Granulating device and granulating method

Abstract

To provide a granulating device capable of suppressing adhesion of particles to a chopper and thereby improving accuracy of granulation, and a granulating method.SOLUTION: A granulating device 1 comprises a tubular processing container 10 with an open top and a rotating plate 33 provided at the bottom in the processing container 10. Through a rotational motion of the rotating plate 33, the granules P introduced into the processing container 10 are caused to swirl and flow to be granulated. The granulating device includes a chopper 53 that rotates multiple blade bodies inside the processing container 10 to cut the granules P. The chopper 53 is designed to change its posture between a cutting position where the blade bodies are located in a space above an outer edge of the rotating plate 33 within the processing container 10, and a retracted position where the blade bodies move out of the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate 33 within the processing container 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a granulation device and a granulation method for sizing granules placed in a processing vessel by causing a swirling flow. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a size regulating device that regulates the size of granules by causing the granules in a processing vessel to flow in a swirling motion using a rotation mechanism (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-275684 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional sizing device, a rotating disk and a chopper are arranged inside the processing vessel. In this case, the chopper continues to contact the granules inside the processing vessel even after the chopper has finished cutting the granules, which causes the granules to adhere to the chopper and affects the accuracy of sizing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a granular sizing device and a granular sizing method that can prevent granular material from adhering to the chopper and improve the accuracy of sizing by retracting the chopper from the granular material inside the processing vessel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Means for solving the above problems will be described below.

[0007] The granulation device of the present invention is a granulation device that comprises a cylindrical processing container that is open at the top and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing container, and which sizes granules introduced into the processing container by causing them to flow in a swirling motion through the rotational motion of the rotating plate.The chopper also comprises a chopper that cuts the granules by rotating a plurality of blade bodies inside the processing container, and the chopper's posture can be changed between a cutting position where the blade bodies are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing container, and a retracted position where the blade bodies are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing container.

[0008] In addition, in the grain sizing device, it is preferable that the chopper is rotatable around a rotation axis provided in a horizontal direction, and that the chopper is rotated and displaced around the rotation axis, thereby allowing the chopper to change its posture between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0009] In addition, in the grain sizing device, it is preferable that the chopper is slidable in the vertical direction, and that the chopper's posture can be changed between the cutting position and the retracted position by sliding and displacing the chopper in the vertical direction.

[0010] In the grain sizing device, it is preferable that the chopper is supported by a support mechanism that changes the attitude of the chopper between the cutting position and the retracted position, and is detachable from the support mechanism.

[0011] The sizing method of the present invention is a sizing method performed using any of the sizing devices described above, and comprises a first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade body by the chopper at the cutting position, and a second step of rotating the rotating plate after continuing the first step for a predetermined period of time, with the chopper displaced to the retracted position.

[0012] In addition, the granulation method of the present invention is a granulation method which includes a cylindrical processing vessel which is open at the top, and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing vessel, and which uses the rotational motion of the rotating plate to cause a swirling flow of granules introduced into the processing vessel and size the granules. The chopper rotates a plurality of blade bodies inside the processing vessel to cut the granules, and the position of the blade bodies is variable between a cutting position in which the blade bodies are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the processing vessel and a retracted position in which the blade bodies are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the processing vessel, and the method includes a first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade bodies by the chopper at the cutting position, and a second step of rotating the rotating plate with the chopper displaced to the retracted position after the first step is continued for a predetermined period of time. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the sizing device and sizing method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent granules from adhering to the chopper and improve the accuracy of sizing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a particle size regulating device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a particle size regulating device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the particle size regulating device in use. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a retracted state of a chopper in the particle size regulating device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the particle size regulating device with the lid portion removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state in which the chopper is removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state in which the chopper motor is removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] First, a granulation apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The granulation apparatus 1 is an apparatus that causes granules P (see Figure 3) charged inside a processing vessel 10 to undergo a swirling flow, thereby adjusting the granule length and spheroidizing the granules.

[0016] 1 and 2, the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include a main body case 2, a treatment container 10 provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2, a discharge section 40 adjacent to the treatment container 10, and a support mechanism 60 supporting a chopper 53 and the like. The main body case 2 is a housing provided with a plurality of casters 2a on the bottom surface, and houses a motor 31, a control device (not shown), and the like inside.

[0017] The processing vessel 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open top. An input port 11 is provided at the upper opening of the processing vessel 10. As shown in Fig. 2, a circular rotating plate 33 having unevenness formed on its surface (upper surface) according to the particle size to be regulated is provided at the inside bottom of the processing vessel 10. A rotating shaft 32 extending from a motor 31 is connected to the rotating plate 33. When the motor 31 rotates the rotating shaft 32, the rotating plate 33 rotates at the bottom of the processing vessel 10.

[0018] In the granulation apparatus 1, the granules P fed into the inside of the processing vessel 10 are caused to swirl and flow by the rotational motion of the rotating plate 33, thereby adjusting the particle length of the granules and making the granules spherical. At this time, the centrifugal force accompanying the rotational motion of the rotating plate 33 causes the granules P fed into the processing vessel 10 to move along the inner wall of the processing vessel 10 while rolling at the outer edge of the rotating plate 33, as shown in FIG.

[0019] The sized granules are discharged to the outside via the discharge section 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge section 40 is configured to include a cylinder 41, a rod 42, a blocking member 43, and a discharge port 44. The blocking member 43 forms part of the inner surface of the processing vessel 10. The rod 42 extending from the cylinder 41 has its tip connected to the outer surface of the blocking member 43. When the cylinder 41 slides and displaces the rod 42 outward, the blocking member 43 retreats from the processing vessel 10, and the granules become able to be discharged from the discharge port 44.

[0020] In the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, a chopper 53 is provided that cuts the granules P with a plurality of blades inside the processing vessel 10. The chopper 53 is fixed to a shaft member 52 extending from a chopper motor 51. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the chopper 53 is fixed to a tip end 52a of the shaft member 52. When the chopper motor 51 rotates the shaft member 52, the chopper 53 rotates inside the processing vessel 10, and the blades cut the granules P.

[0021] 3, the chopper motor 51, the shaft member 52, and the chopper 53 are supported by a support mechanism 60 provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2. The support mechanism 60 is configured to include an actuator 61 rotatably provided on the main body case 2, a connecting portion 62 provided so as to be movable forward and backward from the actuator 61, a swing plate 63 having one end rotatably connected to the connecting portion 62, and a support portion 64 that supports the swing plate 63 rotatably around a swing shaft 64a.

[0022] A through hole penetrating the rocking plate 63 is formed at the other end of the rocking plate 63. A lower support cylinder 55 is fixed around the through hole on the upper surface of the rocking plate 63. Also, an upper support cylinder 54 is fixed to the lower surface of the chopper motor 51. The lower end of the upper support cylinder 54 and the upper end of the lower support cylinder 55 are connected by a clamp member 56. A bellows-shaped cover member 57 is fixed around the through hole on the lower surface of the rocking plate 63. The lower end of the cover member 57 is connected to the processing vessel 10.

[0023] As described above, the chopper motor 51, the shaft member 52, and the chopper 53 are supported by the support mechanism 60 via the upper support cylinder 54 and the lower support cylinder 55. At this time, the shaft member 52 is inserted through the upper support cylinder 54, the lower support cylinder 55, and the cover member 57, and extends into the inside of the processing vessel 10.

[0024] In the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment, the chopper motor 51, the shaft member 52, and the chopper 53 are detachable from the support mechanism 60. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet 11 is removed from the processing vessel 10, and as shown in FIG. 6, the chopper 53 is removed from the tip 52a of the shaft member 52. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper support tube 54 and the lower support tube 55 are disconnected by the clamp member 56, thereby removing the chopper motor 51 and the shaft member 52 from the support mechanism 60. In this way, in the sizing device 1, the chopper 53 and the like are detachable from the support mechanism 60, making it easy to perform maintenance of the sizing device 1.

[0025] In the support mechanism 60, the actuator 61 can displace one end of the swing plate 63 up and down via the connecting portion 62. When the actuator 61 displaces one end of the swing plate 63 upward, the blade body of the chopper 53 is positioned in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate 33 inside the processing vessel 10 as shown in Fig. 3 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the "cutting position" of the chopper 53). On the other hand, when the actuator 61 displaces one end of the swing plate 63 downward, the blade body of the chopper 53 retreats from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate 33 inside the processing vessel 10 as shown in Fig. 4 (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the "retracted position" of the chopper 53).

[0026] In this way, in the sizing device 1, the chopper 53 is supported by the support mechanism 60 so that its posture can be changed between the cutting position and the retreat position by driving the actuator 61. More specifically, the chopper 53 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 64a provided in a horizontal direction. The chopper 53 is rotated and displaced about the rotation shaft 64a, so that the posture of the chopper 53 can be changed between the cutting position and the retreat position. This reduces the moving distance of the chopper 53, making it possible for the chopper 53 to be displaced between the cutting position and the retreat position.

[0027] In the sizing device 1 according to the present embodiment, the chopper 53 is rotated to change its position between the cutting position and the retracted position, but it is also possible to make the chopper 53 slidable in the vertical direction. In this case, the chopper 53 is slidably displaced in the vertical direction to change its position between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0028] The sizing method performed by the sizing device 1 of this embodiment includes a first step in which the rotation of the rotating plate 33 and the rotation of the blade body by the chopper 53 at the cutting position are performed simultaneously, and a second step in which, after the first step is continued for a predetermined time (e.g., several tens of seconds to several minutes), the chopper 53 is displaced to a retracted position and the rotation of the rotating plate 33 is performed.

[0029] Specifically, the granules P are put into the processing vessel 10, and the chopper 53 is placed at the cutting position. In this state, the control device provided in the sizing device 1 drives the motor 31 and the chopper motor 51 to start the rotation of the rotating plate 33 and the cutting of the granules P by the rotation of the chopper 53 (first step). After the first step continues for a predetermined time, the actuator 61 is driven to displace the chopper 53 to the retreat position, and the driving of the motor 31 (rotation of the rotating plate 33) is continued (second step). The control device that controls these drives can be provided outside the sizing device 1. It is also possible to configure the sizing device 1 so that the user manually displaces the chopper 53 to the retreat position without using the control device.

[0030] According to the granulation device 1 of this embodiment, after the chopper 53 finishes cutting the granules P, the chopper 53 can be displaced to a retreat position, so that the chopper 53 does not continue to contact the granules inside the processing vessel. This makes it possible to prevent the granules from adhering to the chopper 53 and improve the accuracy of granulation.

[0031] The applicant of the present application conducted an experiment to compare a sizing method in which the chopper 53 was displaced to the retreat position in the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment with a sizing method in which the chopper 53 was kept in the cutting position as a comparative example. The experimental results are described below.

[0032] The raw material used in this experiment was a powder mixture of lactose, cornstarch, and Ceolus in a weight ratio of 49:21:30, to which 3% hydroxypropyl cellulose was added. After sieving and drying using the sieving device 1, the powder was classified for 5 minutes using a low tap using sieves with openings of 1.19 mm, 0.84 mm, and 0.71 mm in that order, and the mass of the granules remaining on each sieve or passing through all of the sieves was measured.

[0033] In the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not evacuated, the proportion of coarse powder (particles remaining on the 1.19 mm sieve) was 2.0%, the proportion of fine powder (particles that passed through the 0.71 mm sieve) was 9.3%, and the proportion of product standard powder (particles that passed through the 1.19 mm sieve and remained on the 0.71 mm sieve) was 88.6%.

[0034] On the other hand, in the sizing method performed in this embodiment with the chopper 53 retracted, the ratio of coarse powder was 0.6%, the ratio of fine powder was 7.4%, and the ratio of product standard was 92.0%. Thus, it was confirmed that the yield of product standard was increased (the accuracy of sizing was improved) in the sizing method performed with the chopper 53 retracted, compared to the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not retracted. This is considered to be due in part to the fact that, in the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not retracted, granules adhered to the blades of the chopper 53, and the chopper 53 obstructed the flow of the granules P inside the processing vessel 10.

[0035] As described above, in this experiment, it was confirmed that retracting the chopper 53 after the operation time is effective in improving product yield and preventing adhesion of granules to the blades of the chopper 53. In other words, it was confirmed that the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment and the sizing method using the sizing device 1 can suppress adhesion of granules to the chopper 53 and improve the accuracy of sizing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Grain size adjusting device 2 Main body case 2a Caster 10 Processing container 11 Feeding port 31 Motor 32 Rotating shaft 33 Rotating Plate 40 Discharge section 41 Cylinder 42 Rod 43 Closure member 44 Outlet 51 Chopper motor 52 Shaft member 52a Tip 53 Chopper 54 Upper support tube 55 Lower support tube 56 Clamp member 57 Cover member 60 Support mechanism 61 Actuator 62 Connecting part 63 Swing plate 64 Support part 64a Rotation shaft P granule

Claims

1. A granulation device comprising a cylindrical processing vessel having an opening at the top and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing vessel, the rotating motion of the rotating plate causes the granules introduced into the processing vessel to be swirled and sized. A chopper is provided which rotates a plurality of blades inside the processing vessel to chop the granules, The chopper is a grain sizing device whose posture can be changed between a cutting position in which the blade body is located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing vessel and a retracted position in which the blade body is retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing vessel.

2. The chopper is rotatable around a rotation axis provided in a horizontal direction, The particle size regulating device according to claim 1 , wherein the chopper is pivotally displaced about the pivot shaft, so that the chopper can change its posture between the cutting position and the retracted position.

3. The chopper is slidable in the up-down direction, The particle size regulating device according to claim 1 , wherein the chopper is slidably displaced in an up-down direction, so that the chopper can change its posture between the cutting position and the retracted position.

4. The chopper is supported by a support mechanism that changes the attitude of the chopper between the cutting position and the retracted position, and is detachable from the support mechanism. A sizing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A sizing method performed by the sizing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade body by the chopper at the cutting position; A particle regulating method comprising: a second step of rotating the rotating plate while displacing the chopper to the retracted position after the first step is continued for a predetermined time.

6. A granulation method comprising: a cylindrical processing vessel having an opening at the top; and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing vessel, the rotating motion of which causes granules introduced into the processing vessel to be swirled and sized; A chopper that cuts the granules by rotating a plurality of blade bodies inside the treatment vessel is variable in posture between a cutting position in which the blade bodies are located in a space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the treatment vessel and a retreat position in which the blade bodies are retreated from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the treatment vessel, A first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade body by the chopper at the cutting position; A particle regulating method comprising: a second step of rotating the rotating plate while displacing the chopper to the retracted position after the first step is continued for a predetermined time.

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