0006] The present utility model provides a granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder, comprising: a feed section connected to an external feeding device, wherein the feed section serves to receive and temporarily guide the hard metal powder raw material; a granulation section connected to the feed section, wherein the granulation section serves to granulate the hard metal powder raw material conveyed from the feed section and to produce a mixture of particles and fine powder; a friction sieve section connected to the granulation section, wherein the friction sieve section serves for friction sieving of the mixture produced by the granulation section to produce qualified particles; a particle discharge section connected to the friction sieve section, wherein the particle discharge section serves to collect and discharge the friction-tested and sieved particles.

[0007] The feeder section also includes: a feed hopper connected to the external feeding device, wherein the feed hopper serves to receive the hard metal powder raw material; a feed pipe that is connected to the feed hopper, the feed pipe serving to ensure the uniform flow of the hard metal powder raw material.

[0008] The granulation section also includes: a material cylinder that serves to hold the hard metal powder raw material and to provide a granulation space; a drive mechanism located on the outer top of the material cylinder, wherein the drive mechanism serves to provide the rotational force required for granulation and friction sieving;

[0009] Granulators that are connected to the drive mechanism, wherein the granulators serve to deform the hard metal powder by rotary extrusion under the drive of the drive mechanism, thus forming a mixture of particles and fine powder.

[0010] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes: a drive shaft connected to the output of the drive mechanism, wherein the drive shaft serves to transmit the rotational force to the granulating section and the friction screen section; a granulator connecting arm connected to the lower end of the drive shaft, the granulator connecting arm serving to secure and drive the granulators to rotate within the material cylinder.

[0011] The friction sieve section also includes: Friction screen wings connected to the drive shaft, wherein the friction screen wings serve to deagglomerate the mixture discharged from the granulating section and to distribute it downwards; a friction screen plate arranged below the friction screen wings, wherein the friction screen plate serves to sieve the falling mixture so that qualified particles of the required particle size pass through.

[0012] Furthermore, the particle drainage section includes: a conical particle collection container connected to the friction screen plate, wherein the conical particle collection container serves to store the directed qualified particles; a discharge pipe that is connected to the conical particle collection container, the discharge pipe serving to discharge the particles.

[0013] Furthermore, the inlet pipe is made of food-grade material. The surface of the granulator is also coated with a non-stick finish. Additionally, the sieve holes of the grinding sieve plate are polygonal and evenly distributed.

[0014] Furthermore, a pneumatic valve is arranged on the discharge pipe. Compared to the prior art, the advantages of the present utility model are as follows: By integrating the feed, granulation, friction screening, and discharge functions into a single unit, a closed, continuous treatment of the hard metal powder is achieved. This effectively solves the problems of frequent material transfers, long production cycles, and cross-contamination caused by conventional, separate systems, thus improving the overall efficiency and purity of production. Secondly, the granulation section, through the interaction of rotary extrusion and the drive mechanism, can efficiently and uniformly process the hard metal powder raw material into particles, thereby significantly improving the particle size distribution and density uniformity.Furthermore, the friction screen section, through the interaction of the friction screen wings and friction screen plate, effectively separates the fine powder adhering to the particle surfaces. This ensures the purity and flowability of the qualified particles, avoids the risk of mesh clogging and incomplete screening found in conventional sieving methods, and guarantees consistent product quality. Finally, the coordinated design and seamless connection of the individual modules enable automation and optimization of the entire process, from raw material feeding and granulation to sieving and particle collection. This significantly increases the continuity and controllability of the production line, while also reducing human intervention and energy consumption, thus contributing to improved overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness in hard metal powder metallurgy. Description of the attached drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the internal structure of a granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the external structure of the granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to an embodiment of the present utility model; and Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the connection of granulators of the granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0015] In the figures: 110. Inlet hopper; 120. Inlet pipe; 210. Material cylinder; 220. Drive mechanism; 221. Drive shaft; 222. Granulator connecting arm; 230. Granulator; 310. Friction screen blade; 320. Friction screen plate; 410. Conical particle collection container; 420. Discharge pipe. Examples of implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model are described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only parts of the embodiments of this utility model and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this utility model, all further embodiments that a person skilled in the art could obtain in the field without inventive activity fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0017] In the description of this utility model, it is understood that the terms "center," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "upper edge," "lower edge," "inside," "outside," etc., denote the orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings. These terms serve only to better describe this utility model and to simplify the description, but do not indicate or imply that the designated device or component must have a specific orientation, be designed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore must not be understood as a limitation of this utility model.

[0018] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and must not be interpreted as indicating or implying a relative meaning or as implicitly specifying the number of the technical features designated. Therefore, the features designated as "first" and "second" may expressly or implicitly include one or more of these features. In the description of this utility model, "several" means two or more unless otherwise specified.

[0019] The description of this utility model should point out that the terms "assembly," "connection," and "connection" are to be understood broadly unless expressly defined and limited otherwise; for example, they may refer to a permanent connection, a detachable connection, or a single, unified connection; they may refer to a mechanical or an electrical connection; they may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, and a connection within two components is possible. For the average person skilled in the art in this field, the above terms may be understood in a specific way depending on the particular situation.

[0020] As in Fig. 1 to Fig.Figure 3 shows a granulating and friction screening machine for hard metal powder according to some embodiments of the present utility model: a feed section, a granulating section, a friction screening section and a particle discharge section.

[0021] Specifically, the feed section serves to receive the hard metal powder raw material and for its preliminary conveyance; the granulation section is connected to the feed section, wherein the granulation section serves to granulate the supplied powder raw material and to produce a mixture of particles and fine powder; the friction screen section is connected to the granulation section, wherein the friction screen section serves to deagglomerate and sieve the mixture to obtain qualified particles; the particle discharge section is connected to the friction screen section, wherein the particle discharge section serves to collect and discharge the sieved qualified particles.

[0022] It is understandable that the high degree of integration and continuous design of the feed, granulation, friction sieving and particle removal functions results in a completely closed, highly efficient continuous production chain from raw material intake through particle forming, fine powder separation to the collection of qualified particles.Specifically, the feed section first provides a stable, uniform base for the raw material supply to the system, preventing dust formation and uneven feeding; then, the granulation section rapidly forms the powder into particles through rotary extrusion, simultaneously creating a mixture of particles and fine powder in a specific proportion; subsequently, the friction screen section effectively deagglomerates the adhering particles using high-speed friction screen wings and, in conjunction with the friction screen plate, achieves a highly efficient separation of particles and fine powder to ensure the purity and uniformity of the final particles; finally, the particle discharge section collects the qualified products in a concentrated manner and discharges them smoothly.The entire process is carried out continuously within a single enclosed space, which significantly reduces the number of material transfers, minimizes the risk of cross-contamination, and considerably increases production efficiency and product quality stability.

[0023] Specifically, the feed section comprises: a feed hopper 110, which is connected to an external feeding device, wherein the feed hopper 110 serves to receive the hard metal powder raw material; a feed pipe 120, which is connected to the feed hopper 110, wherein the feed pipe 120 serves to guide the hard metal powder raw material uniformly.

[0024] It is understandable that by providing a feed hopper 110 with a suitable volume and appropriate conicity, as well as a feed pipe 120 matched to it, a stable intake and a pulse-free uniform supply of the powder raw material can be achieved, thereby effectively avoiding the phenomena common in conventional feeding methods such as bridging, pulsing and uneven flow, so that a continuous, stable material basis is provided for the subsequent granulation process.In specific embodiments of the present utility model, the aforementioned structures are implemented as follows: The feed hopper 110 typically has a conical structure with a large cross-section at the top and a small cross-section at the bottom, the upper opening being fitted with a dust cover or connected to a closed conveying system of the preceding process; the material is usually stainless steel or surface-polished carbon steel. The feed pipe 120 can be a smooth-walled round pipe or a flexible connecting pipe, the inner diameter of which is designed according to the throughput and the flowability of the powder and is typically in the range of 80 mm to 150 mm to ensure smooth material flow and prevent blockages.To prevent material contamination from the source and to facilitate cleaning, the material of the inlet pipe is preferably food-grade stainless steel or another material that meets food hygiene requirements. In some embodiments, a vibrator or a pneumatic hammer can also be arranged at a suitable point in the pipe to assist in bridging, thereby further improving the reliability of the feed. The embodiments described above represent only preferred examples of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and the like made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included in the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0025] Specifically, the granulation section comprises: a material cylinder 210, which serves to receive the hard metal powder raw material and to provide a granulation chamber; a drive mechanism 220, which is arranged on the outer top of the material cylinder, wherein the drive mechanism 220 serves to provide the rotational force required for granulation and friction sieving; granulators 230, which are connected to the drive mechanism 220, wherein the granulators 230 serve to deform the hard metal powder by rotary extrusion under the drive of the drive mechanism 220 and thus form a mixture of particles and fine powder.

[0026] It is understandable that the granulation section, through the drive mechanism 220, provides a stable rotational force, which drives the granulator 230 to rotate within the material cylinder, thereby extruding, kneading and shaping the powder, thus achieving a transition of the powder from a loose state to a particulate state with a certain strength and density, while at the same time retaining an appropriate amount of fine powder to allow subsequent separation by friction sieving.

[0027] In specific embodiments of the present utility model, the aforementioned structures are implemented as follows: The material cylinder 210 typically has a cylindrical or slightly conical structure, the inner surface of which can be polished or provided with a wear-resistant non-stick coating. The drive mechanism 220 usually uses a geared motor or a frequency-controlled motor, the power of which is matched to the throughput. The granulators 230 can have a multi-blade structure, a helical conveying structure, or a disc-shaped structure, the surface of which is typically provided with a non-stick coating (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene or a special ceramic coating) and which are reliably connected to the drive shaft 221 via a granulator connecting arm 222.An appropriate gap (usually 2 mm to 8 mm) is maintained between the granulators 230 and the inner surface of the material cylinder 210, ensuring both the extrusion effect and avoiding excessive wear.

[0028] The embodiments mentioned above merely represent preferred examples of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and the like made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0029] Specifically, the friction screen section comprises: friction screen wings 310 connected to the drive shaft 221, wherein the friction screen wings 310 serve to deagglomerate the mixture discharged from the granulating section and to distribute it downwards; a friction screen plate 320 arranged below the friction screen wings 310, wherein the friction screen plate 320 serves to sieve the falling mixture so that qualified particles of the required particle size pass through.

[0030] It is understandable that the friction screen section uses a combination of mechanical deagglomeration and passive screening, whereby the airflow and mechanical force generated by the high rotation of the friction screen wings 310 effectively deagglomerate the adhering particles and, at the same time, by utilizing gravity and the selective permeability of the screen holes, a highly efficient separation of particles and fine powders is achieved, ensuring clean surfaces and good flowability of the final particles.

[0031] In specific embodiments of the present utility model, the structures mentioned above are implemented as follows: The friction screen blades 310 can be designed as 2 to 6 inclined or curved blades, the angle of attack of which is matched to the rotational speed in order to generate a suitable downward thrust and dispersing effect. The friction screen plate 320 typically uses a perforated plate or a mesh, wherein the screen holes can be square or polygonal (polygonal holes offer advantages in preventing clogging) and the hole size is precisely designed according to the desired particle size (typical range 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm). In some demanding applications, a slight vibration assist can also be arranged below the friction screen plate, thereby further improving the screening efficiency.

[0032] The embodiments mentioned above merely represent preferred examples of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, and the like made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0033] Specifically, the particle discharge section comprises: a conical particle collection container 410, which is connected to the friction screen plate 320, wherein the conical particle collection container 410 serves to store the directed qualified particles; a discharge pipe 420, which is connected to the conical particle collection container 410, wherein the discharge pipe 420 serves to discharge the particles.

[0034] It is understandable that the particle discharge section uses a conical collection structure which promotes natural concentration and smooth discharge of the material, with the discharge pipe being directly connected to a subsequent process or packaging facility to achieve continuous production.

[0035] In specific embodiments of the present utility model, the aforementioned structures are implemented as follows: The cone angle of the conical particle collection container 410 is typically maintained in the range of 50° to 70° to prevent material adhesion and bridging. The discharge pipe 420 can be a straight stainless steel pipe or a flexible connecting pipe, the diameter of which is designed according to the throughput capacity, with a pneumatic valve or a star valve arranged at the outlet to enable metered, continuous, or intermittent material discharge.

[0036] The granulating and friction screening machine for hard metal powder, according to the above-mentioned embodiments, provides a reliable basis for the stable feeding and highly efficient particle formation of the hard metal powder raw material by offering an integrated feed section and granulating section. This ensures continuity and process stability from raw material feeding to particle formation, thus significantly improving the operational reliability and long-term service life of the device. Secondly, in the granulating section, the coordinated interaction of the drive mechanism and the non-stick coated granulators enables uniform, stable rotary extrusion and deformation of the hard metal powder, effectively improving the formation rate and particle density uniformity.Furthermore, the friction screen section, through the combination of high-speed friction screen wings for deagglomeration and a precision friction screen plate for sieving, achieves sufficient deagglomeration of adhering particles as well as highly efficient and complete separation of particles and fine powders, thereby significantly improving the surface cleanliness, flowability, and dimensional uniformity of the qualified particles. Finally, the particle discharge section, through the interaction of the conical particle collection container with the controllable discharge pipe, enables not only smooth collection and stable discharge of the qualified particles but also seamless integration with downstream processes, thus ensuring the continuity of the production line.It is understandable that the present utility model implements a closed, continuous, and integrated design of the entire process, from uniform powder feed and rotary extrusion for granulation to mechanical deagglomeration, friction screening, and the collection and discharge of the qualified particles. This not only significantly improves the manufacturing efficiency and consistency of the product quality of cemented carbide particles but also considerably reduces the problems of material transfer losses, extended production cycles, and cross-contamination caused by conventional, separate processes. At the same time, operational stability and ease of operation and maintenance are taken into account, resulting in a more efficient, reliable, and economical overall operation of the cemented carbide powder granulation and friction screening system.

[0037] The embodiments mentioned above merely represent preferred examples of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0038] It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can make various modifications and adaptations to the present utility model without altering its concept and scope. Provided that these modifications and adaptations fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present utility model and their equivalent technical solutions, the present utility model shall also encompass these modifications and adaptations.

Claims

[1] A granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder, characterized by that it includes: a feed section that is connected to an external feeding device, wherein the inlet section serves to receive and temporarily guide the hard metal powder raw material; a granulation section connected to the feed section, wherein the granulation section serves to granulate the hard metal powder raw material conveyed from the feed section and to produce a mixture of particles and fine powder; a friction sieve section connected to the granulation section, wherein the friction sieve section serves for friction sieving of the mixture produced by the granulation section to produce qualified particles; a particle discharge section connected to the friction sieve section, wherein the particle discharge section serves to collect and discharge the friction-tested and sieved particles. [2] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 1, characterized by , that the inlet section includes: a feed hopper connected to the external feeding device, wherein the feed hopper serves to receive the hard metal powder raw material; a feed pipe connected to the feed hopper, wherein the feed pipe serves to uniformly guide the hard metal powder raw material. [3] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 2, characterized by , that the granulation section includes: a material cylinder that serves to hold the hard metal powder raw material and to provide a granulation space; a drive mechanism located on the outer top of the material cylinder, wherein the drive mechanism serves to provide the rotational force required for granulation and friction sieving; Granulators that are connected to the drive mechanism, wherein the granulators serve to deform the hard metal powder by rotary extrusion under the drive of the drive mechanism, thus forming a mixture of particles and fine powder. [4] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 3, characterized by , that the drive mechanism includes: a drive shaft connected to the output of the drive mechanism, wherein the drive shaft serves to transmit the rotational force to the granulating section and the friction screen section; a granulator connecting arm connected to the lower end of the drive shaft, the granulator connecting arm serving to secure and drive the granulators for rotation within the material cylinder. [5] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 4, characterized by , that the friction sieve section includes: Friction screen wings connected to the drive shaft, wherein the friction screen wings serve to deagglomerate the mixture discharged from the granulating section and to distribute it downwards; a friction screen plate arranged below the friction screen wings, wherein the friction screen plate serves to sieve the falling mixture so that qualified particles of the required particle size pass through. [6] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 5, characterized by , that the particle discharge section includes: a conical particle collection container connected to the friction screen plate, wherein the conical particle collection container serves to store the directed qualified particles; a discharge pipe that is connected to the conical particle collection container, the discharge pipe serving to discharge the particles. [7] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 2, characterized by that the inlet pipe is made of a food-grade material. [8] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 3, characterized by that the surface of the granulators is coated with a non-stick coating. [9] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 5, characterized by that the sieve holes of the friction sieve plate are polygonal and evenly distributed. [10] The granulating and friction sieving machine for hard metal powder according to claim 6, characterized bythat a pneumatic valve is arranged on the discharge pipe.

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