Continuously fillable mixer and method for continuous processing of ingredients

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixer which has a vessel (1) with an inlet opening (6) and, lying opposite the latter along the longitudinal axis (4) of the vessel (1), an outlet opening (16), wherein the vessel has a cross section narrowing along its longitudinal axis (4) and is driven by a drive for reciprocating motion along a trajectory approximately perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Description

[0001] New international patent application Continuously fillable mixer -hs-tumbler GmbH

[0002] Continuously fillable mixer

[0003] The present invention relates to a mixer which is to be filled continuously and is designed so that the residence time within the mixer can be adjusted without an inlet or outlet valve on the mixer, as well as to a method for continuous mixing.

[0004] The mixer, which is particularly suitable for use as a mixer for mixing a fluid, liquid or gaseous, into a solid and / or into a liquid, e.g. for mixing or removing gas from a liquid, for mixing liquid into solid, which is optionally present in combination with another liquid, or e.g. as a tumbler, also called a massaging device, for introducing solid or liquid additives into solid foodstuffs, e.g. into raw meat, enables continuous mixing of ingredients that are fed into the mixer and, after the ingredients have passed through the mixer, the continuous discharge of the mixture. For example, the mixer is suitable for mixing gas, e.g. air, into a liquid that is, for example, a nutrient medium for the cultivation of biological cells. Furthermore, the mixer can be used as a device for degassing liquids or hardenable masses, e.g.of hardenable plastic mixtures or of hardenable cement or concrete mixtures.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] EP 3 099 178 B1 describes an arrangement of working surfaces driven to move back and forth for the treatment of raw meat, one of which can be movable for filling or emptying.

[0007] Object of the invention

[0008] The invention aims to provide an alternative mixer and a method for mixing ingredients, optionally for degassing liquids, e.g., hardenable masses, in which ingredients can be continuously added and discharged after passing through the mixer, preferably without valves or flaps controlling the mixer openings. The mixer should preferably have an inlet opening to which a supply line is connected, and an outlet opening to which an outlet line is connected, each without a valve or flap between one of the openings and a line.

[0009] Description of the invention

[0010] The invention solves the problem with the features of the claims and in particular by means of a mixer having a container with an inlet opening and an outlet opening located opposite along its longitudinal axis, wherein the container may have a constant cross-section along its longitudinal axis, e.g. may be cylindrical, or preferably the container with a tapered cross-section extends from a terminal larger cross-section to a terminal smaller cross-section and the inlet opening is arranged in the region of the terminal larger cross-section, e.g.is formed by the larger end cross-section, and the outlet opening is arranged in the region of the smaller end cross-section or is formed by this, wherein the container is pivoted by a drive for back and forth movement along a trajectory approximately perpendicular to its longitudinal axis or at an angle about a central position of its longitudinal axis, which extends between the end cross-sections, wherein the trajectory optionally extends in the plane of the cross-section of the container or the trajectory extends along a curved plane when the container is pivoted, wherein the container is preferably and / or not rotationally driven, in particular is not driven for complete rotation about e.g. its longitudinal axis, e.g. is rotatable by a maximum of 90°, a maximum of 45°, a maximum of 30°, a maximum of 20° or a maximum of 10°, wherein the longitudinal axis extends e.g. between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

[0011] - preferably with a movable first supply line connected to the inlet opening,

[0012] - preferably without a valve between the supply line and the inlet opening and

[0013] - preferably with a movable outlet line connected to the outlet opening,

[0014] - further preferably without a valve between the outlet opening and the outlet line,

[0015] - wherein optionally the drive is formed by or consists of a first partial drive and a second partial drive spaced therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the container, of which the first partial drive drives the container along a first trajectory and the second partial drive drives the container along a second trajectory different from the first trajectory.

[0016] Preferably, the first partial drive is mounted closer to the inlet opening than the second partial drive, and the first trajectory has a longer path and / or a higher reciprocating movement frequency than the second trajectory. Thus, the first trajectory can have a longer path, also referred to as the path length, than the second trajectory, with the same or higher reciprocating movement frequency along the trajectory than the second trajectory, or the first trajectory can have the same or a shorter path, also referred to as the path length, than the second trajectory, with the same or higher reciprocating movement frequency along the trajectory than the second trajectory.In general, the first trajectory is designed to accelerate the container in the region of the arrangement of the first partial drive more strongly relative to the contents in the container than the second trajectory is designed to accelerate the container in the region of the arrangement of the second partial drive relative to the contents in the container.

[0017] In a drive comprising a first partial drive and a second partial drive, the first trajectory and the second trajectory can each be generated by reciprocating movements along two longitudinal axes arranged at an angle to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, which are optionally each arranged in a common plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or in planes spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. The movements of the container along the first and second trajectories overlap, e.g., resulting in a reciprocating movement around the longitudinal axis of the container, and lead to the contents of the container being conveyed toward the terminal cross-section closest to the first partial drive.

[0018] Optionally, the container has a second supply line for a fluid, liquid or gaseous, connected in the region of the inlet opening. The second supply line can be connected in the region of the inlet opening, in particular the cross-sectional opening. Further optionally, the container has an inner wall which is only permeable to fluids, in particular only permeable to gases, which is spaced from the container wall, wherein the second supply line opens into the space between the container wall and the inner wall. Such an inner wall is impermeable to solids, optionally to liquids. The inner wall can be a porous ceramic or porous plastic wall, a semi-permeable plastic membrane or a sheet metal with small holes, e.g. produced by laser irradiation, which have, for example, a cross-section of 50 to 500 pm or up to 200 pm.

[0019] Preferably, the terminal larger cross-section of the container forms the outlet opening, alternatively the smaller cross-section of the container forms the outlet opening.

[0020] The tapered cross-section of the container can be at least square, pentagonal or at least hexagonal, preferably round. The cross-section can be constant along the longitudinal axis or it can, for example, taper from the terminal larger cross-section to the opposite terminal smaller cross-section, so that, for example, the terminal smaller cross-section is 90% to 10%, for example 80% to 20% or up to 30%, preferably up to 40% or up to 50% of the size of the terminal larger cross-section. Optionally, the shape of the cross-section of the container can change along its longitudinal axis, for example from a section with a hexagonal cross-section to an adjacent cylindrical section, and further optionally an adjacent section with a triangular cross-section. In general, the inner surface of the container can have a structure with elevations and / or recesses which extend, for example, by 0.2 to 10 mm or up to 5 mm or up to 2 mm from the container wall.The mixer, thanks to its drive-driven reciprocating motion along a trajectory approximately perpendicular to its longitudinal axis or pivoted at an angle about a central position of its longitudinal axis extending between the end cross sections, is suitable for retaining ingredients for a residence time. During the reciprocating motion, the ingredients are moved from the vessel wall toward the inlet opening. This is because the cross section extending from the inlet opening area is formed by a vessel wall that is inclined at an angle of less than 180° toward the inlet opening, so that the ingredients are also accelerated toward the inlet opening by impact during the reciprocating motion.Furthermore, even in the case of a container with a cross-section that is constant or non-tapering along the entire longitudinal axis and is spanned by the container wall or an inner wall arranged at a distance therefrom, the conveyance of contents along the longitudinal axis can be driven additionally or alternatively by the movement of the container along a trajectory curve in which the container is pivoted about a central position of its longitudinal axis. During the back and forth movement along a trajectory curve, the container can generally be pivoted about a central position of its longitudinal axis by an angle of, for example, 2 to 90°, for example, 5 to 45°, or up to 30°, or up to 10°, in particular with two partial drives arranged at a distance along the longitudinal axis or with a cardanic bearing of the container with a drive spaced therefrom. The cardanic bearing can be formed by a bearing that is a cardan bearing or a ball joint.Preferably, the gimbal mount holds the container stationary. Optionally, the gimbal mount holds the container so that it can rotate around its longitudinal axis by a maximum of 30°, preferably a maximum of 20°, or a maximum of 10°, or is held in a rotationally fixed manner in the gimbal mount.

[0021] The mixer is therefore designed to control the residence time by the back and forth movement along the trajectory, in particular its frequency and trajectory length, as well as by the mass flow of the ingredients fed through the inlet opening. A controlled metering device, e.g. at least one pump, metering screw and / or metering valve, is preferably connected to the first feed line in order to continuously meter ingredients into the first feed line. An optional second feed line, which is connected, for example, to a source of compressed gas, which can be a compressed gas cylinder or a compressor, is connected, for example, to the container in the region of the inlet opening. If an inner wall is arranged in the container, a second feed line, which opens into the space between the container wall and the inner wall, can be connected in the region between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

[0022] A vacuum source, e.g., the suction port of a vacuum pump, can optionally be connected to the second supply line, which opens between the container wall and the gas-permeable inner wall, allowing the mixer to be used as a device for degassing masses. As the container moves back and forth along the trajectory curve, the contents are moved along the inner wall, and any gas contained within is released from the contents and can be sucked through the inner wall into the second supply line, which serves as the suction line.

[0023] The mixer has the advantage that there are no relatively movable elements within the container, and that there is no valve at the inlet opening, and preferably no valve at the outlet opening or on the outlet line. A further advantage is that the mixer, even when used for degassing masses, allows a continuous flow of ingredients, which are fed in through a feed line and discharged through an outlet line.

[0024] Optionally, the outlet line has a larger cross-section than the outlet opening, so that the outlet line offers less resistance to the escaping mixture than the outlet opening. Further optionally, the outlet line has a larger cross-section than the inlet opening, so that the outlet line offers less resistance to the escaping mixture than the inlet opening.

[0025] The supply line and the outlet line can each be formed independently of each other by an elastic hose. An elastic hose has the advantage of compensating for the reciprocating movement of the container relative to the end of the hose opposite the container or of following the movement, particularly when the hose is fixed at a distance from the container, e.g., on a frame in which the container is driven to reciprocate.

[0026] Preferably, the dosing device is set to dose the ingredients continuously with a mass flow, in which an average residence time of the ingredients within the container during the back and forth movement along the trajectory curve of 30 s to 10 min, preferably up to 5 min or up to 4 min or up to 3 min or up to 2 min or up to 1 min is established.

[0027] Generally, the mixer is configured to drive the container along a trajectory formed by the superimposition of the reciprocating motion of at least two superimposed linear axes arranged at an angle to one another, wherein the reciprocating motion along the linear axes occurs at different frequencies and / or with a phase offset. The linear axes, along which the superimposed reciprocating motions occur at different frequencies and / or with a phase offset, form the trajectory along which the reciprocating motion of the container occurs, for which the mixer is configured.In embodiments in which the drive is formed by a first partial drive and a second partial drive spaced therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the container, the container is driven along a first trajectory in the region of the first partial drive and along a second trajectory in the region of the second partial drive, so that the movement of the container results from the superposition of the movements along the first and second trajectories. In general, each of the first and second trajectories can be one of the described trajectories.

[0028] By moving the container along the trajectory curve, the mixer is designed to accelerate solid and / or liquid ingredients relative to the container, so that ingredients contained in the container are accelerated by the acceleration against the container wall in the direction of the larger cross-section or in the direction of the terminal cross-section, which is arranged close to the first partial drive, and are brought into contact with the container wall, optionally with an inner wall arranged therein, and are mixed with one another, for example.

[0029] Because the trajectory can be adjusted or predetermined by the different frequencies and / or the phase offset of the superimposed movements along the linear axes, the mixer is designed to move the container back and forth along the trajectory and to accelerate the ingredients in the direction of the larger cross-section or in the direction of the terminal cross-section, which is arranged close to the first partial drive, so that the residence time of the ingredients in the container can be adjusted by this and by the mass flow metered through the inlet opening, in particular controlled by the metering device. In the embodiment in which the container is driven by a first partial drive along a first trajectory and by a second partial drive along a second trajectory, the container can have a cross-section that is constant along its longitudinal axis, e.g.be cylindrical, since the difference in path length and / or frequency between the back and forth movements of the first and second trajectories drives or conveys the contents along the container.

[0030] Generally speaking, the container is not rotationally driven and more preferably is not or not fully rotatable, e.g. is guided so as to be rotatable by a maximum of 30° or by a maximum of 20° or 10° about its longitudinal axis. Generally speaking, the container is only driven for a back and forth movement along a trajectory curve or along a first trajectory curve and a second trajectory curve. For example, the container is not fully rotatable because it is pivotally connected to a drive and / or is pivotally mounted in a cardanic bearing in a rotationally fixed manner. Because the container is driven for movement, in particular for a back and forth movement, along a trajectory curve and is not rotationally driven and / or is not fully rotatable, e.g. is only pivoted by the drive for movement along the trajectory curve, the movement of the container causes intensive shearing of the container contents or the contents along the container wall.Preferably, the container is displaced and / or pivoted or tilted during movement along a trajectory curve and is not driven to complete rotation or preferably to a maximum rotation of 30° or a maximum of 10° around its longitudinal axis.

[0031] Optionally, the mixer is configured to move the container with adjustable or predetermined acceleration and speed along the trajectory, which can be a first trajectory driven by a first partial drive and a second trajectory spaced therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the container and driven by a second partial drive. Because the mixer is configured for an adjustable or predetermined trajectory and / or an adjustable or predetermined acceleration and / or an adjustable or predetermined speed along the trajectory of the reciprocating movement of the container, the ingredients are driven with adjustable or predetermined acceleration and / or speed relative to the container wall or along an inner wall arranged at a distance therefrom, and the mixer allows a predetermined or continuous adaptation of the process to the ingredients to be treated, e.g.Ingredients to be mixed or masses to be degassed. In general, a trajectory can be formed by at least two superimposed individual oscillations; preferably, each trajectory resembles the trajectory that can be generated by superimposing reciprocating movements along at least two linear axes of motion, each at different frequencies and / or by a phase shift. A reciprocating movement along a trajectory that resembles the reciprocating movement along successive, superimposed linear axes of motion exhibits different frequencies and / or has a phase shift from one another. Therefore, a trajectory is generally not a circular path.

[0032] The difference in frequencies can be, for example, at least 0.01 Hz and / or 0.01% to 900%. The phase shift of the reciprocating movements along the linear axes can be, for example, from 0.01° to 180°, preferably 1 to 179° out of 360°, which corresponds to a complete reciprocating movement. 0.01 to 180° of a complete reciprocating movement of 360° is equal to 0.0028% to 50% of a complete reciprocating movement, and 1 to 179° out of 360° is equal to 0.28% to 49.7% of a complete reciprocating movement.

[0033] The linear motion axes are perpendicular to each other, for example, or at another angle, e.g., 5° to 85°, in particular in the plane of the container's cross-section and / or perpendicular to a central axis of the container. Optionally, the trajectory contains at least one straight section, the end of which is, for example, a vertex of the trajectory, at which the contents or mass are accelerated from or against the container wall.

[0034] To set different frequencies and / or a phase offset of the superimposed reciprocating movements along at least two linear axes of movement, these reciprocating movements can be coupled to one another by a gear or a link guide and driven by a motor. A motor-driven gear that sets the reciprocating movement along the trajectory curve can have a fixed gear ratio between the superimposed movements along each axis, or an adjustable gear ratio, e.g., a continuously or stepwise switchable gear. Optionally, the gear can be subject to slip, e.g., a belt drive or a friction gear. The output speed of the gear that drives the reciprocating movement of the container along a trajectory curve is preferably at least 1 Hz, more preferably at least 5 Hz, e.g.,up to 50 Hz, up to 40 Hz, up to 30 Hz, up to 20 Hz or up to 10 Hz. The output speed of the gearbox is equal to the frequency of the reciprocating movement.

[0035] Alternatively, the reciprocating motion along each of the linear motion axes can be driven by a separate motor, with the lower output speed being the frequency of the reciprocating motion and constituting the frequency of the sequence of path segments. In either embodiment, the speed of each drive motor can be controlled, fixed, or variable over the duration of the process.

[0036] Optionally, the mixer is configured to change the trajectory of the reciprocating movement and / or the acceleration and / or speed of the reciprocating movement during the process, e.g., in a first phase, to set the reciprocating movement along an initial trajectory and with a first acceleration and speed, and to set the reciprocating movement in a subsequent second phase along a changed trajectory and / or changed acceleration and / or speed.

[0037] Another option is for the reciprocating movement to be a linear reciprocating movement in a first phase and a reciprocating movement along merging trajectories in a second phase. Each trajectory can be determined, for example, by a gear that drives the movement of the container.

[0038] By adjusting the trajectory and acceleration of the reciprocating movement of the container, the mixer allows for a predetermined or dynamically variable and directed acceleration of the contents relative to the container. Solids and liquid contents present at the container wall or an inner wall are accelerated against the container wall or inner wall, which then accelerates them toward the larger cross-section and, for example, mixes them.

[0039] In an embodiment in which the container can be driven in a controlled manner to a linear reciprocating movement in a first phase, the mixer is designed to move ingredients with a controllable acceleration maximum perpendicularly against the container wall, which is significantly greater than the acceleration due to gravity and therefore essentially independent of the acceleration due to gravity, e.g. with an acceleration maximum of at least 15 m / s 2 , preferably 25 m / s 2, preferably at least 50 m / s 2 or at least 100 m / s 2 or at least 200 m / s 2 or at least 350 m / s 2 e.g. up to 500 m / s 2 .

[0040] In general, the mixer can be set up to move the container with a maximum acceleration of at least 20 m / s 2 or at least 200 m / s 2 , e.g. at least 300 m / s 2 , preferably up to 1000 m / s 2 to accelerate along the trajectory curve, e.g. at a vertex of the trajectory curve.

[0041] The container is preferably designed for a back and forth movement with a maximum acceleration of at least 0.5 m / s 2 or at least 1 m / s 2 or at least 2 m / s 2 at least 3.5 m / s 2 , preferably at least 60 m / s 2 , preferably at least 100 m / s 2 , at least 150 m / s 2 , at least 160 m / s 2 , at least 200 m / s 2 , e.g. up to 300 m / s each 2or 450 m / s 2 , up to 260 m / s 2 or up to 250 m / s 2 driven along each of two axes. Generally, the container is preferably driven in combination with the acceleration maximum to an average speed of at least 0.5 m / s, preferably at least 2 m / s, more preferably at least 3.5 m / s, e.g. up to 10 m / s or up to 20 m / s or up to 6 m / s, e.g. 3 to 4 m / s, in each case along one of the axes, preferably along each axis. The path of movement along at least one axis, preferably along each axis, is e.g. 0.1 cm to 50 cm, e.g. 5 to 30 cm or up to 15 cm.

[0042] The container can, for example, be driven to move back and forth over a distance of at least 1 mm or at least 2.5 mm, at least 1 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm or at least 5 cm, at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm, e.g. up to 100 cm, up to 50 cm, up to 30 cm or up to 20 cm, along each axis. More preferably, the moving back and forth movement of the container is harmonic. The moving back and forth movement of the container can be linear in a first phase. In general, the trajectory curve is non-linear and can, for example, be sinusoidal, triangular or arcuate, optionally running along a so-called Lissajous figure or hypocycloid, which preferably lies in the plane or is two-dimensional, optionally three-dimensional.Preferably, the reciprocating movement is linear in a first phase and, in a second phase, is formed into a trajectory curve along at least two merging, non-linear path segments, each of which contains at least one vertex. Generally, a non-linear trajectory curve, e.g., a movement along a trajectory curve whose path segments each have at least one vertex, promotes a high acceleration of the contents against the container wall.

[0043] The reciprocating movement preferably comprises the reciprocating movement along a trajectory comprising at least two, preferably at least three, more preferably at least four trajectory segments, each having at least one vertex. Each of the movement axes along which the movements overlap to form a trajectory can generally be linear or arcuate, so that the non-linear movement of the container along a sequence of trajectory segments is generated from the superposition of the movements along two movement axes. The vertices and intermediate sections of a trajectory segment are determined by the frequency difference and / or the phase position of the superimposed reciprocating movements along at least two axes. In general, the mixer can be configured to change the frequency difference and / or the phase position during the reciprocating movement.

[0044] Generally, the container wall is preferably the circumferentially closed wall of the container, which extends around a longitudinal axis and between opposing end cross-sections or lids attached thereto. The container has an optionally circular cross-section that extends around a longitudinal axis and is spanned by the container wall. Generally, the end cross-sections of the container are each covered by a lid, the larger of which has an inlet opening and the smaller of which has an outlet opening.

[0045] In general, it is preferred that at least one path segment has a vertex at which the direction of the path segment changes by at least 90°, more preferably by at least 120°, even more preferably by at least 180° or at least 210°, e.g., within a maximum of 24.5%, a maximum of 24%, a maximum of 23%, a maximum of 22%, a maximum of 21%, a maximum of 20%, a maximum of 15%, or a maximum of 10%, more preferably a maximum of 5%, a maximum of 3%, a maximum of 2%, or a maximum of 1% of the length of a path segment. This is because a vertex of the path segment leads to a strong relative acceleration of the contents against the container wall.

[0046] Optionally, the container, especially if it has an inner wall with perforations, can contain freely movable solids, e.g., mineral solids such as corundum. In the process, such freely movable solids, as they move back and forth, remove deposits from the inner wall or container wall, particularly in filtration processes, e.g., in water or wastewater treatment.

[0047] The mixer can be used as a device for processing recyclable material, in particular for separating liquids drawn off through openings in the inner wall from solids exiting through the outlet opening.

[0048] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the figures, which are shown schematically in

[0049] - Fig. 1 an embodiment,

[0050] - Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment,

[0051] - Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment,

[0052] - Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment,

[0053] Fig. 5 an embodiment with a cylindrical container,

[0054] Fig. 6 shows an embodiment with a longitudinal section through a cylindrical container, Fig. 7 shows a mixer with guidance of the container in a cardan bearing and with a drive and

[0055] - Fig. 8 shows an embodiment with a permanently connected supply line and a permanently connected outlet line.

[0056] In the figures, the same reference symbols indicate functionally identical elements.

[0057] Fig. 1 shows the back and forth movement A of the container 1 along a trajectory in a plane that is arranged parallel to the cross-section of the container 1. The back and forth movement A leads, due to the load on the container wall 2 relative to ingredients B, to a proportional acceleration of the ingredients B, also in the direction from the smaller terminal cross-section 3 to the larger cross-section 5 opposite along the longitudinal axis 4. The larger terminal cross-section 5 forms an inlet opening 6, or an inlet opening 6 is arranged adjacent to or in the region of the larger terminal cross-section 5. In the embodiment shown here, the container 1 runs from a larger cross-section 4 to the smaller cross-section 3. A feed line 9, which feeds ingredients to be mixed from a dosing device, is connected to the inlet opening 6. Fig.2 shows a drive which performs a reciprocating movement along a trajectory curve by means of a first lever 10 which is driven by a first eccentric drive 11 for reciprocating movement, and by means of a second lever 12 which is arranged approximately perpendicular to the first lever 10 and is driven by a second eccentric drive 13 for reciprocating movement, wherein the first and second levers 10, 12 are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 4 of the container 1.

[0058] Fig. 3 shows a container 1 which tapers more sharply from the larger cross section 5 to the smaller cross section 3 than the container 1 of Fig. 2. The terminal smaller cross section 3 forms the outlet opening 15.

[0059] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which the container 1 can have a cross-section that is constant over its longitudinal axis 4, e.g. it can be cylindrical, or as shown here, it can taper from a larger cross-section 5 at the end to the smaller cross-section 3. The drive has a first partial drive with a first lever 10a driven by a first eccentric drive 11a and a second lever 12a driven in the same plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 4 of the container 1 by a second eccentric drive 13a. At a distance along the longitudinal axis 4, a second partial drive is articulated on the container and has a further first lever 10b driven by a further first eccentric 11b, and a further second lever 12b driven by a further second eccentric 13b.

[0060] Generally, the first levers 10a, 10b are arranged at a distance along the longitudinal axis 4, and the second levers 12a, 12b are arranged at the same or a different distance along the longitudinal axis 4. The levers 10a, 10b of the first partial drive and the levers 12a, 12b of the second partial drive can generally be mounted parallel to one another or offset along the circumference of the container 1.

[0061] The controller 14 is configured to drive the first partial drive 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a and the second partial drive 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b at different frequencies. Alternatively or additionally, the first partial drive 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a and the second partial drive 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b can be configured to drive the container 1 along a trajectory of varying lengths, e.g., by means of first levers 10a, 10b of different lengths and / or second levers 12a, 12b of different lengths and / or by means of first eccentric drives 11a, 11b pivoting to different extents and / or second eccentric drives 13a, 13b pivoting to different extents.

[0062] Fig. 4 shows an inner wall 7 in the container 1, which has openings 8 through which the container wall 2 is visible, and a second supply line 20, which opens into the space between the container wall 2 of the container 1 and the inner wall 7. A source 21a for compressed gas or a vacuum source 21b, e.g., a suction pump, can be connected to the second supply line 20.

[0063] Fig. 5 shows a mixer container 1 having a constant cylindrical cross-section along its entire longitudinal axis and driven by a first partial drive comprising a first lever 10a, a first eccentric drive 11a, a second lever 12a, and a second eccentric drive 13a, and a second partial drive spaced therefrom comprising a first lever 10b, a first eccentric drive 11b, a second lever 12b, and a second eccentric drive 13b for reciprocating movement along a curved path. The container 1 has an inner wall 7 with openings 8 and a second supply line 9 connected to a space between the container wall 2 and the inner wall 7.

[0064] Fig. 6 shows the cylindrical container 1 of Fig. 5 in longitudinal section with the inner wall 7, which has openings 8, shown here as dots.

[0065] Fig. 7 shows an embodiment in which the container 1 is cardanically mounted in a bearing 17, which is, for example, a cardan bearing or ball joint, and has, at a distance along its longitudinal axis, a drive with a first lever 10, a first eccentric drive 11, a second lever 12 and a second eccentric drive 13, which can pivot the container along a trajectory curve at an angle about a central position.

[0066] Fig. 8 shows a container 1 whose opposing cross-sectional openings 3, 5 are connected between a supply line 9 and an outlet line 18. The container 1 is connected to a drive with a first lever 10, a first eccentric drive 11, as well as a second lever 12 and a second eccentric drive 13 for reciprocating movement along a curved path. The supply line 9 and the outlet line 18 can each be formed by an elastic hose line. Reference numerals:

[0067] A back and forth movement

[0068] B Ingredients

[0069] 1 container

[0070] 2 container wall

[0071] 3 terminal (smaller) cross-section

[0072] 4 Longitudinal axis

[0073] 5 terminal (larger) cross-section

[0074] 6 Inlet opening

[0075] 7 Interior wall

[0076] 8 Breakthrough

[0077] 9 Supply line

[0078] 10, 10a, 10b first lever

[0079] 11, 11a, 11b first eccentric drive

[0080] 12, 12a, 12b second lever

[0081] 13, 13a, 13b second eccentric drive

[0082] 14 Control

[0083] 15 Dosing device

[0084] 16 Outlet opening

[0085] 17 bearings, cardan bearings, ball joints

[0086] 18 Outlet line

[0087] 20 second supply line

[0088] 21a Source of compressed gas

[0089] 21b Vacuum source

Claims

A mixer comprising a container (1) with an inlet opening (6) and an outlet opening (16) located opposite it along its longitudinal axis (4), which is not fully rotatable and is driven for reciprocating movement along a trajectory perpendicular to or about its longitudinal axis (4), characterized in that the container (1) has a tapered cross-section, the inlet opening (6) is arranged in the region of the terminal, larger cross-section (5), and the outlet opening (16) is arranged in the region of the terminal, smaller cross-section (3). A mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (1) is not fully rotatable because it is pivotally and rigidly connected to a drive. A mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) is not fully rotatable because it is mounted in a cardanic bearing (17) in a rotationally fixed manner.Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet opening is formed by the smaller cross-section at the end. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a feed line (9) is tightly connected to the inlet opening (6), to which feed line at least one dosing device (15) is connected, which is designed to continuously dose at least two ingredients. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) is cardanically mounted in a bearing (17), and at a distance from the bearing (17) along its longitudinal axis (4) a drive is mounted, which is designed to drive the container (1) to the reciprocating movement along the trajectory curve. Mixer according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing (17) is a cardan bearing or a ball joint. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixer has a drive which has at least a first partial drive (10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) and a second partial drive (10b, 11b, 12b, 13b) spaced therefrom along the longitudinal axis (4) of the container (1), the first partial drive (10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) is designed to drive the container along a first trajectory and the second partial drive (10b, 11b, 12b, 13b) is designed to drive the container (1) along a second trajectory different from the first trajectory.Mixer according to claim 8, characterized in that the first partial drive (10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) is configured to drive the container along a first trajectory that has a longer path and / or a higher frequency than the second trajectory, wherein the outlet opening is arranged at the terminal cross section of the container (1) that is closer to the first partial drive (10a, 11a, 12a, 13a) than to the second partial drive (10b, 11b, 12b, 13b). Mixer according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the container (1) has a constant and uniform cross section along its longitudinal axis (4).Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) has an inner wall (7) arranged within and at a distance from its container wall (2) and having fluid-permeable openings (8), and a second supply line (20) is connected to the space between the container wall and the inner wall (7), which is connected to a compressed gas source or a vacuum source. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) is driven along a trajectory that can be generated by superimposing the reciprocating movement along each of the at least two axes at different frequencies and / or different speeds along each of the axes. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one trajectory comprises a sequence of trajectory segments that can be generated by superimposing the reciprocating movement along at least two axes. different frequencies and / or with a phase offset and which each comprise exactly one complete back and forth movement along the axis along which the back and forth movement occurs with the lower frequency, and each have at least one vertex at which the direction changes by at least 90° within a maximum of 24.5% of the length of a path segment. Mixer according to claim 13, characterized in that the path segments have at least one vertex at which they change their direction by at least 120° within a maximum of 10% of the length of a path segment. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured to change the frequencies and / or the phase offset during the back and forth movement.Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the difference in frequencies is at least 0.01 Hz and 0.01% to 900%, and / or the phase shift is 0.0028% to 50% of the length of a path segment. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the path curve has at least one path segment that includes a straight section. Mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that reciprocating movements along the path curve are driven by a gear that is at least a belt drive and / or a friction gear that is driven by exactly one motor.A method for continuously treating ingredients (B) using a mixer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ingredients (B) are conveyed through the inlet opening (6) into the container (1), the container is driven along a curved path, and ingredients (B) continuously exit through the outlet opening (16). A method according to claim 19, characterized in that the container has an inner wall (7) with fluid-permeable openings (8) and a second inner wall (9). A supply line (20) is connected to the space between the container wall and the inner wall (7), which is connected to a compressed gas source and pressurizes compressed gas into the space, or a vacuum source is connected to the second supply line (20), which applies negative pressure to the space. Method according to one of claims 19 to 20, characterized in that one of the ingredients is raw meat and further ingredients include water and salt.

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