Device and method for maintaining knife rings of knife-ring flakers

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for maintaining a knife ring of a knife ring chipper for comminuting materials according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method for maintaining a knife ring of a knife ring chipper for comminuting materials according to the preamble of patent claim 12.

[0003] For the production of material boards, such as particleboard or OSB boards, wood chips must be provided. Knife-ring chippers, such as those known from DE 199 07 415 B4 or DE 10 2015 005 642 A1, are used for this purpose. After chipping, the material is transferred to a system for the production of material boards. Typically, the shredded material is dried there (if necessary), glued, and spread into a mat for pressing, and finally pressed into a material board, preferably in a continuously operating press.

[0004] Sharpening and cleaning devices for knife rings are known from DE 197 18 681 A1, DE 199 00 924 A1, DE 199 01 887 A1, and DE 10 2015 003 520 B4. These devices can be used to prepare or maintain the knife rings. This means that the knives or knife packages are generally removed from the knife rings, inspected, sharpened, and reinstalled. When the wear limit is reached, the corresponding tool parts are replaced. The knife ring is then ready for machining and ready for installation in a knife ring chipper. A semi-automatic setup device, for example, is known from DE 101 17 480 A1, in which the knife packages are manually removed from a knife ring and transferred to an automated device for sharpening.

[0005] From DE 199 21 383 A1 a transport trolley for knife rings is known and discloses the preamble of the main claim 1.

[0006] DE 41 14 840 A1 discloses a method and device for automatically replacing regrindable knives on a knife ring for knife ring chippers. For this purpose, the knife ring is mounted in rollers with grooves in which the ring disks of the knife ring are held. The design requires that only knife rings with the same distance between the ring disks can be inserted into this device. To ensure that the same knife rings are arranged on the manipulation units, an adjustable pressure roller is provided, which is used for reproducible final positioning of the similar knife rings.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method with which better cycle times for the maintenance of a knife ring can be achieved and the degree of automation of the setup or maintenance for different knife rings or chippers can be significantly increased.

[0008] The term maintenance or set-up refers to the reworking, preparation, cleaning or similar processes such as removing the knives, sharpening the knives and inserting sharpened knives into the knife ring, which are suitable for restoring the convertible knife ring to a usable condition and / or converting it for other applications.

[0009] A knife ring consists, among other things, of two spaced-apart rings, between or on which knives, knife assemblies (knives + clamping plate), knife assembly holders, and / or wear plates, as well as other, possibly statically supporting machine elements, are arranged. Some or all of these machine elements can be replaced, reworked, or repositioned during the setup process to prepare the knife ring for later use in a chipper.

[0010] A generic device for receiving and rotating a knife ring during the maintenance of a knife ring of a knife ring chipper for comminuting materials generally comprises at least one, preferably two holding devices receiving the knife ring at a distance from one another for rotatably supporting the knife ring in a rotating frame.

[0011] The task is solved for a corresponding device in that the holding devices are suitable for the storage of different knife rings.

[0012] The knife rings can be different, for example in their diameter, with regard to the number of knives / knife packages on the circumference, with regard to the length of the knives, thus the width of the knife ring, with regard to the number, position, shape of the screws on the knives / knife packages, and / or with regard to other adjusting devices, projections, handle elements on the knife packages, etc.

[0013] Knife rings with the same diameter can also have different designs. This can include different mounting angles of the knives, different screw connections or mounting brackets, as well as different numbers of screw connections (type of screw connection, screw spacing, screw connection position). However, knife rings can also have different diameters, widths, or other geometries (rings, ring width, radii on the outer sides of the rings, etc.), and can also include different knife rings (design, ring types, size) from different manufacturers.

[0014] Bearings not only mean the correct positioning of the corresponding and engageable individual devices (cleaning, screwing, measuring devices, etc.), but also, if necessary, the possibility of rotating the knife ring, preferably through active or passively rotating bearings. In particular, it is now possible to design the device so that the axis of rotation around which the knife ring rotates during maintenance does not change regardless of the knife ring diameter. It may therefore be sufficient for a turret to have one or more identical and / or different supports arranged at different distances from its axis of rotation. To support this, the turret can be adjusted horizontally or vertically with regard to its axis.

[0015] Particularly preferably, supports for storing different knife rings are arranged in the holding device, which are adaptable and / or interchangeable with regard to their position, location or properties.

[0016] It is advantageously provided that, before being inserted into the holding device, the type, size, or other properties of the incoming knife ring are queried, entered by an operator, or transmitted by other devices. Most preferably, the knife ring can be read using suitable means (reader / RFID) before being accepted, so that the holding device or the supports can be positioned, adapted, and / or replaced accordingly before contact with the knife ring is established.

[0017] The holding device or the supports can be arranged either stationary in the device and / or on a universal carriage that can be moved into and out of the bogie.

[0018] One embodiment of the invention is when the universal trolley, as part of the device, also has a corresponding variable holding device. The storage in the device or in the bogie can be provided by the holding devices on the universal trolley, or two different holding devices with supports can be arranged, and a holding device on the bogie in the device receives the knife ring and holds it in its own support. This can be useful if the universal trolley is needed for other knife ring transport tasks during maintenance or if it should not remain in the bogie during the setup process.

[0019] Particularly preferably, a turret head with at least one, preferably two, different supports can be arranged to change the position of the supports. This allows the positions of the individual supports to be variably adjusted, so that different supports engage for different knife rings. At the same time, the rotation of the turret head can also be used to change or optimize the bearing or position of the knife ring.

[0020] A turret head is a device characterized by the fact that, by rotating, various elements, in this case supports, can be engaged while the others are out of reach. This solution is not limited to supports or holding devices, but can also be used for other machine parts that need to be modified or for individual machines in the device to adapt to different knife rings.

[0021] However, it is not mandatory that a turret rotary head must be arranged, but other devices that serve the purpose of adaptation, for example linear drives or the like, can also be used to adapt the device.

[0022] Alternatively or cumulatively, the supports and / or the turret head can be arranged to be linearly movable but coaxial with the rotational axis of a knife ring. This can be done simultaneously or alternately.

[0023] Alternatively or cumulatively, the holding devices and / or supports can be arranged on the inner and / or outer circumference of the knife ring. For example, it is possible to position the knife ring suspended on two roller-like bearings. This can be advantageous during heavily soiled cleaning operations, preventing the draining dirty water from coming into contact with the supports or getting between the supports and the knife ring.

[0024] The holding devices and / or the supports can therefore be arranged in the third and fourth or in the first and second quadrants relative to a horizontal axis of rotation of the knife ring as the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0025] In addition to the reception and rotation of the knife ring, it is advantageous if the device includes a screwing device, a cleaning device, a rotating device and / or a measuring station in the bogie or in operative connection with the knife ring.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, all or some of these machines are arranged so as to be interchangeable, changeable in their working position, or adaptable in their operating properties, depending on the size or type of knife ring.

[0027] This means that, for example, the screwing device or the screwdrivers arranged therein can be adjusted in their position relative to the knife ring and / or to each other in order to be able to screw on or off different knives or other parts.

[0028] The same applies to the other individual machines, which may need to be adaptable to different knife rings.

[0029] For this purpose, a large number of actuators, actuating devices and controls may be necessary and provided accordingly.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, a manipulation unit, preferably an industrial robot with a gripper for inserting and / or removing parts from the knife ring, is arranged in operative connection with the bogie or the knife ring. This can also be suitable for changing and / or adapting the gripper to the properties of the knife ring or the parts to be handled.

[0031] The invention defines an industrial robot as a multi-axially movable system that is universally programmable and suitable for handling, assembling, and, if necessary, machining workpieces. These robots have the advantage that they can be adapted to different circumstances, parameters, sizes, etc. through comparatively simple programming and, if necessary, do not require manual retooling, but can be used adaptively through programming or by exchanging handling equipment.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, a wall sealed against the environment can be arranged for fluid cleaning of the knife ring or its parts by the cleaning device. In a particularly preferred form, the device not only combines the ability to accommodate various knife rings, but also to clean and prepare them.

[0033] In this context, it can be advantageous to have closable openings on the wall, preferably as part of the wall, at least for the universal trolley and / or for other devices for performing activities in connection with the knife ring. For example, the wall or the openings can be closed during cleaning to prevent unnecessary contamination of the area surrounding the device. At the same time, various individual machines could be moved out of the cleaning area or the wall to prevent unnecessary exposure to moisture or dirt. Examples of this would be sensitive measuring stations or screwing devices.

[0034] Particularly preferably, the device can be arranged or used as part of a setup device for installing and removing knives, clamping plates, knife packs, knife carriers and / or wear plates.

[0035] Alternatively or cumulatively, means can be provided for receiving or transmitting information about the properties of the knife ring before or after maintenance from a programmable memory on the knife ring, from the control system of a neighboring knife ring warehouse, a neighboring knife ring chipper, and / or a functionally connected large-scale industrial plant control system, or vice versa. This is particularly useful in a higher-level plant control system, into which the device can be integrated if necessary.

[0036] Depending on the type or design of the turning device, it may be crucial that the axis of the various knife rings, for example, with different diameters, aligns with the rotation axis of the turning device. In this case, it is advantageous if the supports are arranged at different distances from the rotation axis of the turret head to ensure that the rotation axis of the knife rings is always positioned at the same location in the device. Preferably, with different diameters, different widths can also be achieved by using different supports.

[0037] The solution according to the invention for the method consists in that, before picking up a knife ring, one or more holding devices are compared with the properties of the knife ring and, if necessary, the holding device is adapted to the knife ring.

[0038] Alternatively or cumulatively, supports for storing different knife rings can be adjusted and / or positioned accordingly in the holding device with regard to their position, location or properties.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally, the knife rings can be transported into or out of the bogie using a universal carriage. In this case, a holding device or corresponding supports can be arranged on the universal carriage, or only on the universal carriage, which can be adjusted accordingly before the knife ring is picked up. The universal carriage, as a stationary carrier, possibly with a support in the device, takes over the function of the holding device. This eliminates the need for mechanical or manual transfer of the knife ring between the universal carriage and the device.

[0040] Alternatively or cumulatively, a turret rotary head with at least two different supports attached to it can be used to change the position of the supports, and preferably the supports and / or the turret rotary head are moved linearly but coaxially to the axis of rotation of a knife ring.

[0041] Alternatively or cumulatively, a screwing device, a cleaning device, a turning device, and / or a measuring station in the bogie, as well as, if necessary, a manipulation unit for parts of the knife ring, can be exchanged, their working position changed, or their operating properties adjusted depending on the size or type of knife ring. These adaptation options allow for the processing of various knife rings, as defined above.

[0042] Alternatively or cumulatively, a sealing wall can be used for fluid cleaning of the knife ring or its parts by the cleaning device.

[0043] Alternatively or cumulatively, properties of the knife ring before or after maintenance can be transmitted to or from a programmable memory on the knife ring, from or to a controller of an adjacent knife ring warehouse, from or to an adjacent knife ring chipper and / or from or to an operatively connected large-scale industrial plant controller via suitable means for receiving or transmitting information.

[0044] The adjustment or setting of the supports is preferably automated, but can also be done manually.

[0045] Further advantageous measures and embodiments of the subject matter of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description with the drawings.

[0046] The following illustrations should not be viewed as specific case studies, but rather contain some general hints and solutions to the problems. Individual sentences should be viewed as individual features.

[0047] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the device according to the invention as part of a setup device for processing knife rings, Fig. 2 is a side view of a universal transport carriage for knife rings and a knife ring stored therein, Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the device according to the invention showing the interchangeable supports for different knife rings and additional adaptive devices for adaptation to the processing of different knife rings, and Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment with a wall for sealing the device during cleaning of the knife ring.

[0048] Figure 1shows a schematic view from above of a device according to the invention, preferably as part of a setup device 14 for maintenance, sharpening and / or adjustment of parts of a knife ring 1.

[0049] In a first embodiment, the device comprises a bogie 11 in which two supports 16 for supporting the knife ring 1 are arranged on a frame 3. This bogie 11 is fed with knife rings 1 by a universal carriage 20, and the knife rings 1 are removed again after maintenance, usually after the installation of ground knives. The destination can be an automated warehouse or directly the production of shredded materials, i.e., a knife ring chipper. The universal carriage 20 comprises supports 16*, which can also be suitable for receiving and securing geometrically different knife rings 1, see also the universal carriage 20 according to Figure 2. These supports 16* can also be variable, interchangeable, or automatically interchangeable depending on the knife ring 1 to be stored or transported, as required, in order to set or have the correct or adapted supports 16 for the respective knife ring 1.

[0050] Preferably, the device comprises several universal carriages 20, which are suitable for transporting the knife rings 1. Alternatively, this can also be carried out by cranes or forklifts arranged in the production facility.

[0051] In a separate and independent embodiment not shown, the universal carriage 20 with a knife ring 1 moves into the bogie 11 and is suitable with its supports 16* to support the knife ring and to support it for rotation according to the requirements of the device or the bogie 11.

[0052] In the present example according to the Figure 1and 3 the universal carriage 20 moves into a free area of the bogie 11 and the knife ring 1 w is lifted from the universal carriage 20 by supports 16 on the bogie 11 and is rotatably mounted in the bogie 11. For the intermittent or continuous drive, a rotating device 15 is arranged on the bogie 11, cf. Figure 1 and 3 .

[0053] On the frame 3 in the bogie 11, a turret 18 is arranged coaxially and on both sides of the knife ring 1, which provides the appropriate supports 16 for the storage of the incoming knife ring 1 as needed. Not shown are any means for lifting the supports 16 or the turret 16 to receive the knife ring 1 from the universal carriage 20. In this embodiment, as well as in the separate embodiment above, a turret 18* (not shown) can also be arranged on the universal carriage 20.

[0054] After Figure 3the bogie 11 can have a frame 3 on which the supports 16 are interchangeable and adaptable to the type of respective knife ring 1.

[0055] Furthermore, a rotating device 15 is provided, which can be brought into engagement with the knife ring 1 and is suitable for rotating the knife ring 1 intermittently or continuously according to the specifications, while it is supported by the supports 16. The supports 16 are preferably designed as rollers. These can be provided across the width of the knife ring and preferably have grooves. Alternatively, the side rings of the knife ring 1 can also be guided in guides or grooves and mounted on separate, smaller rollers. The rotating device 15 can alternatively also be integrated into the supports 16 according to a separate embodiment.

[0056] In addition to the above devices, a cleaning device 13 can be arranged on the bogie 11 or in operative connection with the device. This cleaning device can clean parts of the knife ring 1 or the knife ring 1 itself intermittently or continuously. Brushes and a suction device are provided for dry cleaning. However, wet cleaning is also possible.

[0057] Alternatively or cumulatively, a screw device 12 for the knives, knife packs 4 / 5 or other parts of the knife ring 1 can be arranged in the device.

[0058] Alternatively or cumulatively, an industrial robot 10 can be used to transport the knives, knife packs or other parts from the device to a processing unit 22 or vice versa.

[0059] And further alternatively or cumulatively, a measuring station 17 can be arranged for the knives, the knife packages 4, 5, the wear plates and / or for the knife ring 1 itself.

[0060] The screwing device 12 has several spaced-apart screwing devices arranged across the width of the knife ring 1, which are suitable for loosening screwed-on parts of the knife ring 1 or for fixing other, usually reworked, parts. Preferably, a device or an industrial robot 10 is operatively connected, which picks up the loosened parts and supplies the reworked parts. Parts to be removed can be, for example, blunt knives or blunt knife packs 4. Parts to be inserted and fixed would be correspondingly sharp knives or sharp knife packs 5. The industrial robot 10 then transfers the corresponding parts to a processing unit 22, in which new or reworked parts are provided. For this purpose, the industrial robot has grippers 8, 9 for holding the parts, which after Figure 1 Knife packs 4 and 5 would be. Preferably, the grippers 8 and 9 are arranged on a rotatable double gripper 7.

[0061] Other devices on the bogie 11, if present, may also be adapted accordingly to different knife rings 1. For this purpose, the cleaning device 13 may have a width adjustment that can be adjusted to accommodate knife rings 1 of different widths. For specific cleaning positions across the width of the knife ring 1, the distances between the individual cleaning devices, e.g., brushes, can be variably adjustable to meet the requirements of the different knife rings 1.

[0062] The screw device 12 for the knife packs 4, 5 or the knives must also be provided with an adjustment option across the width if the screws are arranged differently for different knife rings 1.

[0063] Adjustment drives can be arranged for these different parameters of the knife rings 1. Alternatively, several devices, such as the screw device, the measuring station 17, the cleaning device, or others, are provided, which can be engaged as needed. However, adaptation, including the effective size, is preferred.

[0064] For example, the devices in question can be arranged so as to be adjustable linearly and coaxially to the knife ring 1.

[0065] In terms of process technology, a change from blunt knife packs 4 to new or sharpened knife packs 5 can proceed as follows.

[0066] The knife ring 1 is accommodated in the rotary frame 11 and rotatably mounted by the supports 16. The rotating device 15 is brought into engagement with the knife ring 1 and, if necessary, set to a zero point or evenly cycled in the direction of the arrow based on a fixed marking or a fixed point for the engagement of the rotating device 15 on the knife ring 1. The blunt knife assemblies 4 are guided past the cleaning device 13 and the backs (outer circumference) with the screw heads that fix the knife assembly 4 to the knife ring 1 are cleaned. Cleaning can be carried out once continuously along 360° or in cycles. In addition to removing the contamination, this also allows the screws to be exposed / cleaned for the subsequent removal process by the screw device 12.

[0067] After the knife ring 1 has come to a standstill, the automated screwing device 12 is moved to the screws and loosens them. The screws are held in the nuts of the screwing device 12. A free gripper 8, 9 of the industrial robot 10 will remove the knife pack 4 from the knife ring 1 with a gripper 8, 9. After pivoting to the processing station 22, the blunt knife pack 4 is placed there and a sharpened knife pack 5 is taken over. The industrial robot 10 pivots back and transfers or positions the sharp knife pack 5 in the knife ring 1. The screwing device 12 will then tighten the screws on the new knife pack 5, move out of engagement, and the rotating device 15 can cycle to the next knife pack 4 with a blunt knife.

[0068] After Figure 4and in a further embodiment, which is preferably independent but can also be combined with the previous features, the rotating device 11 can be encapsulated by a wall 21. This is advantageous when the cleaning device 13 or another cleaning device cleans the knife ring 1 with high-pressure fluid. The spray water should preferably not contaminate the adjacent system components. The wall 21 preferably has openings 6 for transporting the knife ring 1 and / or for the passage of sensitive individual parts of the device or the industrial robot 10. For example, the screwing device 12 and / or the measuring station 17 can be positioned outside the wall 21, while the high-pressure washing is carried out by the cleaning station 13 in the rotating frame 11. The openings 6 are preferably closed or opened with sliding or movable windows 2.The exemplary actuators are shown with double arrows 1622. List of reference symbols: P1622WO

[0069] 1.Knife ring 2.Window 3.Frame 4.Knife package blunt 5.Knife package sharp 6.Opening 7.Double gripper 8.Gripper 1 9.Gripper 2 10.Industrial robot 11.Rotary frame for 1 12.Screwing device 13.Cleaning device for 4 14.Setting device 15.Rotating device 16.Support for 1 in 11 17.Measuring station for 1 in 11 18.Turret head for 16 19.Position change 20.Universal carriage for 1 21.Wall 22.Preparation

Claims

1. Device for accommodating and rotating a knife ring as part of the maintenance of a knife ring of a knife-ring flaker for crushing materials, comprising one holding device, preferably at least two holding devices, which are spaced apart and accommodate the knife ring (1), for rotatably mounting the knife ring (1) in a rotating frame (11), characterized in that the holding devices are suitable for mounting different knife rings (1).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that supports (16) for the mounting of different knife rings (1) are arranged in the holding device, which are adjustable and / or interchangeable with regard to their position, location or their properties and / or in that a turret head (18) having at least two different supports is arranged for changing the position (19) of the supports (16, 16*).

3. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the holding device or the supports (16*) are arranged on a universal carriage (20) that can be retracted into and extended out of the rotating frame (11).

4. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the supports (16, 16*) and / or the turret head (18) are arranged to be linearly movable but coaxial with the axis of rotation of a knife ring (1).

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the holding devices and / or the supports (16) are arranged on the inner circumference and / or on the outer circumference of the knife ring (1).

6. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a screwing device (12), a cleaning device (13), a turning device (15) and / or a measuring station (17) is arranged in the rotating frame (11), which devices are preferably arranged so as to be interchangeable or so that their working position can be changed or their operating properties can be adapted as a function of the size or type of the knife ring (1).

7. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a manipulation unit, preferably an industrial robot (10) having a gripper (8, 9) for introducing and / or removing parts from the knife ring, is arranged in operative connection with the rotating frame (11) or the knife ring (1), which is preferably suitable for changing and / or adapting the gripper in adaptation to the properties of the knife ring (1) or the parts thereof to be handled.

8. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that a wall (21) sealing against the environment is arranged for the fluid cleaning of the knife ring (1) or parts thereof by the cleaning device (13).

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that closable openings (6), preferably as parts of the wall (21), are arranged on the wall (21) at least for the universal carriage (20) and / or for other devices for carrying out activities in connection with the knife ring (1).

10. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that the device is arranged as part of a setting-up device (14) for the installation and removal of knives (2, 3), clamping plates, knife sets (4, 5), knife carriers and / or wear plates.

11. Device according to one or more of the preceding device claims, characterized in that means are arranged for receiving or transmitting information about properties of the knife ring (1) before or after maintenance from a programmable memory on the knife ring (1), from the controller of an adjacent store for knife rings (1), an adjacent knife-ring flaker and / or an operationally connected large-scale industrial plant controller.

12. Method for receiving and rotating a knife ring in the course of maintenance of a knife ring of a knife-ring flaker for comminuting materials, wherein one, and preferably at least two, spaced holding devices accommodating the knife ring (1) are arranged for rotatably mounting the knife ring (1) in a rotating frame (11), characterized in that before receiving a knife ring (1), the holding devices are compared with the properties of the knife ring (1) and, if necessary, the holding device is adapted to the knife ring (1) and / or its geometry.

13. Method according to the preceding method claim, characterized in that in the holding device, supports (16) for the mounting of different knife rings (1) are adapted in terms of their position, location or their properties and / or are correspondingly positioned and / or in that a revolving turret head (18) having at least two different supports attached to it is used for a change of position (19) of the supports (16, 16*) and preferably the supports (16, 16*) and / or the revolving turret head (18) are moved linearly but coaxially to the axis of rotation of a knife ring (1).

14. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the knife rings (1) are transported into or out of the rotating frame (11) by means of a universal carriage (20) and a holding device or corresponding supports (16) are arranged on the universal carriage (20).

15. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a screwing device (12), a cleaning device (13), a turning device (15) and / or a measuring station (17) in the rotating frame (11) and, optionally, a manipulation unit for parts of the knife ring (1) is replaced or its working position is changed or its operating characteristics are adapted as a function of the size or type of the knife ring (1).

16. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a sealing wall (21) is used for the fluid cleaning of the knife ring (1) or parts thereof by the cleaning device (13).

17. Method according to one or more of the preceding method claims, characterized in that properties of the knife ring (1) before or after maintenance are transmitted to or from a programmable memory on the knife ring (1), from or to a controller of an adjacent store on the knife ring (1), from or to an adjacent knife ring flaker and / or from or to an operatively connected large-scale industrial plant controller by means for receiving or transmitting information.