Paint and ink grinding machine

Abstract

A machine (100) for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and for obtaining desired fineness sizes and fluidity values, characterized in that it comprises; a grinding unit (120) consisting of a concave spring (212) positioned inside the grinding cells (121 ) to disperse by impact the mixture (112) entering from grinding cells (121 ) successively articulated to each other for performing the grinding / crushing process and having an inlet and an outlet path, and to increase the impact effect on the inner walls; a control unit (130) which increases or decreases the operating speed of the delivery pump (1 13) for performing grinding and at the same time determines whether the mixture (112) exiting the finish unit (140) is sent to the filling or re-feeding, in the event that the deceleration of the fluidity rate and the increase of the reverse pressure during the first time interval continues during a second time interval (the time for the mixture (112) to pass from one grinding cell (121 ) to another).

Description

[0001] PAINT AND INK GRINDING MACHINE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a machine for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and grinding them to the desired particle size, and to the operating principle of this machine.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to a machine which is capable of performing two stages of a grinding / crushing process in a single operation in the production process for paints and inks, comprises a series of crushing / grinding chambers, and enables a mixture passing through this crushing / grinding chamber to reach the desired particle size by static mixing without a motor and without a cylinder, in an auto-controlled method.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] Bead mill grinding machine is also referred to as pearl mill or sand mill. Bead grinding homogenizers are used for reducing the particle size of solid granules and dispersing them evenly throughout a sample. It is mainly used for wet grinding of all kinds of chemical liquids, such as paints and inks, coatings, inks, pigments, pesticides, etc. The bead mill grinding machine works in a continuous manner and consists of four main parts: the mixer mill containing the grinding slices (discs) arranged from bottom to top on the pump equipped with a gearbox, the cooling jacketed crushing vessel (crushing chamber) in which this mill is located, and the main drive unit (electric motor or hydraulic drive). Grinding slices can be of the vertical type, arranged from top to bottom, as well as sequential and horizontal type.

[0007] The paint and ink components to be crushed, previously mixed in a vessel and predispersed in a disperser, are fed into the crushing chamber of the bead mill via the feeding pump. The pump can be adjusted in a stepless way with the gearbox connected to it. In the continuous bead mill, the pump adjustment is of great importance as it affects the residence time of the material in the vessel and therefore the crushing duration. When the grinding beads with the paint or ink to be crushed are considered as a mixture, this mixture is pushed with a speed from the edges of the grinding slices to the inner surface of the chamber. This speed is maximum on the edges of the slice and minimum on the inner surface of the chamber. This results in a shear force that depends on the magnitude of the applied mechanical energy and the total surface area of the disks, as well as a shear angle proportional to the distance of the blades from the inner face of the chamber. Further, a crush cabin is formed between the two disks, where turbulent flow is present. Agglomerates are degraded as a result of a collision with a mass they encounter with the speed they gain depending on two factors (shear force and shear angle). This mass they encounter is the grinding beads. The grinding bead can be sand, as well as spheres of various sizes and various chemical compositions. However, the agglomerates themselves also help to crush by colliding with each other like a grinding mass. At this time, the fluidity of the crushed paint and ink, in other words, the dispersing agent, begins to play an important role. A good crush is made in proportion to the frequency and severity of the collision.

[0008] In the bead mill type which is in standard use, in the production of paints and inks, the products are firstly homogenized with the first mixing to homogenize the powders and liquids and disperse the large agglomerates, and then the product is obtained by being processed through separate machines for the first crushing and second crushing. The main reason for 2 machines and 2 consecutive crushing operations here is the need to select the bead size to be used for an efficient crushing process according to the particle size being subjected to the crushing. Relatively large beads should be used for coarser granules, and afterwards smaller beads should be used to reduce the degraded finer particles to the desired size. After the first mixing process, the granule sizes are approximately 250-300 microns. As a result of the first crushing process, the granule size of the product obtained reduces to approximately 80-150 microns, and as a result of the second crushing, the product can be reduced to the desired size of 5-10 microns.

[0009] Today, many studies have been carried out in order to increase the working performance of bead mill grinding machines. One of these studies is the invention that is the subject of patent application No. EP2637792B1. The invention is a drive system for a bead mill driven by a motor having a ring rotor, wherein the motor is assigned a family of characteristic curves which relate its torque to another characteristic variable, the family of characteristic curves having at least two different characteristic curves, and the drive system comprises a switching element which abruptly switches the drive system between both characteristic curves in a state where the value of the characteristic curve is constant. In the method for operating a bead mill including a drive system: a drum of the bead mill moves from a state of rest and moves during the activation of the first characteristic curve; in the presence of an agglomerate, the drum of the bead mill is moved until the agglomerate reaches an inclined position; the activation of the switching element switching to the second characteristic curve is performed.

[0010] Another study is the invention that is the subject of patent application No. EP92870178.8. The invention is a method for grinding for a rotary bead mill or a mill with similar grinding instruments, the mill is divided into at least two grinding compartments, and an air flow passes through the mill from the upper end to the lower head, and the mill operates in a closed circuit.

[0011] As a result, the need for a paint and ink grinding machine which eliminates the disadvantages of the present art, and the inadequacy of the existing solutions have made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.

[0012] Summary of the Invention

[0013] The invention relates to a machine for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and for obtaining desired fineness sizes and fluidity values, and to the operating principle of this machine, which meets the above-mentioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages, and brings some additional advantages.

[0014] Based on the state of the art, the object of the invention is to enable the detection of agglomeration in a grinding process and the calculation of particle size from the flow rate by the method of compression under pressure of grinding / crushing process consisting of cells to perform a grinding / crushing process, which is currently performed by mechanical methods, by positioning successively articulated cells, and by determining the effect of the deceleration if there is a deceleration in the fluidity of the mixture.

[0015] The object of the invention is to achieve a two-stage grinding process with a single device and to solve the wear problems caused by beads on the inner surface of the tank by not including motors, rotating parts, and beads unlike conventional machines. Another object of the invention is to crush the products exiting the first mixing process in 250-300 microns as a result of the first mixing in a single operation. In the grinding process with the bead mill, which is the current production technique, the paint or ink mixture, which comes to the crushing process with a granule size of 250-300 microns, is first reduced to 80-150 microns in the bead mill, which is the first crushing machine, using relatively larger diameter beads, in order to undergo an efficient crushing process; then it is crushed a second time in a crushing machine using smaller beads, and the targeted granule size of 5-10 microns is obtained.

[0016] The object of the invention is to carry out the grinding process of the mixture performed by the bead mill with mechanical movements, therefore without an electric motor, and in the case of agglomeration in the cells, to ensure that the effect of this on the amount of agglomeration in grinding per unit time is less than the case where there is no agglomeration, with the help of the quantity control unit positioned in the method.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to enable capacity increase by either initial production with a higher capacity to increase the number of crushing cells with its modular structure or by allowing for the addition of same machines later. As a result, it offers the opportunity to add units to increase capacity without the need to buy new machines.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to reduce the need for maintenance and replacement of parts with its simple structure.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to determine that the particle size is not as small as desired due to the decrease in the fluidity of the mixture and the increase in the pressure in the system due to the blockage in the cells and the difficulty in the movement of large particles under the effect of friction, in case of agglomeration due to the deceleration of the fluidity and the decreasing of the amount of mixture passing through the last cell after grinding, and also applying constant pressure during the transfer of the mixture to the unit.

[0020] A further object of the invention is to enable the control unit to be arranged such that the grinding is carried out by increasing the pressure at least once if the deceleration of the fluidity rate and the increase of the reverse pressure during the first time interval continues during a second time interval (the time for the mixture to pass from one cell to another).

[0021] Another object of the invention is to detect agglomeration by detecting the deceleration occurring in the event that one or more measured reverse pressure increases and determining that the mixture is still in the grinding cells, and to increase the pressure sent from the transfer unit to remove the blockage by applying a stronger force, and to reduce this if the pressure drops to the normal value.

[0022] Another object of the invention is to enable the grinding process to be carried out without electric motors, cylinders, blades, and beads. Therefore, it is to reduce mechanical wear parts and improve operating costs.

[0023] Another object of the invention is to eliminate the post-grinding final mixing process step involved in the grinding process with a bead mill in the methods present in the state of the art.

[0024] Another object of the invention is to enable investment at lower costs instead of complex and relatively costly production machines.

[0025] Another object of the invention is to increase the machine capacity by adding new panels and therefore to increase the capacity of low-capacity machines, due to the possibility of increasing the crushing ability and capacity of the device by increasing the number of cells in the current structure. The product crush granule size can be reduced by cycling more turns of ink or paint in the same unit, even without adding panels.

[0026] The structural and characteristic features and all advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures given below and the detailed description written with reference to these figures, therefore, the evaluation must be made taking into account these figures and detailed descriptions.

[0027] Brief Description of the Drawings In order to best understand the embodiment of the present invention and its advantages with additional elements, it should be evaluated together with the figures described below.

[0028] Figure-1 is the schematic overview of the paint and ink grinding machine.

[0029] Reference Numbers

[0030] 100. Machine

[0031] 1 10. Mixing unit

[0032] 1 11. Mixer

[0033] 1 12. Mixture

[0034] 1 13. Delivery pump

[0035] 120. Grinding unit

[0036] 121 . Grinding cells

[0037] 122. Concave spring

[0038] 130. Control unit

[0039] 131 . Pressure sensor

[0040] 140. Finish unit

[0041] 141 . Paint and ink filling

[0042] 142. Re-feeding valve

[0043] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0044] In this detailed description, the machine (100) of the invention for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and for obtaining desired fineness sizes and fluidity values, and the operating principle of this machine (100) are described only as an example for a better understanding of the subject and in a way that does not create any limiting effect.

[0045] The machine (100) of the invention is based on the understanding that the grinding unit (120) consisting of grinding cells (121 ) articulated successively to perform the grinding / crushing process performs the grinding / crushing process by compression under pressure method and that it is possible to detect agglomeration in a grinding process by determining the effect of the deceleration if there is a deceleration in the fluidity of the mixture (1 12) and calculating the particle size from the flow rate. In addition to being able to carry out the grinding of the mixture (112) by the machine (100) without an electric motor due to mechanical movements, if there is an agglomeration in the grinding cells (121 ), the effect of this and agglomeration is determined from the amount of grinding per unit time with the help of the quantity control unit (130). In case of agglomeration, the fluidity decelerates and the amount of the ground mixture (112) passing through the final grinding cell (121 ) decreases, furthermore, constant pressure is applied in the process of transferring the mixture (112) to the grinding unit (120), and in case of agglomeration, the fluidity of the mixture decreases and the pressure in the system increases since the movement of large particles under the effect of clogging and friction in the grinding cells (121 ) will be difficult. Thus, it can be determined that the particle size is not small as the desired level.

[0046] The machine (100) of the invention is characterized in that the control unit (130) is arranged such that the grinding is carried out by increasing the pressure at least once if the deceleration of the fluidity rate and the increase of the reverse pressure during the first time interval continues during a second time interval (the time for the mixture (112) to pass from one grinding cell (121 ) to another). Here, the deceleration effect is realized in the event that one or more measured reverse pressure increases. This allows to detect agglomeration by detecting the deceleration and determining that the mixture is still in the grinding cells (121 ), and to increase the pressure sent from the transfer unit to remove the blockage by applying a stronger force, and to reduce this if the pressure drops to the normal value. Said machine (100) also enable the grinding process to be carried out without electric motors, cylinders, blades, and beads. With the machine (100), the final mixing process step after grinding, which is involved in the grinding process (grinding process with a bead mill) in the state of the art, is eliminated.

[0047] In the machine (100) shown in Figure-1 , there is a mixing unit (110) including a mixer (11 1 ) for mixing the paint and ink raw materials to be ground with each other. In said mixing unit (1 10), paint and ink raw materials are mixed and a slurry mixture (1 12) is obtained. Said mixture (1 12) is transferred to the grinding unit (120) by means of the delivery pump (1 13). Said grinding unit (120) comprises more than one, preferably 27, grinding cells (121 ) arranged one after the other, with an inlet and an outlet path. Inside said grinding cells (121 ), a concave spring (122) is positioned to disperse the entering mixture (112) by impact and to increase the impact effect on the inner walls. The control unit (130) analyzing the data from the pressure sensor (132) and the flow sensor (131) increases or decreases the operating speed of the delivery pump (1 13) and at the same time determines whether the mixture (1 12) exiting the finish unit (140) is sent to the filling or re-feeding. The pressure sensor (131 ) is positioned at the inlet of the grinding cell (121 ) to measure the pressure generated in the grinding cells (121 ). Said flow sensor (132) is positioned at the outlet of the grinding cell (121 ) to measure the amount of mixture (112) that exits the finish unit (140) after being ground per unit time. The finish unit (140) located at the end comprises the paint and ink filling (141 ) where the ground mixture (1 12) is collected, and the re-feeding valve (142) for introducing the mixture (1 12) with a particle size greater than the desired size after grinding back into the grinding 15 cell (121 ).

[0048] The working principle of the machine (100) of the invention is as follows;

[0049] Firstly, in the preliminary / initial mixture preparation stage, paint and ink materials in solid and liquid form are taken into the same vessel and the mixture (1 12) is prepared by being turned into slurry with the mixer (11 1 ). The prepared mixture (1 12) is then transferred by the delivery pump (1 13) from the mixing unit (110) to the grinding unit (120). The mixture (112) arriving at the grinding unit (120) is ground here by the grinding cells (121 ). The amount of mixture (112) entering and exiting the machine (100) detected by the pressure sensor (131 ) and flow sensor (132), and the required amounts are checked by the control unit (130) by making a comparison using the control algorithm. If the mixture (1 12) is ground to the desired size, it is transferred to the paint and ink filling (141 ) located in the finish unit (140), and if it is ground larger than desired, it is transferred to the re-feeding (142).

[0050] In the machine (10) of the invention, there are preferably 27 grinding cells (121 ). The grinding cells (121 ) are positioned consecutively and in such a way that they occupy the least amount of space and provide a flow that keeps the impact on the cell walls during transfer between the cells (121 ) and thus the crushing operation at an optimum level. The mixture (1 12) enters the first grinding cell (121 ) through the delivery pump (113) or re-feeding (142) valve, and exits through the exit grinder cell (121 ) at the end. The control algorithm in the control unit (130) sends signals to the delivery pump (1 13) and the refeeding (142) valve by processing the data from the pressure sensor (131) and the flow sensor (132). By processing the measurement values together with the time information, the control algorithm determines in which cell the large particle mixture (112) is located and sends only these to the re-feeding (142) valve, while in the others, it accepts that grinding / crushing to the desired particle size has taken place and sends them to the paint and ink filling (141 ) unit. Grinding cells (121 ) differ from the bead mill grinding machines in the state of the art in that the grinding / crushing operation is carried out by method of compression under pressure and impact on the cell walls.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A machine (100) for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and for obtaining desired fineness sizes and fluidity values, characterized in that it comprises;- a grinding unit (120) consisting of a concave spring (212) positioned inside the grinding cells (121 ) to disperse by impact the mixture (1 12) entering from a plurality of grinding cells (121 ) successively articulated to each other for performing the grinding / crushing process and having an inlet and an outlet path, and to increase the impact effect on the inner walls;- a control unit (130) which increases or decreases the operating speed of the delivery pump (113) for performing grinding and at the same time determines whether the mixture (1 12) exiting the finish unit (140) is sent to the filling or refeeding, in the event that the deceleration of the fluidity rate and the increase of the reverse pressure during the first time interval continues during a second time interval (the time for the mixture (112) to pass from one grinding cell (121 ) to another).

2. A machine (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a delivery pump (1 13) to transfer the mixture (112) to the grinding unit (120).

3. A machine (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a pressure sensor (131 ) located at the inlet of the grinding cell (121 ) to measure the pressure generated in the grinding cells (121 ).

4. A machine (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a flow sensor (132) located at the outlet of the grinding cell (121 ) to measure the amount of mixture (1 12) that exits the finish unit (140) after being ground per unit time.

5. A machine (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises refeeding (142) to introduce the mixture (112) with a particle size larger than the desired size after grinding back into the grinding cell (121 ).

6. The operating principle of a machine (100) for homogenizing solid and liquid materials in the paint and ink production process and for obtaining desiredfineness sizes and fluidity values, characterized in that it comprises process step of;- transferring the mixture (112) prepared by mixing paint and ink materials in solid and liquid form by means of the delivery pump (113) from the mixing unit (110) to the grinding unit (120);- grinding the mixture (112) arriving at the grinding unit (120) by the grinding cells (121 ) here;- checking the amount of mixture (112) entering and exiting the machine (100) detected by the pressure sensor (131 ) and flow sensor (132) and the required amounts by the control unit (130) by making a comparison using the control algorithm;- if the mixture (112) is ground to the desired size, transferring it to the paint and ink filling (141 ) located in the finish unit (140), and if it is ground larger than desired, transferring it to the re-feeding (142).

7. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the grinding unit (120) consisting of grinding cells (121 ) articulated successively to perform the grinding / crushing process performs the grinding / crushing process by compression under pressure method.

8. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step of detecting agglomeration in a grinding process by determining the effect of the deceleration if there is a deceleration in the fluidity of the mixture (112) and calculating the particle size from the flow rate9. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step for the control unit (130) to determine whether there is agglomeration in the grinding cells (121 ) from the amount of grinding per unit time.

10. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step of taking into the same vessel the paint and ink materials in solid and liquid form in the preliminary / initial mixture preparation stage, and preparing the mixture (1 12) by turning it into slurry with the mixer1 1 . The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step wherein the mixture (112) enters the first grinding cell (121 ) through the delivery pump (1 13) or re-feeding (142) valve and exits the exit grinding cell (121 ) at the end.

12. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step wherein the control algorithm in the control unit (130) sends signals to the delivery pump (1 13) and the re-feeding (142) valve by processing the data from the pressure sensor (131 ) and the data from the flow sensor (132).

13. The operating principle of a machine (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises the process step wherein, by processing the measurement values together with the time information, the control algorithm determines in which cell the large particle mixture (112) is located and sends only these to the re-feeding (142) valve, while in the others, it accepts that grinding / crushing to the desired particle size has taken place and sends them to the paint and ink filling (141 ) unit.

Images