Mixing discharge device

Abstract

To provide a mixing discharge device with a simple and inexpensive structure that can suppress dripping at a discharge port in a form adopting a disposable type dynamic mixer.SOLUTION: A mixing discharge device 1 comprises a body 2 having a rotatable mixing shaft 5, and a mixer 3 detachably attached to the body. The mixer has a case 21 and a rotor 22, an insertion hole 31 is formed in the rotor, and the insertion hole is provided with an engaged part 32 with which an engagement part 12 provided on the mixing shaft can be engaged by insertion of the mixing shaft. The rotor can rotate integrally with the mixing shaft by engagement between the engagement part and the engaged part. A valve body 11 is provided at a tip of the mixing shaft, a valve seat 25 is provided at a bottom of the case, and the mixing shaft is so provided as to be movable in an axial direction between an open position A where the valve body is separated from the valve seat to open a discharge port 24 and a closed position B where the valve body is seated on the valve seat to close the discharge port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixing and discharging device, and more particularly to a mixing and discharging device that mixes and discharges a plurality of liquid materials. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, devices that mix and discharge multiple types of liquid materials are generally known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a technology in which a valve mechanism that opens and closes a discharge port is provided at the bottom of a dynamic mixer (rotary mixer), and the valve mechanism closes the discharge port when the mixer stops operating, thereby preventing the liquid materials in the mixer from dropping from the discharge port (i.e., dripping).

[0003] Here, a disposable mixer that can be detachably attached to a main body equipped with a mixing shaft and the like is sometimes used (see Patent Document 3, for example). This disposable mixer eliminates the need to clean the mixer after use, improving maintainability. However, if a dynamic mixer equipped with the above-mentioned valve mechanism for suppressing dripping is made disposable, it will have a complex and expensive structure with a large number of parts. In particular, the valve mechanism (valve body and valve seat) must be discarded every time the mixer is replaced, resulting in high running costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2018-529544 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-171464 [Patent Document 3] JP 2000-094438 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and has an object to provide a mixing and discharging device of simple and inexpensive structure that can suppress dripping from the discharge port in a configuration that employs a disposable dynamic mixer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is as follows. 1. A mixing and discharging device that mixes and discharges multiple types of liquid materials, a main body having a rotatable mixing shaft; A mixer that is detachably attached to the main body, The mixer has a case having a discharge port formed at a bottom thereof and a rotor accommodated in the case, The rotor has an insertion hole through which the mixing shaft can be inserted, the insertion hole is provided with an engaged portion with which an engaging portion provided on the mixing shaft can be engaged by inserting the mixing shaft therethrough, the rotor is rotatable integrally with the mixing shaft by the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, A valve body is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft, a valve seat on which the valve body can be seated is provided at a bottom of the case, The mixing discharge device is characterized in that the mixing shaft is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction between an open position in which the valve body is separated from the valve seat to open the discharge port, and a closed position in which the valve body is seated on the valve seat to close the discharge port. 2. The mixing and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is capable of moving axially together with the mixing shaft by engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion. 3. The mixer has a closing member that closes the upper opening of the case, The mixing and discharging device according to 1 or 2 above, wherein an inlet for introducing liquid material into a mixing chamber surrounded by the case and the closing member is provided on the outer periphery of the case. 4. The mixing and discharging device according to claim 3, wherein the case, the rotor and the blocking member are made of synthetic resin. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the mixing and discharging device of the present invention, a mixer having a rotor that can be detachably attached to the main body and rotated integrally with the mixing shaft, i.e., a disposable type dynamic mixer, is used, which eliminates the need to clean the mixer after use, improving maintainability, and does not produce cleaning waste liquid or cause deterioration of the working environment due to organic solvent fumes. In addition, when the mixer stops operating, the mixing shaft is moved from the open position to the closed position, so that the valve seat sits on the valve seat and the discharge port is closed, thereby preventing dripping from the discharge port. Furthermore, the valve is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft, the valve seat is provided at the bottom of the mixer case, and the valve is reused when the mixer is replaced, which reduces the number of parts of the mixer and makes it simple and inexpensive to structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] The present invention will be further described in the following detailed description by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments according to the invention and with reference to the several drawings mentioned, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams of a mixing and discharging device according to an embodiment, in which (a) is an overall perspective view and (b) is an exploded perspective view of a main part. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mixed discharge device with a portion in section. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are explanatory views of a mixer according to an embodiment, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a mixing shaft is inserted, and (b) shows an exploded state of (a). [Figure 4]1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of the mixer (with the mixing shaft inserted), where (b) is a perspective view seen from below of (a), and (c) is a perspective view seen from above of (a). [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of the mixer (with the mixing shaft not inserted), where (b) is a perspective view seen from below of (a), and (c) is a perspective view seen from above of (a). [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining the operation of the mixing and discharging device, in which (a) shows the mixer in operation, (b) shows the mixer in operation stopped, and (c) shows the mixer in the process of being removed from the main body. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a mixer according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The matters shown herein are illustrative and are intended to exemplify the embodiments of the present invention, and are described for the purpose of providing what is believed to be the most effective and easily understandable explanation of the principles and conceptual features of the present invention. In this respect, it is not intended to show structural details of the present invention beyond the extent necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present invention, and the description in conjunction with the drawings will make it clear to those skilled in the art how some forms of the present invention can be actually embodied.

[0010] The present invention will be specifically described below by way of embodiments with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a mixing and discharging device (applicator) that mixes two types of liquid materials, a base agent and a hardener, and discharges a two-liquid adhesive (urethane, epoxy, silicone, etc.) is exemplified as the "mixing and discharging device" according to the present invention.

[0011] 1 and 2, the mixing and discharging device 1 according to this embodiment includes a main body 2 having a rotatable mixing shaft 5, and a mixer 3 detachably attached to the main body 2. The main body 2 includes the mixing shaft 5, a motor 6 for rotating the mixing shaft 5 about its axis, and a moving mechanism 7 for moving the mixing shaft 5 in the axial direction. The main body 2 further includes a base 8 for supporting the motor 6 and the moving mechanism 7 (see FIG. 2). The base 8 includes a lower base 8a and an upper base 8b disposed above the lower base 8a via a support 9.

[0012] The mixing shaft 5 is made of metal. A valve body 11 capable of being seated on a valve seat 25 described later is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft 5. The valve body 11 is formed in a needle shape. The mixing shaft 5 is also provided with an engagement portion 12 that engages with an engaged portion 32 described later. The engagement portion 12 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the mixing shaft 5 formed in a regular polygon (specifically, a regular hexagon). Furthermore, the portion of the mixing shaft 5 that is connected to the engagement portion 12 in the axial direction has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction formed in a circle. The material of the mixing shaft 5 is not particularly limited, and may be made of ceramic, for example. Furthermore, the valve body 11 may be formed in a hemispherical shape or the like in addition to a needle shape.

[0013] The motor 6 is mounted on the upper base 8b. The drive shaft 6a of the motor 6 is connected to the mixing shaft 5 via a coupling 13 that allows the mixing shaft 5 to move in the axial direction. This coupling 13 has a rotor 13a attached to the drive shaft 6a and a rotor 13b attached to the mixing shaft 5. One of these rotors 13a, 13b is provided with a plurality of slide shafts 14, and the other is provided with a bush 15 through which the slide shafts 14 can be inserted.

[0014] The moving mechanism 7 moves the mixing shaft 5 in the axial direction between an open position A (see FIG. 6(a)) where the valve body 11 separates from the valve seat 25 to open the discharge port 24, and a closed position B (see FIG. 6(b)) where the valve body 11 seats on the valve seat 25 to close the discharge port 24. The moving mechanism 7 has a bearing 17 (specifically, a deep groove ball bearing) that is immovable in the axial direction of the mixing shaft 5 and supports the mixing shaft 5 rotatably, and a cylinder device 18 (specifically, an air cylinder device) that moves the bearing 17 in the axial direction. The cylinder device 18 is attached on the upper base 8b. Furthermore, a clamping portion 19 that clamps the bearing 17 from the axial direction is provided on a piston rod 18a of the cylinder device 18.

[0015] The moving mechanism 7 may have a ball screw device or the like instead of the cylinder device 18. Also, a mechanism having a plurality of cylinder devices 18 may be used. Furthermore, a mechanism having a plurality of bearings 17 may be used.

[0016] 3 to 5, the mixer 3 has a case 21 having a discharge port 24 formed at the bottom, and a rotor 22 housed in the case 21. Furthermore, the mixer 3 has a closing member 23 that closes an upper opening of the case 21.

[0017] The case 21 is made of synthetic resin. The case 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and an open upper end. A nozzle-shaped discharge port 24 is provided downwardly at the center of the bottom of the case 21. A valve seat 25 (valve sheet) on which the valve body 11 of the mixing shaft 5 can be seated is provided at the bottom of the case 21 (specifically, the portion directly above the discharge port 24).

[0018] An inlet 26 is provided on the outer periphery of the case 21 for allowing the liquid material to flow into the mixing chamber S surrounded by the case 21 and the blocking member 23. The case 21 (i.e., the mixer 3) is detachably attached to the main body 2 (i.e., the base 8) by inserting and removing an injection port 27a of a valve 27 into and from this inlet 26 (see FIG. 2). However, the case 21 may be one that is detachably attached to the main body 2 by locking, screwing, press-fitting, or the like.

[0019] The liquid material is supplied to the valve 27 by a mechanism for pumping the liquid, also called a dispenser system (for example, a type that pushes out the liquid with compressed air, a type that uses a pump, etc.), and the supply of the liquid material to the inlet 26 is started and stopped by opening and closing the valve 27. The injection port 27a is provided so as to be movable relative to the main body of the valve 27 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the mixing shaft 5 (horizontal direction) by an actuator (not shown) (see FIG. 6). However, the valve 27 may be one that is provided so that the entire valve, including the injection port 27a, is movable horizontally.

[0020] The rotor 22 is made of synthetic resin. The rotor 22 is housed in the mixing chamber of the case so that its axis is approximately aligned with the axis of the case. The rotor 22 is also formed with an insertion hole 31 (center hole) through which the mixing shaft 5 can be inserted. The insertion hole 31 is provided with an engaged part 32 with which the engaging part 12 can be engaged by inserting the mixing shaft 5. The engaged part 32 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the mixing shaft 5 formed in a regular polygon (specifically, a regular hexagon) corresponding to the engaging part 12. The insertion hole 31 is also provided with a support part 33 that supports a part of the mixing shaft 5 between the engaging part 12 and the valve body 11. The support part 33 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the mixing shaft 5 formed in a circular shape. The rotor 22 is also provided with a plurality of stirring blades 34 that spread radially along the axial direction. Incidentally, the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32 may have a cross section that is polygonal in its entirety, or may have a cross section that is polygonal in at least a portion thereof so as to form a spline connection, key connection, or the like.

[0021] Here, the rotor 22 can rotate integrally with the mixing shaft 5 due to the engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32. Furthermore, the rotor 22 can move axially integrally with the mixing shaft 5 due to the engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32. Furthermore, the passage of liquid material between the insertion hole 31 of the rotor 22 and the outer circumferential surface of the mixing shaft 5 is restricted due to the engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32.

[0022] The rotor 22 and the mixing shaft 5 may be configured to move together in the axial direction regardless of the viscosity of the liquid material, or may be configured to move together in the axial direction when the viscosity of the liquid material is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and not to move together in the axial direction when the viscosity of the liquid material is greater than the predetermined value. Furthermore, a configuration in which they do not move together in the axial direction regardless of the viscosity of the liquid material may be adopted.

[0023] The blocking member 23 is made of synthetic resin. This blocking member 23 is inserted into the case 21 so as to block the upper opening of the case 21. Furthermore, an insertion hole 37 through which the mixing shaft 5 can be inserted is formed in the center of the blocking member 23. This insertion hole 37 is provided with a recess 39 in which a seal member 38 that seals the gap with the mixing shaft 5 is attached. The blocking member 23 is attached to the case 21 by locking, screwing, press-fitting, adhesive, or the like. Furthermore, the shape of the blocking member 23 is not particularly limited, and may have a complex shape (upper surface shape) so as to assist the function of the shaft seal means, for example.

[0024] Next, the effects of the mixing and discharging device 1 configured as above will be described. When the mixer 3 is in operation (i.e., when the motor 6 is driven), as shown in Fig. 6(a), the mixing shaft 5 is located at the open position A, and the valve body 11 is separated from the valve seat 25 to open the discharge port 24. Then, the liquid material flowing in from the inlet 26 in the mixing chamber S is mixed by the integral rotation of the mixing shaft 5 and the rotor 22, and is discharged from the discharge port 24.

[0025] On the other hand, when the mixer 3 stops operating (i.e., when the motor 6 is stopped being driven), as shown in Fig. 6(b), the moving mechanism 7 moves (lowers) the mixing shaft 5 from the open position A to the closed position B, and the valve body 11 seats on the valve seat 25 to close the discharge port 24. Thereafter, when the mixer is to be operated again, the moving mechanism 7 moves (raises) the mixing shaft 5 from the closed position B to the open position A to open the discharge port 24.

[0026] When replacing the mixer 3, as shown in Fig. 6(c), the injection port 27 is pulled out from the inlet 26 by horizontally moving the injection port 27a, and the mixer 3 is then removed from the main body 2. At this time, the rotor 22 is pulled out from the mixing shaft 5 on the main body 2 side, and the valve body 11 is left on the main body 2 side and will be reused.

[0027] As described above, the mixing and discharging device 1 of this embodiment comprises a main body 2 having a rotatable mixing shaft 5, and a mixer 3 detachably attached to the main body 2. The mixer 3 has a case 21 having a discharge port 24 formed at the bottom, and a rotor 22 housed in the case 21. The rotor 22 has an insertion hole 31 formed therein through which the mixing shaft 5 can be inserted, and the insertion hole 31 is provided with an engaged portion 32 with which the engaging portion 12 provided on the mixing shaft 5 can engage when the mixing shaft 5 is inserted, and the rotor 22 can rotate together with the mixing shaft 5 due to engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32. A valve body 11 is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft 5, and a valve seat 25 on which the valve body 11 can be seated is provided at the bottom of the case 21. The mixing shaft 5 is arranged to be movable axially between an open position A in which the valve body 11 moves away from the valve seat 25 to open the discharge port 24, and a closed position B in which the valve body 11 seats on the valve seat 25 to close the discharge port 24. Thus, by adopting a mixer 3 having a rotor 22 that is detachably attached to the main body 2 and can rotate integrally with the mixing shaft 5, i.e., a disposable type dynamic mixer 3, cleaning work of the mixer 3 after use is unnecessary, and maintenance can be improved, and cleaning waste liquid is not generated and the working environment is not deteriorated by organic solvent fumes. In addition, when the operation of the mixer 3 is stopped, the mixing shaft 5 is moved from the open position A to the closed position B, and the valve body 11 is seated on the valve seat 25 to close the discharge port 24, so that dripping at the discharge port 24 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the valve body 11 is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft 5, the valve seat 25 is provided at the bottom of the case 21 of the mixer 3, and the valve body 11 is reused when the mixer 3 is replaced, so that the number of parts of the mixer 3 can be reduced and the structure can be made simple and inexpensive.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotor 22 can move axially together with the mixing shaft 5 due to the engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32. This makes it possible to prevent wear caused by sliding between the insertion hole 31 of the rotor 22 and the outer circumferential surface of the mixing shaft 5, and to regulate the passage of liquid material between the insertion hole 31 and the outer circumferential surface of the mixing shaft 5 even when the mixer 3 is used for a long period of time.

[0029] Moreover, in this embodiment, the mixer 3 has a blocking member 23 that blocks the upper opening of the case 21, and an inlet 26 that allows the liquid material to flow into the mixing chamber S surrounded by the case 21 and the blocking member 23 is provided on the outer periphery of the case 21. This simplifies the injection path of the liquid material, and the mixer 3 can have an even simpler and less expensive structure. In particular, in this embodiment, the case 21 (i.e., the mixer 3) can be attached to and detached from the main body 2 by inserting and detaching the injection port 27a into and from the inlet 26, and therefore the mixer 3 can have an even simpler and less expensive structure.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case 21, the rotor 22 and the blocking member 23 are made of synthetic resin, which allows the mixer 3 to have a simpler and less expensive structure.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention according to the purpose and application. That is, in the above embodiment, for example, as shown in Fig. 7, a seal member 41 may be provided in the insertion hole 31 of the rotor 22 to seal the gap between the rotor 22 and the outer circumferential surface of the mixing shaft 5. In this case, the rotor 22 is movable in the axial direction together with the mixing shaft 5 due to the pressing force of the seal member 41 in addition to the engagement between the engaging portion 12 and the engaged portion 32.

[0032] In addition, in the above embodiment, the inlet 26 is provided in the case 21, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inlet 26 may be provided in the blocking member 23.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mixing and discharging device 1 that mixes and discharges two types of liquid materials has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the mixing and discharging device 1 may mix and discharge, for example, three or more types of liquid materials.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] The present invention is widely used as a technique for mixing and discharging multiple types of liquid materials in the production processes of automobile parts, various sensors, home appliance circuit boards, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1; mixing and discharging device, 2; main body, 3; mixer, 5; mixing shaft, 11; valve body, 12; engagement portion, 21; case, 22; rotor, 23; blocking member, 24; discharge port, 25; valve seat, 26; inlet port, 31; insertion hole, 32; engaged portion, A; open position, B; closed position, S; mixing chamber.

Claims

1. A mixing and discharging device that mixes and discharges a plurality of liquid materials, A main body having a mixing shaft that is rotatable about an axis and movable in an axial direction; A mixer that is detachably attached to the main body, The mixer has a case having a discharge port formed at a bottom thereof and a rotor accommodated in the case, The rotor has an insertion hole through which the mixing shaft can be inserted, the insertion hole is provided with an engaged portion with which an engaging portion provided on the mixing shaft can be engaged by inserting the mixing shaft therethrough, the rotor is rotatable integrally with the mixing shaft by the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, A valve body is provided at the tip of the mixing shaft, a valve seat on which the valve body can be seated is provided at a bottom of the case, The mixing discharge device is characterized in that the mixing shaft is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction between an open position in which the valve body is separated from the valve seat to open the discharge port, and a closed position in which the valve body is seated on the valve seat to close the discharge port.

2. The case is detachably attached to the main body, The mixer has a closing member that closes an upper opening of the case, The blocking member has an insertion hole through which the mixing shaft can be inserted, The mixing and discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor and the blocking member are extracted from the mixing shaft by removing the case from the main body.

3. The mixer has a blocking member that blocks an upper opening of the case, an inlet for allowing a liquid material to flow into a mixing chamber surrounded by the case and the closing member is provided on an outer periphery of the case; an inlet that is horizontally movable so as to be inserted into and removed from the inlet; The mixing and discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the case is detachably attached to the main body by inserting the injection port into the inlet.

4. A mixing and discharging device as described in Claim 1, wherein the insertion hole of the rotor is provided with a sealing member that seals between the rotor and the outer peripheral surface of the mixing shaft.

5. A mixing and dispensing device as described in claim 1, which mixes two types of liquid materials, a base agent and a hardener, and dispenses a two-component adhesive.

6. 2. The mixing and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is movable in the axial direction together with the mixing shaft by the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion.

7. The mixer has a closing member that closes an upper opening of the case, 2. The mixing and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein an inlet for introducing a liquid material into a mixing chamber surrounded by the case and the closing member is provided on an outer periphery of the case.

8. 8. The mixing and discharging device according to claim 7, wherein the case, the rotor and the closing member are made of synthetic resin.

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