Mixing device, method for manufacturing glass raw material, and method for manufacturing glass article

Abstract

To suppress entry of raw material powder into an external device of a mixing device.SOLUTION: A mixing device 1 includes: a storage part 2 for storing raw material powder M; a stirring part 3 for stirring the raw material powder M in the storage part 2; a cover member 5 for preventing entry of the raw material powder M from the storage part 2; a space part SP formed inside of the cover member 5; and a gas supply device 17 for supplying a gas G into the space part SP.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixer for mixing raw material powders, a method for producing a glass raw material using the mixer, and a method for producing a glass article. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Various glass products, such as glass substrates and cover glasses used in displays such as liquid crystal displays, are produced by heating glass raw materials in a melting furnace to produce molten glass, and then molding the molten glass into a predetermined shape.

[0003] The glass raw material is composed of a blended powder (batch) prepared by blending multiple types (multiple brands) of raw material powders in a predetermined mixing ratio.

[0004] An apparatus for producing such blended powder includes a raw material powder storage silo that stores raw material powder, a weighing silo that weighs the raw material powder supplied from the raw material powder storage silo, and a blending mixer that blends the raw material powder weighed in the weighing silo (see, for example, paragraphs 0030 to 0035 of Patent Document 1).

[0005] In this glass raw material manufacturing apparatus, the blending mixer is disposed below a weighing silo. The weighing silo and the blending mixer are connected by a supply path. The raw material powder measured in the weighing silo is supplied to the blending mixer through this supply path (see paragraphs 0034 and 0035 of the same document).

[0006] The blending mixer includes a blending space and a stirring device disposed in the blending space. Different types of raw material powders are supplied to the blending space and mixed by the stirring device to produce a blended powder (see paragraph 0035 of the same document). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-163580 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In conventional blend powder manufacturing devices, a device for driving an agitator, for example, is provided outside the blending space of the blending mixer. In such a configuration, raw material powder from the blending space may enter the external device, impairing the function of the external device or causing a malfunction of the external device. Furthermore, the maintenance work of removing the raw material powder from the external device is complicated.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its technical object to prevent the raw material powder from entering an external device of a mixing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (1) The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a mixing device for stirring and mixing raw material powders for glass raw materials, comprising: a storage section for storing the raw material powder; a stirring section for stirring the raw material powder in the storage section; a cover member for preventing the raw material powder from entering from the storage section; a space section formed inside the cover member; and a gas supply device for supplying gas to the space section.

[0011] According to this configuration, by supplying gas to the space formed inside the cover member using the gas supply device, the pressure inside the space can be increased and the intrusion of raw material powder into the space can be suppressed. As a result, for example, when an external device is placed in the space, the raw material powder in the storage portion can be effectively suppressed from invading the external device. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the maintenance work inside the cover member and prevent breakdown of the mixing device due to the intrusion of raw material powder.

[0012] (2) The mixing device described in (1) above may include a moving part that moves in association with the stirring of the raw material powder stored in the storage part, and the cover member may cover the moving part.

[0013] If the cover member is tightly fitted over the entire moving part to seal it, there is a risk of impeding the movement of the moving part. Therefore, it is preferable to form an appropriate gap between the moving part and the cover member. Even in such a case, the gas supplied to the space by the gas supply part flows out of the cover member through this gap, thereby preventing the raw material powder from entering the space from the storage part. This allows the moving part placed in the space to be suitably protected.

[0014] (3) In the mixing device described in (1) or (2) above, the moving part may rotate in association with the stirring of the raw material powder stored in the storage part. Even when the moving part is rotating in this manner, by supplying gas to the space part by a gas supply device, it is possible to prevent the raw material powder from the storage part from entering the moving part arranged in the space part.

[0015] (4) In the mixing device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the stirring section includes a rotor that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the moving section and a blade attached to the rotor, and the storage section may be configured in a circular ring shape in a plan view, and the moving section may be disposed at the center of the circular ring shape.

[0016] According to this configuration, by supplying gas to the space formed inside the cover member using the gas supply device, it is possible to prevent the raw material powder in the storage section from entering the moving section located at the center of the storage section.

[0017] (5) The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a method for producing glass raw materials, comprising a mixing step of stirring and mixing the raw material powders by the mixing device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein in the mixing step, the gas is supplied to the space by the gas supply device.

[0018] According to this configuration, during the mixing process, the gas supply device supplies gas to the space formed inside the cover member, thereby increasing the pressure inside the space and preventing the raw material powder from entering the space. This effectively prevents the raw material powder in the storage unit from entering an external device, for example, when the space is equipped with an external device. This simplifies maintenance work inside the cover member and prevents breakdowns in the mixing device due to the intrusion of raw material powder.

[0019] (6) In the method for producing a glass frit according to the above (5), the pressure in the space may be 0.15 MPa or more and 0.6 MPa or less, thereby effectively suppressing the intrusion of the raw material powder into the space.

[0020] (7) The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a method for manufacturing a glass article, comprising a mixing step of obtaining glass raw materials by stirring and mixing raw material powders, a melting step of heating and melting the glass raw materials to produce molten glass, and a shaping step of shaping the molten glass to form a glass article, wherein in the mixing step, gas is supplied to the space by the gas supply device related to the mixing device described in any one of (1) to (4) above.

[0021] According to this configuration, during the mixing process, the gas supply device supplies gas to the space formed inside the cover member, thereby increasing the pressure inside the space and preventing the raw material powder from entering the space. This effectively prevents the raw material powder in the storage unit from entering an external device, for example, when the space is equipped with an external device. This simplifies maintenance work inside the cover member and prevents breakdowns in the mixing device due to the intrusion of raw material powder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the raw material powder from entering an external device of the mixing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the mixing device. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the mixing device. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a glass article. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a mixing apparatus, a method for producing a glass raw material, and a method for producing a glass article according to the present invention.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a mixer 1 is used to stir and mix raw material powder M for glass raw materials.

[0026] The mixing device 1 includes a storage section 2 for storing raw material powder M, a stirring section 3 for stirring the raw material powder M stored in the storage section 2, a moving section 4 that moves together with the stirring section 3, a cover member 5 that covers the moving section 4, and a driving section 6 that drives the moving section 4.

[0027] The reservoir 2 is configured as a reservoir tank having a predetermined volume. As shown in Fig. 2, the reservoir 2 is configured in a circular ring shape in a plan view. The reservoir 2 has a bottom wall 7, and a first side wall 8 and a second side wall 9 that rise upward from the bottom wall 7.

[0028] The bottom wall 7 is a plate member having an annular shape in plan view with a circular hole formed in the center. The first side wall 8 is configured to be circular in plan view so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 7. The second side wall 9 is configured to be circular in plan view so as to surround the inner peripheral edge of the bottom wall 7. With this configuration, a space for accommodating the moving part 4 is formed in the center of the storage part 2.

[0029] The stirring unit 3 includes a blade 10 that stirs the raw material powder M in the storage unit 2, an arm 11 that supports the blade 10, and a rotor 12 that supports the arm 11.

[0030] The blades 10 are attached to the rotor 12 via arms 11. The blades 10 are arranged inside the storage section 2. Specifically, the blades 10 are located above the bottom wall section 7 of the storage section 2, and are arranged between the first side wall section 8 and the second side wall section 9. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which four blades 10 are arranged inside the storage section 2, but the number of blades 10 is not limited to this embodiment. Each blade 10 is located at the same radial position in the storage section 2, but this configuration is not limited to this. The positions of each blade 10 in the radial direction of the storage section 2 may be different.

[0031] The arm 11 is a long member that is provided along the vertical direction. The arm 11 supports the blade 10 at its lower end. The arm 11 has an upper end connected to the rotor 12.

[0032] The rotors 12 are elongated parts that protrude horizontally from the cover member 5 (more specifically, the side wall portion 20 described below). The same number (four) of rotors 12 as the number of blades 10 are fixed to the cover member 5. As shown in FIG. 2 , the rotors 12 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the storage section 2. The rotors 12 protrude radially from the cover member 5 along the radial direction of the storage section 2. One end of the rotor 12 supports the upper end of the arm 11, and the other end of the rotor 12 is fixed to the cover member 5.

[0033] The moving part 4 is a part that moves in association with the stirring of the raw material powder M contained in the storage part 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving part 4 is disposed in the center of the annular shape of the storage part 2. In this embodiment, the moving part 4 is configured by a reduction gear device, but the configuration of the moving part 4 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the moving part 4 may be configured by a shaft, a bearing, and a support structure for these.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 1, the moving part 4 includes an input shaft 13, an output shaft 14, a reduction mechanism 15, and a support structure 16. The input shaft 13 is configured to protrude downward from a lower part of the moving part 4. The output shaft 14 is configured to protrude upward from an upper part of the moving part 4. The reduction mechanism 15 is interposed between the input shaft 13 and the output shaft 14.

[0035] Support structure 16 is a structure that supports speed reduction mechanism 15. A portion of support structure 16 is fixed integrally with second side wall portion 9 of storage portion 2. In other words, second side wall portion 9 of storage portion 2 serves as both a portion of storage portion 2 and a portion of support structure 16.

[0036] 1 and 3, the support structure 16 includes a gas supply device 17 that supplies gas G to a space SP formed inside the cover member 5. The gas supply device 17 includes a gas supply pipe 18 and a gas compression device (compressor) (not shown).

[0037] The gas supply pipe 18 is configured by a flexible hose, but is not limited to this configuration. The upper end of the gas supply pipe 18 has a supply port 18a that discharges the gas G. The supply port 18a is disposed inside the space SP. A portion of the gas supply pipe 18 is supported by the support structure 16. The gas supplied to the space SP by the gas supply device 17 is preferably, for example, air, but is not limited to this configuration.

[0038] The cover member 5 is intended to prevent the raw material powder M in the storage section 2 from entering inside the cover member 5. The cover member 5 covers the moving section 4 from above. The cover member 5 has a top wall section 19, a side wall section 20, and a connecting section 21 that is connected to the output shaft 14 of the moving section 4.

[0039] The top wall 19 is circular in plan view, but is not limited to this shape. The top wall 19 faces the upper part of the support structure 16 at a position higher than the support structure 16. This forms a space SP between the cover member 5 and the movement unit 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the space SP is defined by the upper part of the second side wall 9 of the storage unit 2, the top wall 19 and the side wall 20 of the cover member 5, and the support structure 16 of the movement unit 4.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 1, the side wall 20 protrudes downward from the peripheral edge of the top wall 19. As shown in Fig. 2, the side wall 20 is configured to have a circular shape in a plan view so as to surround the peripheral edge of the top wall 19, but is not limited to this shape. The rotor 12 is fixed to the outer surface of the side wall 20. In other words, the side wall 20 of the cover member 5 is a support part that supports the rotor 12 and also functions as a part of the stirring part 3.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of side wall 20 covers a part of reservoir 2. Specifically, the lower end of side wall 20 covers the upper part of second side wall 9 of reservoir 2. In other words, the lower end of side wall 20 overlaps the upper part of second side wall 9 inside reservoir 2. The inner surface of the lower end of side wall 20 and the outer surface of the upper part of second side wall 9 are not in contact with each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a gap C is formed between the inner surface of side wall 20 and the outer surface of second side wall 9. Gap C is, for example, 6 to 10 mm, and preferably, for example, 7 to 9 mm.

[0042] 1 and 2, the connecting part 21 is a cylindrical part that protrudes downward from the center of the top wall part 19. The output shaft 14 of the moving part 4 is inserted into the connecting part 21. By fixing the connecting part 21 to the output shaft 14, the cover member 5 is configured to rotate together with the output shaft 14.

[0043] The drive unit 6 is configured, for example, by an electric motor, but is not limited to this configuration. The drive unit 6 is disposed outside the first side wall 8 of the storage unit 2. The drive unit 6 includes a rotating shaft 22 and a belt 23 that connects the rotating shaft 22 to the input shaft 13 of the moving unit 4.

[0044] The rotating shaft 22 is arranged in the vertical direction so as to be parallel to the input shaft 13 and output shaft 14 of the moving part 4. The lower end of the rotating shaft 22 protrudes downward. The belt 23 is configured in the shape of an endless belt and is wound around the lower end of the rotating shaft 22 and the input shaft 13 of the moving part 4. The lower end of the rotating shaft 22 and the input shaft 13 of the moving part 4 have pulleys to which the belt 23 is attached.

[0045] A method for producing a glass article using the mixing device 1 having the above configuration will be described below. As shown in Fig. 4, the method includes a mixing step S1, a melting step S2, and a forming step S3.

[0046] The mixing step S1 is a step (glass raw material manufacturing step) of obtaining a glass raw material by stirring and mixing raw material powders M. In the mixing step S1, a plurality of weighed raw material powders M are charged into the storage unit 2 (charging step), and the driving unit 6 and the moving unit 4 are operated to start the stirring operation by the stirring unit 3.

[0047] When the rotating shaft 22 of the drive unit 6 rotates, the driving force is transmitted to the input shaft 13 of the moving unit 4 via the belt 23. When the input shaft 13 rotates in this way, the reduction mechanism 15 reduces the rotational speed of the input shaft 13 and transmits the rotational driving force to the output shaft 14. This causes the output shaft 14 to rotate, and the cover member 5 to rotate in conjunction with this rotation. The rotor 12 revolves around the moving unit 4 in conjunction with the rotation of the cover member 5. The revolving motion of the rotor 12 causes the blades 10 arranged in the storage unit 2 to move circumferentially around the storage unit 2, stirring the raw material powder M. By stirring for a predetermined time, a glass raw material that is uniformly mixed with the raw material powder M is produced.

[0048] In the mixing step S1, gas G is supplied to the space SP inside the cover member 5 by the gas supply device 17 (gas supply step). In the gas supply step, the gas G supplied to the space SP is discharged to the outside from the gap C between the side wall 20 of the cover member 5 and the second side wall 9 of the storage section 2.

[0049] While being stirred by the stirring unit 3, the raw material powder M in the storage unit 2 moves upward along the second side wall 9 and attempts to infiltrate into the space SP through the gap C between the side wall 20 of the cover member 5 and the second side wall 9 of the storage unit 2. Alternatively, a portion of the raw material powder M in the storage unit 2 floats and attempts to infiltrate into the space SP through the gap C between the side wall 20 of the cover member 5 and the second side wall 9 of the storage unit 2. However, as described above, by discharging the gas G from the gap C, it is possible to prevent the raw material powder M from infiltrating into the space SP through this gap C. The pressure in the space SP during the gas supply step is preferably a positive pressure, more preferably 0.15 MPa or more and 0.6 MPa or less. After the mixing step S1 is completed, the glass frit in the storage unit 2 is transferred to a melting tank where the melting step S2 is performed.

[0050] The melting step S2 is a step in which glass raw materials are heated and melted to produce molten glass. In the melting step S2, glass raw materials are introduced into a melting tank by a conveying device such as a feeder. The glass raw materials in the melting tank are then heated by a heating device such as a burner or an electrode provided in the melting tank. This produces molten glass. The molten glass is discharged from the melting tank and transported along a predetermined transport path.

[0051] The forming step S3 is a step of forming the molten glass to obtain a glass article. The molten glass transported from the melting tank is supplied to a forming device that performs the forming step S3. The forming device is configured to perform, for example, an overflow downdraw method, but is not limited to this configuration. The forming device may also form a glass article by various forming methods such as a slot downdraw method, a float method, or a redraw method. Glass articles formed in the forming step S3 include glass sheets, glass tubes, and various other articles.

[0052] According to the mixing device 1 and the method for manufacturing a glass article according to the present embodiment described above, the gas supply device 17 supplies gas G to the space SP formed inside the cover member 5, thereby preventing the raw material powder M in the storage unit 2 from entering the space SP. This effectively prevents the raw material powder M in the storage unit 2 from entering the speed reduction mechanism 15 of the moving unit 4, even when the moving unit 4 is disposed in the space SP as an external device. This simplifies the maintenance work for the moving unit 4 and makes it possible to prevent breakdowns in the moving unit 4.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, nor is it limited to the above-described effects. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Mixing device 2. Storage section 3 Stirring section 4 Sports club 5 Cover member 10 blades 12 rotors 17 Gas supply equipment C Gap G Gas M Raw material powder S1 Mixing process S2 melting process S3 Molding process SP space part

Claims

1. A mixing device for stirring and mixing raw material powders for glass raw materials, a mixing device comprising: a storage section that stores the raw material powder; a stirring section that stirs the raw material powder in the storage section; a cover member that prevents the raw material powder from entering from the storage section; a space portion formed inside the cover member; and a gas supply device that supplies gas to the space portion.

2. a moving part that moves in association with stirring of the raw material powder stored in the storage part, The mixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover member covers the moving part.

3. 3. The mixing device according to claim 2, wherein the moving part rotates in association with the stirring of the raw material powder stored in the storage part.

4. the stirring unit includes a rotor that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the moving unit, and a blade attached to the rotor; The storage portion is configured in a circular ring shape in a plan view, The mixing device according to claim 3 , wherein the moving part is disposed at the center of the annular shape.

5. A glass raw material manufacturing method comprising a mixing step of stirring and mixing the raw material powders by the mixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The method for producing a glass raw material, wherein in the mixing step, the gas is supplied to the space by the gas supply device.

6. 6. The method for producing a glass frit according to claim 5, wherein the pressure in the space is 0.15 MPa or more and 0.6 MPa or less.

7. A method for manufacturing a glass article, comprising: a mixing step of stirring and mixing raw material powders to obtain glass raw materials; a melting step of heating and melting the glass raw materials to produce molten glass; and a forming step of forming the molten glass into a glass article, A method for manufacturing a glass article, wherein in the mixing step, the gas is supplied to the space by the gas supply device related to the mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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