Mixer with closure cover

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mixer comprising a mixing vessel held on a machine bed, the mixing vessel having a discharge opening at the bottom of the mixing vessel, and a closure cover that is reciprocally movable between a closed position where the closure cover closes the discharge opening and an open position where the closure cover does not close the discharge opening. To provide a mixer that can easily open and close the discharge opening and has a significantly reduced risk of the drive unit of the closure cover becoming dirty, the present invention proposes that the closure cover is connected to the machine bed by a four-bar linkage with four rotary joints, wherein a first rotary joint and a second rotary joint of the four-bar linkage are arranged on the closure cover, and a third rotary joint and a fourth rotary joint of the four-bar linkage are arranged on the machine bed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixer comprising a mixing vessel supported on a machine bed, the mixing vessel having a discharge port at its bottom, and a closure cover provided therewith which is movable back and forth between a closed position in which the closure cover closes the discharge port and an open position in which the closure cover does not close the discharge port. [Background technology]

[0002] Such mixing devices are known. They often comprise a vessel that is rotatable about its axis. Furthermore, inside the vessel, a rotatable mixing tool is usually arranged. In such an arrangement, the mixing tool is rotatable about a mixer shaft that is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the vessel, for example characterized in that mixing blades are fixed to the mixer shaft.

[0003] Such a mixing device is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,399,623 or US Pat. No. 5,399,623. Figures 1 and 2 show a mixer device which substantially corresponds to the mixer device known from US Pat. In this arrangement, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the mixing vessel, whereas Figure 2 shows a cross-section along the mixer device.

[0004] A cylindrical mixing vessel 101 has a cantilevered mixing tool 102 disposed on a central shaft 103 having a laterally disposed mixing blade 104 eccentrically disposed within the mixing vessel, and a fixed vertically mounted cantilevered wall / bottom scraper 105 from the upper side. Fixed to the lowest blade face of the mixing tool 102 is a vertically downwardly projecting bottom blade 106 which operates at a small clearance against the surface of the vessel bottom.

[0005] A discharge opening 107 is arranged in the center of the mixing vessel 101. The discharge opening 107 can be closed by a closure cover 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure cover 108 is connected to a carrier arm 110 by means of a mounting fork and a mounting pin 109 and is therefore pivotable about the inclined axis of the mounting pin 109. The carrier arm 110 is rotatably mounted by means of a pivot axis 111. A restoring element, not shown, provides that the closure cover 108 assumes a predetermined position relative to the carrier arm 110 without the action of external forces.

[0006] When the discharge opening 107 is closed, i.e. when the closure cover 108 is placed in the discharge opening 107, the closure cover 108 defines a plane flush with the bottom surface of the container, which results in a flat bottom surface on which the materials to be mixed move, thereby ensuring efficient mixing of all the materials to be mixed, since there is no dead space above the closure cover that the bottom blade 106 cannot reach.

[0007] The requirement that the closure cover be located flush with the bottom surface of the container creates difficulties with respect to the construction and guidance of the design of the closure cover.

[0008] Basically, the closure cover needs to be moved linearly downwards to open the discharge opening. However, due to the arrangement of the discharge opening at the bottom of the container, the mixed material flows over all edge faces of the closure cover and can contaminate the drive of the closure cover. Furthermore, residual deposits of the mixed material remain lying on the flat closure cover and do not flow out together with the rest of the mixed material. However, since the contact surface between the closure cover and the discharge opening is substantially cylindrical or conical, it is not possible for the closure cover to be pivoted outwards from the discharge opening.

[0009] It is known that in the case of mixing vessels and closure covers with replaceable abradable coatings, in particular in the case of mixing vessels that are additionally vacuum-sealed, the cylindrical contact surfaces of the closure cover and the discharge opening are particularly well sealed. However, due to the thickness of the mixing vessel bottom and the abradable coating fixed thereon, the closure cover when opened must move along the cylindrical contact surface as far as possible parallel to the inside of the discharge opening before being transferred to a pivoting movement. Preferably, in such a case, the upper side of the closure cover pivots downwards in the direction of the axis of the discharge opening in order to allow the mixed material arranged thereon to flow away completely. For this, the drive of the closure cover shown in FIG. 2 allows both a pivoting movement about the axis 111 and a pivoting movement about the axis 109 associated with a return element. Known closure covers with a return element, as shown, for example, in the patent application WO 2005 / 023363, are expensive to manufacture and cannot be easily cleaned. Due to the pivoting movement of the closure cover, it is necessary for the closure cover to have a certain clearance in the discharge opening so that it can be pivoted out of the discharge opening. Due to the resulting gaps, the components of the material to be mixed can leak out of the container even when the discharge opening is closed. Furthermore, the closure cover must be thoroughly cleaned after the emptying operation in order to place it back in the opening and seal reliably. Furthermore, the material to be mixed can accumulate in the area of ​​the pivot 109 under the closure cover and impede the pivoting movement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2011 / 128435 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 1103492 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In view of the above-mentioned state of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mixer in which the discharge opening can be easily opened and closed and in which the risk of the drive of the closing cover becoming dirty is significantly reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] According to the invention, the object is to provide a closure cover with four rotary joints. 4-bar link mechanism It is connected to the machine base by 4-bar link mechanism the first rotary joint and the second rotary joint are disposed on a machine bed; 4-bar link mechanism This is achieved by arranging the third rotary joint and the fourth rotary joint on the closure cover.

[0013] The movement of the closure cover relative to the machine bed and therefore relative to the mixing vessel is 4-bar link mechanism In this case, the third and fourth rotary joints can be arranged directly on the closure cover. Alternatively, a further element can be fixed to the closure cover, on which the third and fourth rotary joints are arranged.

[0014] In this regard, 4-bar link mechanism It is advantageous if all of the joint axes are arranged parallel to one another.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, 4-bar link mechanism The first joint is connected by a crank element. 4-bar link mechanism The joint axis of the first joint and the joint axis of the fourth joint are spaced apart from each other by a distance c. 4-bar link mechanism The second joint is connected by a lever element. 4-bar link mechanism The joint axis of the second joint and the joint axis of the third joint are spaced apart from each other by a distance a. 4-bar link mechanism The third joint is made by using a connecting element of length f. 4-bar link mechanismThe joint axis of the third joint and the joint axis of the fourth joint are spaced apart from each other by a distance b. The connecting element may therefore be longer than the distance b. The joint axes of the first joint and the second joint are spaced apart from each other by a distance g.

[0016] Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the closure cover is fixed to the connecting element. In this case, the connecting element may extend not only between the third joint and the fourth joint, but also up to the closure cover. The third joint may be located at the end of the connecting element, i.e. on the opposite side of the closure cover.

[0017] In order to provide a driving movement of the closure cover into and out of the discharge opening, a preferred embodiment is characterized in that the joint axis of the second joint is in the form of a shaft, and a driving means for rotating the shaft is provided. Device and the lever element is fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft is rotated the lever element rotates about the joint axis of the joint, or preferably the joint axis of the first joint is in the form of a shaft and a drive for rotating the shaft is provided. Device and the crank element is fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft rotates, the crank element rotates about the joint axis of the joint.

[0018] Therefore, to open or close the closure cover, the shaft only needs to be driven to achieve the desired movement of the closure cover.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element is arranged substantially perpendicular to the closure cover.

[0020] Typically, the closure cover has a flat inner surface facing the interior of the mixing cover in the closed position, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and a circumferentially extending end surface connecting the inner and outer surfaces together. Arranging the connecting element perpendicular to the closure cover means that the connecting element is arranged perpendicular to the inner surface of the closure cover and does not extend into the interior of the mixing vessel at this point.

[0021] By way of example, the joint axes of the third joint and the fourth joint and the connection points at which the connecting elements are connected to the closure cover lie in a common plane extending perpendicularly to the outer and / or inner surface of the closure cover.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the length a is made shorter than the length c. Due to the fact that the lever element is shorter than the crank element, this results in an initially substantially linear movement which then transitions to a pivoting movement in order to move the closure cover out of the closure opening.

[0023] In this case, it is advantageous if the length c corresponds approximately to the sum of the length a and the spacing e, such that 0.9≦(a+e) / c≦1.1, preferably 0.95≦(a+e) / c≦1.05, particularly preferably c=a+e. In this case, e is the spacing between the first and second joint axes in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the third and fourth joint axes. The spacing b is the spacing between the first and second joint axes in a direction parallel to the line connecting the third and fourth joint axes. The spacing g is therefore derived from the formula: e2+d2=g2.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the first joint is closer to the plane in which the outlet is located than the second joint.

[0025] It is further advantageous if the fourth joint is closer to the closure cover than the third joint.

[0026] Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, in the closed position of the closure cover, the crank element and the lever element extend substantially parallel to one another. It is further preferred that in the closed position of the closure cover, the crank element and the lever element with the connecting element form an angle between 80° and 100°. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the ratio of the length f of the connecting element to the distance b between the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis is between 2 and 10.

[0027] In a more preferred embodiment, 0.75≦d / b≦1.5, and particularly preferably 0.85≦d / b≦1.2.

[0028] Advantageously, the crank element and the lever element are rod-shaped.Preferably, the connecting element is also rod-shaped.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment, the lengths of the crank element, the connecting element and the lever element as well as the positions of the four joints are coordinated so that when the closure cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the projection of the end of the closure cover above the container bottom towards the shaft does not enter the area of ​​the outlet.

[0030] This design configuration allows the crank element, the lever element, the third joint, and the fourth joint to fall, 4-bar link mechanism The closing cover is designed to prevent the mixed material from falling out of the discharge opening as little as possible when the closing cover is opened, so as not to cause a mess that would seriously affect the movement of the mixing device. 4-bar link mechanism from falling of the material being mixed, significantly extending the service life of the linkage. In addition, the joints are generally not soiled by the material being mixed, which reduces the cleaning effort.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment, the closure cover is circular with a radius r, and preferably the connecting elements are connected at the same position to the centre point of the closure cover.

[0032] It is further advantageous if a≦c, and preferably if 0.1≦r / a≦1.2.

[0033] In a more preferred embodiment, the ratio a / e is 0.9≦a / e≦20, and particularly preferably 1.0≦a / e≦10. This is considered to be particularly advantageous when c corresponds approximately to the sum of a and e.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the mixing vessel is rotatable about its axis; 4-bar link mechanism is arranged so as not to rotate together with the mixing vessel about the axis of the mixing vessel. In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the straight line extends through the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis of the axis of the mixing vessel and through the center point of the closure cover. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] Further advantages, features and possible applications will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0036] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a prior art mixing vessel. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a section through the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1 and a mixing vessel installed therein. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from below of one embodiment according to the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 with the closure open. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a cross section through the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a four-bar linkage according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] 1 and 2 show a prior art mixer previously described herein.

[0038] 3 shows a perspective view from below of an embodiment of a mixer according to the invention. The figure shows the bottom of a cylindrical mixing vessel 1, which is rotatably mounted on a machine bed 2. At the underside of the mixing vessel 1, a closure opening is shown, in which a closure cover 3 is arranged. The closure cover 3 is fixed to a connecting element 4, on which in turn a third joint shaft 10 and a fourth joint shaft 11 are arranged.

[0039] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the mixer according to the invention with the closure cover in a (partially) open position. The closure cover 3 has an end face 13. A connecting element 4 is connected to the closure cover 3, which in the illustrated position is not exactly in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure cover is circular and the connecting element is connected to the centre point 12 of the circular shape of the closure cover 3. The outlet 5 is arranged at the bottom of the mixing vessel 1. The connecting element 4 is connected to the machine bed 2 by means of both a crank element 7 and a lever element 6.

[0040] Fixed to the machine bed are a first revolute joint 8 engaged by a crank element and a second revolute joint 9 engaged by a lever element.

[0041] The crank element 7 is driven by means of a shaft via a rotary joint 8 from a corresponding drive (not shown) so that it can be rotated about the joint axis of the shaft in order to reciprocate the closure cover 3 between the closed and open positions. Also one can find a connecting element 4 on which a third axis for a third rotary joint 10 and an axis for a fourth rotary joint 11 are arranged.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the mixer according to the invention shown in FIG. 4, with the closure cover in a (partially) open position.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the mechanism. 4-bar link mechanismThe actuator has a first revolute joint 8, 9 fixed to the machine bed 2. A third revolute joint 10 and a fourth revolute joint 11 are fixed to the connecting element 4.

[0044] The first revolute joint 8 is connected to a fourth revolute joint 11 by means of a crank element 7. The second revolute joint 9 is connected to a third revolute joint 10 by means of a lever element 6.

[0045] The connecting element 4 not only connects the third rotary joint 10 and the fourth rotary joint 11 but also extends to the closure cover 3 and engages there in a center point 12 of the closure cover. The connecting element is arranged perpendicular to the closure cover. The third rotary joint 10 is at the end of the connecting element 4 opposite the closure cover 3.

[0046] In order to ensure that the material to be mixed does not fall into the first rotary joint 8 or the second rotary joint 9, when moving from the closed position to the open position in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the mixing vessel, the point of the end face 13 of the closure cover 3 facing the first and second rotary joints 8, 9 should be moved as little as possible away from the first rotary joint 8. In this case, the closure cover 3 simultaneously covers the rotary joints 10, 11 as well to prevent contamination by the material to be mixed.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the lever element 6 has a length of 500 mm. The length c of the crank element is 600 mm. The connecting element 4 has a total length of 350 mm, the third and fourth revolute joints being spaced apart from each other by a distance b of 60 mm. The distance d between the first and second revolute joints is also 60 mm, as is the distance b. The closing cover has a radius r of 250 mm. In aspect (1), a mixer comprising: a mixing vessel supported on a machine stand, the mixing vessel having a discharge port at a bottom of the mixing vessel; and a closing cover reciprocating between a closed position in which the closing cover closes the discharge port and an open position in which the closing cover does not close the discharge port, The closure cover is equipped with four rotating joints. 4-bar link mechanism and connected to the machine bed using 4-bar link mechanism The first rotary joint and the second rotary joint are disposed on the closure cover, 4-bar link mechanism a third rotary joint and a fourth rotary joint are disposed on the machine bed. In the mixer of aspect (1), 4-bar link mechanism all of the joint axes are arranged parallel to one another. In the mixer of aspect (1) or (2), 4-bar link mechanism The first joint is connected by a crank element of length c. 4-bar link mechanism and connected to the fourth joint of 4-bar link mechanism The second joint is connected to the lever element having a length a. 4-bar link mechanism and connected to the third joint of 4-bar link mechanism The third joint is connected to the above joint by a connecting element of length b. 4-bar link mechanism and connected to the fourth joint of the joint shaft of the first joint and the joint shaft of the second joint are disposed at a distance g from each other; a distance between the first joint axis and the second joint axis in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis is e, and a distance between the first joint axis and the second joint axis in a direction parallel to the line connecting the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis is d, Preferably, a) the first joint is closer than the second joint; and / or b) the fourth joint is positioned closer to the closure cover than the third joint. The mixer according to aspect (3), characterized in that 0.9≦(a+e) / c≦1.1, preferably 0.95≦(a+e) / c≦1.05, and particularly preferably c=a+e. The mixer of aspect (3) or (4), characterized in that the closing cover is fixed to the connecting element. In the mixer of any one of aspects (3) to (5), the joint shaft of the second joint is in the form of a shaft, and a drive for rotating the shaft is provided. Device and the lever element is fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft rotates, the lever element rotates about the joint axis of the joint, or preferably the joint axis of the first joint is in the form of a shaft and a drive for rotating the shaft is provided. Device and wherein the crank element is fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft rotates, the crank element rotates about the joint axis of the joint. The mixer of any one of aspects (3) to (6), characterized in that the connecting element is disposed substantially perpendicular to the closure cover. A mixer according to any one of aspects (3) to (7), characterized in that the ratio of the length f of the connecting element to the distance b between the third joint shaft and the fourth joint shaft is 2≦f / b≦10. A mixer according to any one of aspects (3) to (8), characterized in that a ratio of the distance d to the distance b is 0.75≦d / b≦1.5, and preferably 0.85≦d / b≦1.2. The mixer of any one of aspects (3) to (9), characterized in that, in the closed position of the closing cover, the crank element and the lever element extend substantially parallel to each other. A mixer according to any one of aspects (3) to (10), characterized in that the lengths of the crank element, the connecting element and the lever element as well as the positions of the four joints are coordinated so that, when the closure cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the protrusion of the end of the closure cover on the bottom toward the shaft does not enter the area of ​​the outlet. A mixer according to any one of aspects (3) to (11), characterized in that the closing cover is circular with a radius r, and preferably the connecting element is connected to the closing cover at its center point. A mixer according to any one of aspects (12), characterized in that a≦c, preferably 0.1≦r / a≦1.2. In the mixer of any one of aspects (1) to (13), the mixing vessel is rotatable about an axis of the mixing vessel, 4-bar link mechanism is arranged so as not to rotate together with the mixing vessel about the axis of the mixing vessel. A mixer according to any one of aspects (3) to (14), characterized in that a straight line extending through the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis is on the axis of the mixing vessel and extends through a center point of the closure cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 mixing container 2 Machine stand 3 Closure cover 4. Connected Components 5 Outlet 6 Lever element 7 Crank Elements 8, 9, 10, 11 Rotational joints 12 Center point of closure cover 13 End face 101 Mixing container 102 Mixing Tools 103 Central Shaft 104 Mixed Blade 105 Wall / Bottom Scraper 106 Bottom Blade 107 Exhaust opening 108 Closure cover 109 Mounting pin 110 Carrier Arm 111 Rotating shaft 112 Transfer Box

Claims

1. 1. A mixer comprising: a mixing vessel supported on a machine bed, the mixing vessel having a discharge port at a bottom of the mixing vessel; and a closure cover reciprocally movable between a closed position in which the closure cover closes the discharge port and an open position in which the closure cover does not close the discharge port, The closing cover is configured to be reciprocally movable by a drive unit configured by a four-bar link mechanism, The closing cover includes: connected to the machine bed using the four-bar linkage; the four-bar linkage mechanism is constituted by a crank element, a lever element, a portion of a connecting element connected to the closing cover, and a portion of a machine bed; the crank element is rotatably connected to a portion of the machine bed via a first rotary joint serving as a joint of the four-bar linkage, and is rotatably connected to a portion of the connecting element via a fourth rotary joint serving as a joint of the four-bar linkage; the lever element is rotatably connected to a portion of the machine bed via a second rotary joint serving as a joint of the four-bar linkage, and is rotatably connected to a portion of the connecting element via a third rotary joint serving as a joint of the four-bar linkage; the first rotary joint of the four-bar linkage is connected to the fourth rotary joint of the four-bar linkage using the crank element of length c, the second rotary joint of the four-bar linkage is connected to the third rotary joint of the four-bar linkage using the lever element of length a, and the third rotary joint of the four-bar linkage and the fourth rotary joint of the four-bar linkage are connected to the connecting element of length f; a first joint shaft of the first rotary joint and a second joint shaft of the second rotary joint are disposed at a distance g from each other; a distance between the first joint axis and the second joint axis in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting a third joint axis of the third rotation joint and a fourth joint axis of the fourth rotation joint is e, and a distance between the first joint axis and the second joint axis in a direction parallel to the line connecting the third joint axis and the fourth joint axis is d, The length a, the length f, the length c, the interval d, the interval e, and the interval g are defined in the same unit of length. A mixer comprising:

2. 2. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the joint axes of all the joints of the four-bar linkage are arranged parallel to each other.

3. 3. The mixer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a) the first rotary joint is located closer to the plane in which the outlet is located than the second rotary joint, and / or b) the fourth rotary joint is located closer to the closing cover than the third rotary joint.

4. 4. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein 0.9≦(a+e) / c≦1.

1.

5. 5. The mixer of claim 4, wherein 0.95≦(a+e) / c≦1.

05.

6. The mixer of claim 5, wherein (a+e) / c=1.

0.

7. 7. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the closing cover is fixed to the connecting element.

8. 8. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the second joint axis of the second rotary joint is in the form of a shaft, a drive is provided for rotating the shaft, and the lever element is fixed to the shaft such that when the shaft rotates, the lever element rotates about the second joint axis of the second rotary joint.

9. 9. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the first joint axis of the first rotary joint is in the form of a shaft, a drive is provided for rotating the shaft, and the crank element is fixed to the shaft such that, when the shaft rotates, the crank element rotates about the first joint axis of the first rotary joint.

10. 10. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is arranged perpendicular to the closure cover.

11. a ratio of the length f of the connecting element to a distance b between the third joint shaft and the fourth joint shaft is 2≦f / b≦10; 11. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the interval b has the same units of length as the length a, the length f, the length c, the interval d, the interval e and the interval g.

12. a ratio of the distance d to the distance b between the third joint shaft and the fourth joint shaft is 0.75≦d / b≦1.5; 12. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the interval b has the same units of length as the length a, the length f, the length c, the interval d, the interval e and the interval g.

13. 13. The mixer according to claim 12, wherein a ratio of the distance d to the distance b satisfies 0.85≦d / b≦1.

2.

14. 14. A mixer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closed position of the closure cover, the crank element and the lever element extend parallel to each other.

15. The mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the closing cover is circular with a radius r having the same units of length as the length a, the length f, the length c, the interval d, the interval e, and the interval g.

16. 16. The mixer according to claim 15, characterized in that the connecting element is connected to the closure cover at a central point of the closure cover.

17. 17. The mixer according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that a≦c.

18. 18. The mixer according to claim 17, wherein 0.1≦r / a≦1.

2.

19. The mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the mixing container is rotatable about its axis, and the four-bar linkage is arranged so as not to rotate together with the mixing container about its axis.

20. 20. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein a straight line extending through the third joint axis of the third rotary joint and the fourth joint axis of the fourth rotary joint is on the axis of the mixing vessel and extends through a center point of the closure cover.

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