SPREADING ROLLER FOR A DISTRIBUTION DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spreading roller for a distribution device for granules or fibers, wherein the spreading roller has a supporting, cylindrical core, can be rotatably mounted on a frame of the distribution device, and wherein on the outer circumference of the core, at least in sections, a plastic covering is provided, which is provided with bristles and / or pins.

[0002] European Patent Application EP 1 010 508 A1 discloses a spreading machine for wood chips, fibers, and the like. The spreading machine has spreading rollers. Each of the spreading rollers has a base body fitted with several rings. The rings are mounted on the roller body. The rings are made of metal.

[0003] European Patent Application EP 1 231 039 A2 discloses a spreading head for spreading chip mats. The spreading head comprises several spreading rollers arranged parallel to one another and rotating. The spreading rollers are equipped with rows of spikes, each mounted on individual rings on a roller base. Compression springs are inserted between adjacent rings.

[0004] German utility model DE 29617541 U1 discloses a powder spreading machine featuring a needle roller. The needle roller is a hollow roller and is detachably connected to its roller bearing shaft, allowing for easy replacement.

[0005] The invention is intended to improve the handling of a spreading roller.

[0006] According to the invention, a spreading roller for a distribution device for granules or fibers is provided for this purpose, wherein the spreading roller has a supporting, cylindrical core, can be rotatably mounted on a frame of the distribution device and wherein on the outer circumference of the core, at least in sections, a plastic trim is provided, which is provided with bristles and / or pins, in which the plastic trim is tubular and is fastened to the core in a twist-proof and non-destructive manner so that it can be detachably fastened.

[0007] Spreading rollers are used in distribution devices designed to spread granules or fibers evenly across the width of the roller. For example, plastic granules are spread evenly onto a metal belt of a press, and the plastic granules are then used in the press to produce a floor covering. In numerous applications that involve the production of flat materials from fibers and / or granules, distribution devices with spreading rollers are required to spread the granules or fibers evenly across the width of a carrier belt, for example a plastic belt or a steel belt. The spreading roller according to the invention can be arranged at the outlet of a hopper, so that when the spreading roller rotates, granules or fibers are evenly removed from the hopper and spread onto the carrier.For fibers and special types of granules, the spreading roller is also located at the outlet of a hopper. Another spreading roller then takes over the material discharged from the hopper by the first spreading roller or brushes the material from the first spreading roller so that it then reaches the carrier. Depending on the material to be spread, the spreading rollers have different bristles and / or pins in the plastic trim, or the bristles and / or pins are attached to the plastic trim in different patterns. Bristles are usually attached to blind holes in the plastic trim. Pins are inserted into blind holes in the plastic trim.

[0008] According to the invention, the plastic trim is tubular and is attached to the core in a twist-proof and non-destructive manner, allowing it to be easily replaced when, for example, the bristles and / or pins are worn out. In conventional spreading rollers, the plastic trim is permanently attached to the supporting core and must be destroyed when the spreading roller is overhauled, for example by being turned off the core using a turning tool. Since the spreading rollers have widths of approximately 0.5 m to several meters, transporting them to a workshop equipped with the appropriate means for removing the plastic trim in the case of conventional spreading rollers is very complex. The invention remedy this problem by having the plastic trim in a tubular shape and being attached to the core in a twist-proof and non-destructive manner.A plastic trim with worn bristles and / or pins can therefore be pulled off the cylindrical core and replaced with a new plastic trim. The plastic trim is naturally much lighter and thus more manageable than the complete spreader roller and can therefore also be easily shipped. Above all, however, no special tool is required to twist the plastic trim off the supporting core to replace the plastic trim on the spreader roller according to the invention. Instead, the plastic trim can be easily pulled off the supporting, cylindrical core and a new plastic trim can be pushed onto the core. The invention makes it possible, for example, to keep several plastic trims on hand for replacement at the location of a distribution device. Since the plastic trim costs only a fraction of the price of the complete spreader roller, this is also possible in an economical manner.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the plastic trim is divided into several tubular segments over a length of the supporting core.

[0010] This further simplifies handling of the plastic trim. The production of the plastic trim is also made considerably easier, as, for example, a plastic trim several meters long can be manufactured in the form of several tubular segments. Several tubular segments, each just 0.5 m long, for example, can be manufactured much more precisely than a tubular plastic trim that is, for example, 3 m to 4 m long. The transport and storage of a plastic trim divided into several tubular segments are also significantly easier than transporting a non-divided plastic trim or even a conventional spreader roller.

[0011] According to the invention, at least one feather key is provided between an inner circumference of the plastic trim and an outer circumference of the core.

[0012] A parallel key is a strip that engages one side into a groove in the core and the other side into a groove in the plastic insert. Parallel keys are available as inexpensive standard parts. Using one or more parallel keys between the plastic insert and the core, a rotational position of the plastic insert on the core can be determined. The tubular plastic insert can be attached to the core in a rotationally secure manner, but can be moved longitudinally along the core, thus allowing non-destructive removal. For example, three parallel keys are used between the plastic insert and the core, evenly spaced around the circumference of the core.

[0013] In a further development of the invention, a diameter of the inner circumference of the plastic trim and a diameter of the outer circumference of the core are matched to one another in such a way that the plastic trim can be pushed onto the core, but sits on the core without play.

[0014] This allows the spreader roller to be manufactured with extreme precision and tight tolerances, which is essential for a consistent spreading result. At the same time, the plastic trim can be attached to the core in a non-destructive, removable manner.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, the core is provided with a stop on its outer circumference at one end and with a thread for screwing on a nut at its opposite end.

[0016] In the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller, i.e., across its width, the plastic trim can be securely clamped and locked between the stop and the nut. This is particularly advantageous when the plastic trim is divided into several tubular segments, which are then pre-tensioned against each other by the stop and the screwed-on nut, thus ensuring a tight fit.

[0017] In a further development of the invention, the core consists of steel or plastic, in particular carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

[0018] Steel cores can be manufactured with high precision, but are comparatively heavy. For large spreader roller widths, such as widths of 3 m to 4 m, this results in a high weight, and the weight of the spreader roller can also cause it to deflect. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic cores can also be manufactured with high precision and have the advantage of being significantly lighter than steel cores.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the plastic trim is made of polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyamide (PA).

[0020] Both polyoxymethylene and polyamide are high-density plastics that can be machined with extreme precision and tight tolerances. This makes it possible to manufacture a tubular plastic insert so precisely that it can be slid onto the core, yet sits on the core with no play. Bristles and / or pins can also be securely and precisely anchored in a plastic insert made of polyoxymethylene or polyamide.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1a view of a spreading roller according to the invention from the front, Fig. 2a view of the spreading roller of the Fig. 1 from behind, Fig. 3 an enlarged view of detail C from Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 an enlarged view of detail D from Fig. 2 , Fig. 5a side view of the spreading roller of the Fig. 1 , Fig. 6a view of the section plane AA in Fig. 5 , Fig. 7a view of the section plane BB in Fig. 5 , Fig. 8 an enlarged view of detail E in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9 an exploded view of the spreading roller of the Fig. 1 in partially assembled condition.

[0022] The representation of the Fig. 1 shows a spreading roller 10 according to the invention, which has a supporting core 12 and a tubular plastic covering 14 arranged on the supporting core 12. The plastic covering 14 is provided with numerous pins over its circumference, cf. Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 , which protrude in the radial direction. The pins are each arranged in blind holes in the plastic trim 14. As in Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 As can be seen, only some of the pins are shown, several of the blind holes in the plastic trim 14 are shown without inserted pins. Instead of the Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 Bristles, for example, can also be inserted into the blind holes in place of the visible pins. A mixed arrangement of bristles and pins is possible. The number and arrangement of the pins and / or bristles on the plastic trim 14 is selected depending on the intended application.

[0023] The supporting core 12 is provided at both ends with bearing pins 20, 22, which are then rotatably mounted in a distribution device.

[0024] In a distribution device, the spreading roller 10 is typically arranged below an outlet opening of a hopper. The width of the outlet opening usually corresponds to the width of the plastic lining 14 of the spreading roller 10, so that granules or fibers from the hopper can reach the plastic lining 14 across the entire width of the plastic lining 14 of the spreading roller 10 and be discharged from the hopper. A gap between the outer circumference of the plastic lining 14 of the spreading roller 10 and the outlet opening of the hopper is dimensioned such that granules and / or fibers are discharged from the hopper only when the spreading roller 10 is rotating. The amount of granules and / or fibers discharged can thus be adjusted via a rotational speed of the spreading roller 10.From the outer circumference of the spreading roller 10, the discharged granules and / or fibers then typically fall onto a conveyor belt, for example, a plastic belt or a steel belt, and are then processed into a compact, flat covering in a downstream press and / or heating device. For fibers and special granules, it is also common to provide another spreading roller in addition to the spreading roller 10, also referred to as a brushing roller. This then brushes out or picks up the granules and / or fibers caught between the pins and / or bristles of the spreading roller 10 and only then deposits them onto a belt-shaped carrier.

[0025] In Fig. 1 It can be seen that in the region of a first end of the supporting core, a nut 24 is screwed onto the core 12. At the opposite end, the core 12 is provided with a circumferential stop 26. The plastic trim 14 is fixed in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller 10, i.e. in the axial direction of the spreading roller 10, by means of the stop 26 and the nut 24. The nut 24 is pre-tensioned so that the plastic trim 14 rests against the stop 26 and the nut 24 without play. As will be explained, the plastic trim 14 consists of several tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, which are pre-tensioned against one another by means of the nut 24 and the stop 26 and thus rest against one another with their end faces without play.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows the spreading roller 10 of the Fig. 1 in a view from the rear. In this view, stop 26 is facing the viewer.

[0027] Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of detail C of the Fig. 1 The bearing pin 20 can be seen at the end of the supporting core 12. The bearing pin 20 is stepped in terms of its diameter. At its free end, the bearing pin 20 has a groove 30 running in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller 10. A key, for example, can be inserted into this groove 30, which then in turn engages a drive device for the spreading roller 10.

[0028] In the area of ​​the nut 24, it can be seen that an outer circumference of the core is provided with several longitudinally continuous grooves 32. The grooves 32 are not provided in the area of ​​the bearing journals 20, 22. A total of three longitudinally continuous grooves 32 are provided on the outer circumference of the supporting core 12, see FIG. Fig. 4 . In these grooves 32, keys are inserted, which are then arranged on the one hand in the grooves 32 of the supporting core 12 and on the other hand in grooves on the inner circumference of the plastic trim 14. By means of such, in the Fig. 3 und 4 The plastic trim 14 can be secured against rotation on the supporting core 12 using non-recognizable keys, which are available as standard parts.

[0029] In Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 Also visible are some pins 16, which are inserted into blind holes in the plastic trim 14 and extend radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the spreading roller 10. The pattern in which the pins 16 and the blind holes 18 are arranged depends on the intended application of the spreading roller 10, i.e., on which granules or fibers are to be spread by the spreading roller 10.

[0030] The representation of the Fig. 5 shows a side view of the spreading roller 10 of the Fig. 1 . The two bearing journals 20, 22 each project beyond a cylindrical section of the supporting core 12 with a constant diameter in the longitudinal direction. On the side of the bearing journal 22, the stop 26 is provided at one end of the cylindrical section, and on the side of the bearing journal 20, the nut 24 is provided at the other end of the cylindrical section. Fig. 5 The grooves 32, which are not visible, extend from the Fig. 5 right end of the cylindrical section to the stop 26

[0031] Fig. 6 shows a view of the section plane AA in Fig. 5 It can be seen that the spreading roller 10, and specifically the supporting core 12 of the spreading roller 10, is hollow inside. The bearing pin 20 is received in a first end cover 40 of the supporting core, which in turn is attached to a first end of a hollow cylinder 44 and thus closes off the interior of the hollow cylinder 44 on one side.

[0032] The bearing journal 22 opposite the bearing journal 20 is arranged in a second end cover 42, which in turn closes the opposite end of the hollow cylinder 44. An outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 is circularly cylindrical. The outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 forms the cylindrical section on which the plastic trim 14 is arranged. At the level of the end cover 42, the annular stop 26 is fixed to the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44. The nut 24 is screwed onto an external thread of the hollow cylinder 44 in the region of the first end cover 40. The hollow cylinder 44 forms the circular cylindrical section with a constant diameter in the region between the nut 24 and the stop 26, this diameter being larger than the diameter of the bearing journals 20, 22.

[0033] The four tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are pushed onto this circular cylindrical section on the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44, which together form the plastic trim 14. The tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d are clamped against each other by means of the nut 24 and the stop 26, so that the Fig. 6 The end face of the tubular segment 14a shown on the right rests against the nut 24 without play, which Fig. 6 The left-hand end face of the tubular segment 14d rests against the stop 26 without play, and the end faces of the tubular segments 14b, 14c rest against one another or against the end faces of the tubular segments 14a, 14b facing them without play. Essential to the function of the spreading roller 10 according to the invention is that the end faces of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d rest against one another without play. As a result, an outer circumference of the plastic trim 14 is designed extremely precisely and with extremely small deviations from a circular cylindrical shape, so that a uniform spreading result can be ensured over the entire length of the plastic trim 14.

[0034] The tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d are arranged on the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 without any play. The inner circumference of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d is so precisely matched to the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 that the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be slid onto the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 when the nut 24 is removed. However, when slid onto the hollow cylinder 44, they are arranged on the hollow cylinder 44 without any play in the radial direction.

[0035] A rotation lock of the plastic trim 14 relative to the supporting core 12, in the illustrated embodiment thus a rotation lock of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d relative to the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44, is achieved in that, see Fig. 7 The outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 is provided with three longitudinally continuous grooves 32, in each of which several parallel keys 50 are arranged one behind the other. An inner circumference of the plastic trim 14, i.e., an inner circumference of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, is also provided with three grooves evenly spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. The parallel keys 50 are dimensioned such that they engage, on the one hand, in the grooves 32 in the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 and, on the other hand, in the grooves on the inner circumference of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the plastic trim 14. By means of the keys 50, the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be arranged in a rotationally secure manner on the supporting core 12 or in a rotationally secure manner on the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44.

[0036] Fig. 8 shows the detail E in Fig. 5 in enlarged view. Fig. 8 shows a section of the hole pattern formed by the blind holes 18 in the plastic trim 14. It is Fig. 8 It can be seen that the blind holes have an oval cross-section. When circular cylindrical pins are driven into the blind holes 18, the blind holes 18 expand, and at the same time, the pins 16 are pressed into the blind holes 18 and are thus securely positioned in the blind holes 18.

[0037] Fig. 9 shows the spreading roller 10 of the Fig. 1 in disassembled, cut-apart and partially assembled condition. In the condition of Fig. 9 Only the tubular segments 14b, 14c and 14d are already pushed onto the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder of the supporting core 12. The tubular segment 14d is Fig. 9 The end face shown on the left is still spaced from the stop 26. There is also a distance between the tubular segment 14d and the tubular segment 14c as well as between the tubular segment 14c and the tubular segment 14b. As a result, Fig. 9 to see how the keys 50 are inserted into the grooves 32 in the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44. Since the grooves 32 in the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 and the Fig. 9 not visible grooves on the inner circumference of the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d run in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller 10, the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be pushed onto the hollow cylinder 44 in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] If, based on the state of the Fig. 9 , which in Fig. 9 the end face of the tubular segment 14d shown on the left rests against the stop 26, and the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c are pushed onto the hollow cylinder 44 in such a way that their end faces rest against each other, the nut 24 is screwed onto a Fig. 9 only schematically indicated external thread 54 on the Fig. 9 right end of the hollow cylinder 44. By means of the nut 24, the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can be pretensioned against each other and against the stop 26, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller 10.

[0039] If the plastic trim 14 is worn, for example, if the pins 16 of the plastic trim 14 are worn, the plastic trim 14 can be easily replaced by unscrewing the nut 24 from the hollow cylinder 44 and pulling the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d off the hollow cylinder 44. New tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d can then, as explained, be pushed back onto the hollow cylinder 44 and secured and preloaded against one another by means of the nut 24. The keys 50 ensure anti-twist protection between the tubular segments 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the plastic trim 14 and the core 12 or the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 44 of the core 12.

Claims

1. A spreader roll (10) for a distributing device for granular material or fibers, wherein the spreader roll (10) has a load-bearing, cylindrical core (12) and can be rotatably mounted on a frame of the distributing device, and wherein a plastic trim (14) fitted with bristles and / or pins is provided on at least part of the outer circumference of the core (12), characterized in that the plastic trim is tubular and is co-rotationally and non-destructively detachably fixed to the core, and in that at least one feather key (50) is provided between an inner circumference of the plastic trim (14) and an outer circumference of the core (12).

2. The spreader roll as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plastic trim (14) is subdivided into a plurality of tubular segments (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), as viewed over a length of the load-bearing core (12) .

3. The spreader roll as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a diameter of the inner circumference of the plastic trim (14) and a diameter of the outer circumference of the core (12) are matched to each other in such a way that the plastic trim (14) can be pushed onto the core (12) but sits on the core (12) without play.

4. The spreader roll as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (12) is provided with a stop (26) on its outer circumference at one end and with a thread (54) for a nut (24) to be screwed on at its opposite end.

5. The spreader roll as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (12) consists of steel or plastic, in particular carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

6. The spreader roll as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic trim (14) is formed from polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyamide (PA).