Briquette string cutting device

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (6) for breaking up a briquette string (5), the briquette string (5) having a number of adjacently arranged (in the longitudinal direction (L)) connected briquette rows (5a), each of which has a number of adjacent briquette rows (5a) each of which has a number of briquettes (7) connected via a material web (8a, 8b), in particular for producing briquettes (7) made of direct reduced iron, the apparatus comprising a movable striker device (9) having a number of strikers (13) arranged next to each other and a feed device (10) capable of feeding the briquette string (5) to the striker device (9) in a conveying direction (T), the striker device (9) striking with its strikers (13) the briquette string (5) fed by the feed device (10) in such a way that, on the one hand, one briquette row (5a) is knocked off from the briquette string (5) and, on the other hand, this briquette row (5a) is divided into individual briquettes (7). The device is characterized in that the striking device (9) and the feeding device (10) are configured for cutting a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5a) each having at least three briquettes (7) arranged next to each other, and the striking device (9) has at least three striking elements (13) arranged next to each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a device for splitting a briquette string, the briquette string having a number of adjacently arranged (in the transport direction) connected briquette rows, each of which has a number of adjacent briquettes connected via a material web, in particular for producing briquettes made of direct reduced iron, The method includes: a movable striker device having a plurality of strikers arranged side by side; and a feeder device capable of feeding the briquette string to the striker device in a conveying direction; The striking device refers to a device which strikes with a striking element a string of briquettes supplied by a feeding device in such a way that, on the one hand, a row of briquettes or, successively, individual rows of briquettes are knocked off the briquette string, and, on the other hand, this row of briquettes or these rows of briquettes (respectively) are broken into individual briquettes.

[0002] The invention further relates to an installation for producing briquettes (e.g. of direct reduced iron), in particular for hot briquetting, comprising a briquetting press capable of continuously producing a briquette string and a device downstream of the briquetting press for splitting the briquette string emerging from the briquetting press, also called a briquette separator or briquette string splitter.

[0003] Preferably, the device or installation is for the production of briquettes made from direct reduced iron or DRI, also called sponge iron. The briquettes are also called hot briquetted iron (HBI). The raw material is produced by direct reduction of iron ore, from which briquettes are produced in the installation, in particular preferably in one or more briquetting presses for hot briquetting. Such a briquetting press is, for example, configured as a roller press, which has, for example, two counter-rotating press rollers, the circumference or roller surface of which is provided with forming pockets or forming recesses, so that, in the course of the material passing through the roller nip formed between the briquetting rollers, a briquette string is generated, which has a number of rows of briquettes running side by side and in the conveying direction, thus in the string longitudinal direction, and a number of rows of briquettes arranged one after the other in the conveying direction, the briquettes arranged in the rows and rows being connected by a material web. In order to separate the briquettes connected in the briquette string via the material web after the pressing process, a device for separating the briquette string, as a "separator", is connected downstream of the briquetting press. This singulator, also called a separator, occupies a central position within the scope of the present invention.

[0004] The device for breaking up the briquette string comprises at least one striker device with strikers, which is for example formed as a rotary driven striker wheel or has a number of striker rows with strikers each arranged next to one another, distributed over the circumference. The device further comprises a feed device, by means of which the briquette string is fed into the area of ​​the striker device, which is for example formed as a feed trough or feed chute or has such a feed trough or feed chute, so that the briquette string reaches the area of ​​the striker device from the briquetting press by gravity. The feed device (for example a chute) has, on its end side, striking edges extending transversely to the conveying direction of the briquettes, so that in the course of the movement of the striker device with strikers, one end side briquette row (i.e. one briquette bar) is knocked off from the briquette string. Furthermore, at least one nose is arranged in the region of the feeding device or in the region of the feeding device, for example at or below the striking edge, by means of which the individual briquettes of each briquette row are cut apart.

[0005] The feeder may otherwise include an additional pressure foot which presses the string of briquettes fed from the briquetting press against a feed trough or feed chute, thus preventing the string from wandering or being fed twice.

[0006] In practical use, in briquetting presses (for hot briquetting), surface tools are usually used which have two shaped pockets arranged side by side, so that a briquette string is produced which has two rows of briquettes arranged side by side, i.e. each individual row of briquettes has two individual briquettes each, which are connected to each other via the material web. The breaking of such a briquette string is carried out by a separator of the described form, which in practical use has a single nose below the striking edge for breaking both briquettes of a briquette row.

[0007] Overall, the components of such installations and of devices for breaking such briquette strings are exposed to high loads: in the case of hot briquetting, the components have to withstand high temperatures, since hot briquetting is carried out at temperatures of, for example, 250° C. to 750° C.

[0008] Installations for producing briquettes, which comprise a device for breaking a briquette string of the type described at the outset, are known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,399,433 and US Pat. No. 5,499,433. The striker device of the briquette string breaker is formed as a striker wheel, which, as described, interacts with a feed device formed as a chute or guide rail. The briquette string fed from the press consists of two rows of briquettes lying side by side, i.e. each individual row of briquettes that is knocked off consists of two briquettes lying side by side. To separate such rows of briquettes knocked off from the briquette string, the feed device is provided with a separate nose, which severs the central web of the briquette string.

[0009] A comparable installation is described in the patent application WO 2005 / 023336, in which a roller press has two briquetting rollers interacting in the opposite direction, the briquetting rollers having hollow shapes corresponding to the briquettes on their circumference, producing two rows of briquette strings, the briquettes of which are connected to one another by webs and which are individualized by a breaker, which breaks both the webs extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the string and those extending in the longitudinal direction of the string. The breaker, on the other hand, has a rotor, which has a number of striking plates attached to its circumference, which extend radially and have a cavity in the middle. During the rotation of the breaker rotor, the striking plates pass through the breaker nose at the cavity, which still supports the briquette string sliding down the chute from below in the middle after it has left the front edge of the chute. As a result, when the striking plate strikes the individual briquettes, the briquette string rests on the front edge of the chute with a breaking edge extending transversely to the length of the string and rests on the breaker nose with a breaking edge extending in the middle in the length of the string, the briquette string breaks at these breaking edges, thus producing individual briquettes.

[0010] The same applies to the installation known from US Pat. No. 5,399,633, in which the briquette string also has two rows arranged side by side, so that each individual briquette row consists of two briquettes, which are split via a single breaker nose.

[0011] Installations for briquetting, in particular for hot briquetting, in which a briquette string is divided into individual briquettes by a singulation device are further known in various embodiments from US Pat. No. 5,399,433, US Pat. No. 5,499,463, US Pat. No. 5,523,636, US Pat. No. 5,613,663, US Pat. No. 5,711,366, and US Pat. No. 5,713,663 ....

[0012] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 describes an apparatus for cutting grains of plate-shaped HBI strings, which comprises two rollers interacting with each other.

[0013] Further embodiments of breakers or breaking devices for briquetting are described in US Pat. No. 5,399,623 and US Pat. No. 5,499,633.

[0014] Known installations for briquetting, in particular for hot briquetting, as mentioned, usually comprise a briquetting press which produces a briquette string or material string with two rows of briquettes arranged side by side, i.e. over the circumference of the roller press the shaped pockets are arranged in two circumferential rows arranged side by side, i.e. two shaped pockets are arranged on each roller circumference side by side. The production of briquettes using installations of this type has proven particularly successful in practical use, in particular because a satisfactory individualization is achieved by the cutting device described at the beginning, in which, for example, a striker wheel interacts with a striking edge and a single nose of the feed trough.

[0015] In practical use, however, there is a need to increase the production capacity and therefore to optimize briquetting, especially hot briquetting, from an economic point of view, which is the starting point of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0016] [Patent Document 1] WO 95 / 09080 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 95 / 09079 [Patent Document 3] DE 3507166 A1 [Patent Document 4] DE 2514703 A1 [Patent Document 5] European Patent No. 3183371 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 6,352,573 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 5,731,272 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent No. 6,340,378 [Patent Document 9] European Patent Application Publication No. 3760749 [Patent Document 10] International Publication No. 2008 / 078936 [Patent Document 11] European Patent No. 2930452 [Patent Document 12] U.S. Patent No. 3,300,815 [Patent Document 13] DE 2200255 A1

[0017] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a device for splitting briquette strings, and thus a briquette separator, of the type described at the outset, which allows a particularly economical production of briquettes whilst being structurally simple and having an unobstructed form of function.

[0018] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention teaches that in the device of the type described in the introduction and described in the preamble, the striker device and the feed device are configured for cutting a briquette string having a plurality of briquette rows, each having at least three (e.g. at least four) briquettes arranged side by side, and the striker device has at least three strikers arranged side by side.

[0019] The feeding device preferably has a striking edge on its end side for knocking off the row of briquettes and a nose below the striking edge for breaking up the row of briquettes into individual briquettes, the feeding device having at least two noses arranged adjacent to each other and spaced apart, the noses being preferably arranged in the region of the striking edge or below the striking edge.

[0020] The invention starts from the realization that the economy of a briquetting installation is increased if a briquetting press produces not only two rows of briquettes arranged side by side, but more than two rows of briquettes, i.e. at least three, preferably four rows of briquettes, or a briquette string with at least four rows of briquettes. The capacity of the installation is not increased simply by using more briquetting presses which produce a briquette string with, for example, two rows of briquettes in the conventional manner, but by using briquetting presses with a higher capacity, i.e. at least three rows of briquettes, preferably at least four rows of briquettes. Starting from this consideration, the briquette separator, i.e. the device for splitting the briquette string, is designed in such a way that a satisfactory splitting of this briquette string with a plurality of rows of briquettes, each with at least three briquettes arranged side by side, is performed. For this purpose, both the striking device and the feeding device are optimized. This is because, in a preferred embodiment, the striking device has at least three striking devices arranged next to each other and the feeding device has, for example, at or below the striking edge, two or more noses for separating the individual briquette rows which, according to the invention, are formed from at least three briquettes having two webs between them, for example at least four briquettes having three (longitudinal) webs between them.

[0021] The striker device is preferably (basically in a known form) formed as a rotationally driven striker wheel or has such a rotationally driven striker wheel. According to the invention, the striker wheel has a number of striker rows distributed over the circumference and each having at least three strikers arranged side by side. Alternatively, however, instead of a rotationally driven striker wheel, a striker device provided with, for example, linearly movable striker elements may be used. The linearly movable striker elements have, for example, individual striker rows each having at least three strikers arranged side by side, and such linearly operating striker elements are, for example, periodically reciprocated in the linear direction, for example lifted and lowered. However, it is preferred to use a striker device having a rotationally driven striker wheel as mentioned above.

[0022] Within the scope of the invention, the increased number of strikers provided in the striker device and the increased number of noses, and thus projections, provided below the striking edge of the supply device are of particular importance. For this purpose, in a preferred development, the invention proposes that the number n of strikers (in one striker row) provided in the striker device is one greater than the number m of noses provided in the supply device, i.e. n = m + 1, where specifically n ≧ 3 holds.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the number n of strikers provided in the striker device is less than or equal to the number b of briquettes in the briquette row, i.e. n = b or n < b, where specifically b ≧ 3, for example b ≧ 4.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, the number m of noses provided in the supply device is less than the number b of briquettes in the briquette row, i.e. m < b, where specifically b ≧ 3, for example b ≧ 4.

[0025] In a variant A of the invention, the number of strikers n is equal to the number of briquettes b and the number of noses m is one less than the number of briquettes b, i.e. for variant A n=b and m=b-1 and therefore m=n-1. In this variant A the number of briquettes b can be even or odd. Always in this variant A, one striker is assigned to each briquette of a briquette row, i.e. each briquette is struck by one specific striker. Furthermore, one nose is assigned to each material web between two adjacent briquettes of a briquette row, i.e. each material web of a briquette row strikes (directly) one nose assigned to this material web when cutting.

[0026] In a variant B of the invention, the number of strikers n is smaller than the number of briquettes in a briquette row, and the number of noses m is smaller than the number of briquettes b in a briquette row and smaller than the number of strikers n. This variant B is preferably used only in the case of briquette strings with briquette rows with an even number of briquettes, i.e. with b being an even number. Preferably, in this case n=1 / 2b+1 and m=1 / 2b hold. In the case of this variant B, therefore, rather than each briquette in a briquette row being assigned a unique striker, preferably only the two outer briquettes of each briquette row are assigned a unique striker. Between each of the two outer briquettes, one or more briquette pairs are arranged, each of which is assigned a common striker. In the present variant B, each material web of a briquette row is not assigned a specific nose, but only both outer material webs of a briquette row are assigned a nose each, and every other inner web is assigned a nose each, i.e. every other inner material web arranged between the outer material webs is assigned a nose each. In the present variant B, therefore, fewer strikers and fewer noses are achieved than in the variant A described above. This design of variant B ensures, in particular, that there is a relatively large space between the noses, via which the inner briquettes can be discharged after the briquettes have been cut, so that it is ensured that interference is avoided in a particularly reliable manner.

[0027] It is advantageous if not only a perfect cutting of the briquettes is always guaranteed, but also a perfect and unobstructed discharge of the cut briquettes. For this purpose, in an embodiment according to the invention, it is particularly preferred that at least one inner striker arranged between the outer strikers can pass (directly) between two adjacent noses, so that each two adjacent noses are passed by one striker. Thus, a perfect discharge of the briquettes is guaranteed, in particular a perfect discharge of the inner briquettes arranged between the outer briquettes in one briquette row. After cutting, the inner briquette or briquettes therefore not only (passively) fall through the area between the noses, but are also entrained or guided through the intermediate space by at least one striker. This preferred embodiment is realized both in connection with variant A and in connection with variant B.

[0028] A first embodiment of variant A is designed for example for the breaking apart of a briquette string having three briquette rows, i.e. having a number of briquette rows each having three briquettes arranged next to each other. In this case, the striker device has three strikers and the feed device has two noses (arranged offset relative to this), one striker assigned to each briquette of one briquette row and one nose assigned to each material web arranged between two adjacent briquettes. In the case of this first embodiment of variant A, the individual strikers therefore strike the individual briquettes directly and the noses act directly on the briquette web arranged therebetween, so that a satisfactory singulation is performed.

[0029] This second embodiment of variant A of the invention is designed, for example, for the breaking apart of a briquette string having four rows of briquettes, i.e. having a number of rows of briquettes each with four briquettes arranged next to each other. The striker device has four strikers and the feed device has three noses (arranged offset relative to this), one striker assigned to each briquette of one row of briquettes and one nose assigned to each web of material arranged between two adjacent briquettes. In the case of this second embodiment of variant A, the individual strikers, like in the first embodiment, therefore strike the individual briquettes directly and the noses act directly on the briquette web arranged therebetween, so that a satisfactory singulation is performed.

[0030] Variation A can also be realised in the case of briquette strings which otherwise have more than four briquette rows and in which the individual briquette rows therefore have more than four briquettes arranged side by side, in which case the number of briquettes in a briquette row can be an even or odd number.

[0031] A distinction should be made from this embodiment of variant B, in which the number of strikers is less than the number of briquettes. An embodiment of variant B is realized, for example, for the breaking apart of a briquette string with four briquette rows, i.e. with a number of briquette rows each with four briquettes arranged next to each other. The striker device has (only) three strikers and the feed device has (only) two noses. In this case, therefore, instead of a separate striker being assigned to each individual briquette of a briquette row and a specific nose being assigned to each material web, only the two outer strikers are assigned to both outer briquettes, while the middle striker strikes the inner pair of the briquette row together. In this case, moreover, only the two outer material webs are assigned a nose in each case. The central or middle material web is not assigned a specific nose. Nevertheless, satisfactory separation is also achieved in the present embodiment, in particular due to the interaction of the special arrangement and number of strikers and noses, see also the description of the drawings. It is particularly advantageous that in the present variant B, a very large amount of space is provided between the noses, via which the (middle) briquettes can be ejected after the briquettes have been cut, so that disruptions are avoided in a particularly reliable manner.

[0032] This is true not only for this embodiment of variant B with four briquettes in one briquette row, but also for embodiments with six, eight or more briquettes in one briquette row, the number of briquettes being preferably an even number, see also the description of the figures.

[0033] In addition to a fast and functionally reliable separation, a perfect discharge of the individual briquettes from the area of ​​the striking device is particularly important for the perfect and economical operation of the plant. Disturbances due to jamming or clogging, especially in the area of ​​the striking device, should be avoided. For this purpose, it is proposed in a preferred embodiment that both outer noses of the adjacently arranged noses of the feeding device are shaped and / or oriented in such a way that between each outer nose and the adjacently arranged inner nose, an interval is formed that widens in the working direction, through which the divided or individual briquettes are discharged. This is achieved, for example, by the outer noses being respectively oriented obliquely and / or having a thickness that tapers in the working direction. Due to the oblique orientation and / or the tapering thickness, therefore, an interval that widens in the working direction between the noses arises, so that an expanding space is created in the working direction for the discharge of the individual briquettes.

[0034] Further advantages are achieved by the preferred arrangement of the noses in the working direction. It is thus proposed that, optionally, one or more of the noses arranged next to each other are offset in the working direction with respect to one or more other (e.g. adjacent) noses. Thus, there is the possibility of rearing an inner, for example a central, nose with a downward offset in the working direction with respect to an outer nose arranged next to it, or fronting it with a forward offset in the working direction. Thus, the noses may be arranged in such a way that, when the strikers arranged next to each other strike the briquette string, first the two outer briquettes are cut off via the two front outer noses, and only immediately afterwards the two middle briquettes are cut off by the nose that is rearward or set back in the working direction. This also avoids malfunctions due to briquettes getting stuck or jammed. In this embodiment, the central or middle nose is therefore arranged below the two outer noses by a predetermined amount. In an alternative embodiment, a central nose may be positioned in front, so that when the adjacently arranged strikers collide, the central web breaks first and only immediately afterwards do the two outer webs break.

[0035] In one embodiment where the middle nose is omitted, the only two (outer) noses provided are preferably located at the same height.

[0036] The special arrangement of the noses, and in particular the oblique and / or offset arrangement, is particularly important in the case of the embodiment of variant A, in which each web is assigned a nose, so that there is a relatively small distance between all the noses. This is to be distinguished from the embodiment of variant B, in which each web is not assigned a specific nose, so that in any case there are relatively large distances between the noses. In variant B as well, however, an oblique arrangement of the noses or of the guide surfaces may be expedient.

[0037] Alternatively or complementary to the oblique and / or offset arrangement of one or more noses, the discharge of the briquettes can be ensured or improved in that, during operation, each two adjacent noses are passed by one striker. The device is therefore configured in such a way that, during operation, at least one inner striker, which is arranged between the outer strikers, is passed between the (directly) adjacent noses.

[0038] The invention otherwise relates not only to the described cutting device or the described separator, but also to an installation for producing briquettes, which is provided with such a separator. The installation comprises at least one briquetting press, in particular a hot briquetting press, which continuously produces at least one briquette string of the described form, each having at least three, preferably each four briquettes next to each other in the briquetting row. The installation further comprises at least one cutting device of the described form, which is arranged downstream of the briquetting press, for example below the briquetting press, and which serves to cut the briquette string emerging from the briquetting press. The cutting device essential for the invention is therefore also protected as a component part of the briquetting installation and therefore also in combination with the assigned briquetting press.

[0039] Preferably, the invention relates to the briquetting of hot materials, thus hot briquetting. Particularly preferably, the invention relates to the hot briquetting of direct reduced iron, thus the production of HBI (hot briquetted iron). The invention can, however, also be used for the briquetting of other materials or for the splitting of briquette strings made of other materials.

[0040] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which show only exemplary embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a simplified diagram of equipment for producing briquettes. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a device for dividing briquettes extracted from the facility shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the periphery of the striker device of the first embodiment of the object shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 4a] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view AA of the object shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 4b] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view BB of the object shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6a] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view CC of the object shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 6b] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view DD of the object shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the object shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the object shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 10a] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10b] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 1 shows an installation for briquetting, and thus for producing briquettes, in particular for hot briquetting. It comprises a briquetting press 1 with two counter-rotating briquetting rollers 2, on whose surface are provided forming pockets 3 for forming the briquettes. From the roller nip 4 of the briquetting press emerges a continuous string of briquettes 5 which is subsequently separated in a separating device 6 arranged downstream of the briquetting press 1, i.e. the string of briquettes is divided into individual briquettes 7. This separating device 6, which is a component of the installation shown in Figure 1, is shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 9.

[0043] The briquetting press 1 is designed within the scope of the present invention for the production of a briquette string 5, the rows 5a of briquettes of which are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction L and which have at least three, preferably at least four, briquettes 7 arranged next to each other. For this purpose, the roller 2 of the briquette press 1 is provided with a number of rows 3a of forming pockets 3 over its circumference, each row 3a having, in this embodiment, four forming pockets 3 each, so that the briquette string 5 described, for example visible in FIG. 8, is produced, which consists of four briquette rows 5b extending in the longitudinal direction L and a number of briquette rows 5a (each with four briquettes 7 arranged next to each other) arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction L, the rows of briquettes arranged one after the other being connected by transverse webs 8a, i.e. transverse webs, and the adjacently arranged briquettes 7 of the individual rows 5a of briquettes, and therefore also the rows 5b of briquettes of the string 5, are connected by longitudinal webs 8b.

[0044] The separating or singulating device 6 for separating the briquette string 5 consists in this embodiment of a movable striker device 9 on the one hand and a feed device 10, via which the briquette string 5 can be fed in the transport direction T into the area of ​​the striker device 9 (see, for example, FIG. 2). The striker device 9 in this embodiment of the invention comprises a rotating striker wheel 11 which, distributed over its circumference, has a number of striker rows 12, each of which has a number of strikers 13 arranged next to each other. With the strikers 13, the rotating striker wheel 11 strikes the fed briquette string 5 in such a way that, on the one hand, a briquette row 5a is knocked off the briquette string 5 and, on the other hand, this briquette row 5a is divided into individual briquettes 7. According to the invention, the striking device 9 on the one hand and / or the feed device 10 on the other hand are designed for the breaking up of a briquette string 5 having four briquette rows 5b arranged next to each other and thus a number of briquette rows 5a arranged one after the other and each having at least four briquettes 7 arranged next to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, both the striking device 9 (i.e. the striking wheel 11) and the feed device 10 are adapted to the shape of a briquette string 5 having four briquettes 7 arranged next to each other. For this purpose, the striking device 9 or the striking wheel 11 have at least three striking elements 13 arranged next to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, three or four striking elements 13 arranged next to each other are provided. This will be described in more detail below. The feed device 10 has, in a manner basically known per se, striking edges 14 for knocking off the briquette rows 5a on the end side, since the feed device is designed as a material chute or has such a material chute 15. Furthermore, the feeding device 10 may have a presser foot (not shown) which presses the briquette string 5 against the chute 15 to prevent misfeeding or double feeding.The end of the material chute 15 forms a striking edge 14, via which the briquette rows 5a are knocked off by the rotating striker wheel 11, so that the briquette rows 5a, so to speak, are cut off. According to the invention, in the region of the striking edge 14 or below it, a number of noses 16 or protrusions are provided, in particular in such a way that in the course of the strike by the striker 13 on the briquette row 5a to be cut off, this briquette row 5a is broken off and separated into individual briquettes 7. The action of the striker 13 on the end of the briquette string 5 therefore causes, on the one hand, at the striking edge 14, the transverse webs 8a between the briquette rows 5a to be cut off, and, on the other hand, at the noses 16, the longitudinal webs 8b between the individual briquettes 7 of one briquette row 5a to be cut off.

[0045] In the embodiment shown, the number n of strikers 13 in the striker device 9 is greater than the number m of noses 16 in the corresponding feeder device 10 by one, i.e. n=m+1, where in the embodiment specifically n=3 or n=4.

[0046] In a variant A of the invention (shown in figures 3 to 6b), the number n of strikers 13 on the striker device 9 is equal to the number b of briquettes 7 in each briquette row 5a, i.e. n=b. ​​The number m of noses 16 on the feed device 10 is one less than the number b of briquettes 7 in the briquette row 5a, i.e. m=b-1. In this embodiment, b=4 (or alternatively also b>3 or b>4). For variant A, b can be an even or odd number. Always, in this variant A, a separate striker 13 is assigned to the briquettes of a briquette row and a separate nose 16 is assigned to the material web 8b between two adjacent briquettes of a briquette row.

[0047] A distinction is to be made between variant B (shown in figures 7 to 10b), in which both the number of strikers 13 and the number of noses 16 are smaller than the number b of briquettes in a row of briquettes. For this variant B, n=1 / 2b+1 and m=1 / 2b. This means that only the two outermost briquettes of a row of briquettes are assigned a unique striker each, and at least one briquette pair is arranged between these briquettes in a row of briquettes, each of which is assigned a common striker. This will be explained further below on the basis of an example.

[0048] Starting from these general considerations of scale, on the one hand, Figures 3, 4a, 4b and on the other hand Figures 5, 6a and 6b show two embodiments of variant A, in which the striker device 9 has a number of rows 12 with four strikers 13 each, whereas the feed device 10 has three noses 16 arranged next to each other. In these embodiments, the strikers 13 of one striker row 12 are assigned to each briquette 7 of one briquette row 5a. The individual noses 16 are assigned to each material web, i.e. each longitudinal web 8b within one briquette row 5a, i.e. each longitudinal web 8b between two adjacent briquettes 7 within one briquette row 5a. It can thus be seen in these figures that in the course of a rotation of the striker wheel 11, a striker row 12 with four strikers 13 arranged next to each other strikes a briquette row 5a with four briquettes 7, in particular against three noses 16 arranged below the striking edge 14, so that this briquette row 5a is individualized. The same applies to the embodiments shown in figures 5, 6a and 6b.

[0049] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 (or 4a, 4b) on the one hand and the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 (or 6a and 6b) on the other hand differ in the arrangement of the three noses 16 along the working direction R. A comparison of these figures is to be seen in this regard. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 (or 4a, 4b) it can be seen that both outer noses 16 are arranged in front of the central, inner nose 16 in the working direction R, i.e. the inner nose 16 is lowered in the working direction relative to the outer nose 16 and is therefore arranged below the outer nose by a predetermined amount. This can also be seen by comparing FIGS. 4a and 4b, where in FIG. 4a one of the outer noses can be seen and in FIG. 4b the central nose lowered relative to the outer nose can be seen.

[0050] In contrast to this, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 (or 6a, 6b) (also according to variant A), the outer nose 16 is lowered with respect to the inner nose 16, i.e. the middle nose is placed forward with respect to the outer nose and is therefore arranged higher, which can also be seen by comparing Figures 6a and 6b, where Figure 6a also shows one of the outer noses and Figure 6b shows the middle nose.

[0051] Otherwise, the embodiment shown in figures 3 and 5 provides a special orientation of the outer noses 16, since these or their inner guide surfaces are oriented obliquely, so that between the outer and inner noses 16 there is in each case a gap X, which widens in the working direction R, through which the separated briquettes 7 are discharged. In particular, the combination of this inclined position on the one hand and the offset arrangement on the other hand provides sufficient intermediate spaces between the noses 16, through which the individual briquettes 7 can be discharged without jamming or clogging, which would lead to downtimes of the plant. In this case, the noses 16 themselves can be inclined obliquely or can each have an (inner) oblique guide surface 16a. The guide surface 16a can be realized, for example, in that the noses 16 themselves have a non-uniform thickness and taper in the working or conveying direction.

[0052] A distinction should be made between the embodiment of variant A, shown in figures 3 to 5, and the embodiment of variant B, shown in figures 7 to 10. The embodiments of variant B always relate to an embodiment having an even number b of briquettes 7 in one briquette row 5a. The number n of strikers 13 as well as the number m of noses 16 are always less than the number b of briquettes in one briquette row 5a.

[0053] Figures 7 to 9 show such an embodiment of variant B, in which only three strikers 13 are provided in the striker row 12 and only two noses 16 at or below the striking edge 14 for four briquettes 7 in one row 5a. Figures 7, 8 and 9 thus show the situation during the strikers 13 striking the briquette row 5a. It can be seen that the two outer strikers 13 of the striker row 12 act respectively on both outer briquettes 7, while the central striker 13 acts on both middle briquettes 7 together, in particular on the middle and thus on the separation point or material web 8b between the two briquettes 7. For this purpose, the central striker 13 can optionally be provided with a projection or centering cam 13c, which hits the separation point, even though no nose is assigned below it. This ensures satisfactory individualization, despite the fact that only two noses 16 are provided for the three material webs 8b. In this embodiment too, the outer noses 16 can be oriented obliquely and, as explained, can have oblique guide surfaces 16a.

[0054] Variant B can be realized not only in the case of briquette strings 5 ​​with four briquettes 7 in each briquette row 5a, but also in the case of briquette strings 5 ​​with a higher number of rows, for example six or eight briquettes 7 arranged in one briquette row 5a. See exemplarily Figures 10a and 10b in this respect, which show, in a significantly simplified manner, the structure according to the invention according to variant B for such a briquette row 5a.

[0055] If there are six briquettes 7 in one briquette row 5a, as shown in FIG. 10a, only four strikers 13 and three noses 16 are provided. If there are eight briquettes 7 in one briquette row 5a, as shown in FIG. 10b, only five strikers 13 and four noses 16 are provided. One striker 13 is assigned to the outer briquette and one inner pair of briquettes. One nose 16 is assigned to the outer web 8b and to every other web 8b further inwards. Thus, in the case of this variant B, n=1 / 2b+1 and m=1 / 2b always hold, where b is an even number. It is particularly important that in the case of variant B, the outer briquettes 7 are broken off via the noses 16 and the remaining inner pairs are strongly bent in such a way that they are separated at the webs 8b between the two noses 16 with one striker 13.

[0056] Otherwise, it can be seen in the drawings that in all embodiments the strikers 13 and the noses 16 are realised and arranged in such a way that at least one inner striker arranged between the outer strikers can pass between two adjacent noses and is therefore passed during operation. Thus, for example in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 5, it is ensured that the intermediate space between each two adjacent noses 16 is passed by one of the inner strikers 13 arranged between both outer strikers 13. Both inner briquettes 7 of one briquette row 8B therefore do not simply fall through the intermediate space between the central nose and the respective outer nose 16, but are passed between the noses with the help of the inner striker 13. This improves or ensures the discharge of the briquettes. The same applies to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 and to the embodiments shown in Figs. 10A and 10B, since there too, each two adjacent noses are passed by one striker, i.e. by at least one inner striker. Thus, for example, in FIG. 10A it can be seen that both inner strikers 13 are passed between two adjacent noses 16 and in the process take with them the (both) briquettes 7 assigned to each striker and guide them through the intermediate chamber.

[0057] In the case of a briquette string with several rows of briquettes, each with three briquettes arranged next to each other, an embodiment with only two strikers and two noses would basically be possible as an alternative to the embodiment according to the invention described above. In this case, both strikers would be assigned to both outer briquettes and both noses would be assigned to both material webs. In such an embodiment, one striker would not run through both adjacent noses and entrain the middle briquette, but the middle briquette would fall through the gap between the two adjacent noses. In comparison with such an embodiment with only two strikers, an embodiment according to the invention in which two adjacent noses are run through by one striker is particularly preferred, as an improved discharge of the briquettes is ensured.

[0058] Otherwise, there is the possibility of combining variants A and B with one another, so that a mixed form of variants A and B is realized, for example in that across the width of the briquette string, in one section the geometry according to variant A is realized and in another section the geometry according to variant B is realized. Such embodiments are also encompassed by the invention.

[0059] The striking wheel 11 is basically designed as a rotor or striking rotor in a known manner, in particular with a striking element row 12 with three or four striking elements 13, as described above. Each individual striking element 13 consists of a holder 13a or a holding projection which is molded on the striking wheel 11 and a striking plate 13b which is connected to the holding projection 13a and which is detachably attached to the holding projection 13a, for example by means of screws, so that the striking plate 13b is replaceable as a wear part. This is known in the prior art. Within the scope of the present invention, the nose 16 may also be replaceable as a wear part.

[0060] Otherwise, it is within the scope of the present invention that the strikers 13 arranged in one striker row 12, and therefore also their striking plates 13b, may have different widths from each other. Thus, in the case of only three strikers 13, there is the possibility that the middle striker 13 has a larger or smaller width than both outer strikers 13.

Claims

1. A device (6) for splitting a briquette string (5), the briquette string (5) having a number of briquette rows (5a) arranged one after the other (in the longitudinal direction (L)) and connected together, the briquette rows (5a) each having a plurality of adjacent briquettes (7) connected together via material webs (8a, 8b), in particular for producing briquettes (7) made of direct reduced iron, a movable striker device (9) having a plurality of strikers (13) arranged side by side; a supply device (10) capable of supplying the briquette string (5) to the striking device (9) in a conveying direction (T); Equipped with The striking device (9) strikes the briquette string (5) supplied by the feeding device (10) with the striking elements (13) so that, on the one hand, one row of briquettes (5a) is knocked off from the briquette string (5) and, on the other hand, this row of briquettes (5a) is divided into the individual briquettes (7). In the device (6), the striking device (9) and the feeding device (10) are configured for splitting a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5a) each having at least three briquettes (7) arranged next to each other; and The striking device (9) has at least three striking pieces (13) arranged next to each other. A device for cutting a briquette string, comprising:

2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding device (10) has, at its end side, a striking edge (14) for knocking off the briquette row (5 a) and a nose (16) at or below the striking edge (14) for breaking the briquette row (5 a) into individual briquettes (7), the feeding device (10) having at least two noses (16) arranged next to each other and spaced apart.

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the striking device (9) is configured as or has a rotating striking wheel (11) which has a number of striking element rows (12) distributed over its circumference and each row having at least three striking elements (13) arranged next to one another.

4. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the number (n) of the strikers (13) provided in the striker device (9) is greater than the number (m) of the noses (16) provided in the feed device (10) by one, i.e., n=m+1, where n≧3.

5. the number (n) of the strikers (13) provided in the striker device (9) is equal to the number (b) of the briquettes (7) in the briquette row (5a), i.e., n=b, where b≧3, for example b≧4; and / or the number (m) of noses (16) provided on the feeding device (10) is one less than the number (b) of briquettes (7) in the briquette row (5a), i.e., m=b-1, where b≧3, e.g., b≧4; 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

6. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that each nose (16) is assigned to the material web (8b) between two adjacent briquettes (7) of one briquette row (5a).

7. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein, if the number (b) of briquettes (7) in the briquette row (5a) is even, then the number (n) of the strikers (13) satisfies n=½b+1 and / or the number (m) of the noses (16) satisfies m=½b.

8. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that one striking element (13) is assigned to each of the outermost briquettes of one briquette row, and one common striking element (13) is assigned to each of the briquette pairs, each consisting of two adjacent briquettes, arranged between the outermost briquettes.

9. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein each outer material web (8b) of one briquette row is assigned one nose (13), and only every other inner web of one briquette row, which is arranged between the outer material webs, is assigned one nose (13).

10. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one inner striker (13) arranged between the outer strikers (13) is passable between two adjacent noses (16).

11. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the outer noses (16) of the feeding device (10) arranged next to each other are shaped and / or oriented in such a way that, between each outer nose (16) and the inner nose (16) arranged next to it, there is formed a gap (X) which widens in the working direction (R), through which the separated briquettes (7) are discharged.

12. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer noses (16) are each obliquely oriented and / or have a thickness that tapers in said working direction (R).

13. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the adjacently arranged noses (16) are offset in the working direction (R) relative to one or more of the other noses (16).

14. 14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the inner, e.g. central, nose (16) is arranged in the working direction (R) behind or in front of the adjacent outer nose.

15. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that for splitting a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5a) each having three briquettes (7) arranged next to each other, the striking device (9) has three striking pieces (13), and the feeding device (10) has two noses (16), one striking piece (13) assigned to each briquette (7) of one briquette row (5a) and one nose (16) assigned to each material web (8b) arranged between two adjacent briquettes (7).

16. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that for splitting a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5a) each having four briquettes (7) arranged next to each other, the striking device (9) has four striking pieces (13) and the feeding device (10) has three noses (16), one striking piece (13) assigned to each briquette (7) of one briquette row (5a) and one nose (16) assigned to each material web (8b) arranged between two adjacent briquettes (7).

17. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that for splitting a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5 a) each having four briquettes (7) arranged next to each other, the striking device (9) has three striking elements (13), the feeding device (10) has two noses (16), and both outer striking elements (13) strike both outer briquettes (7) of the briquette row (5 a) and the middle striking element (13) strikes both inner briquettes (7) together.

18. An apparatus as described in claim 9, characterized in that for dividing a briquette string (5) having a plurality of briquette rows (5a) each having four briquettes (7) arranged side by side, the striking device (9) has three striking devices (13), the supply device (10) has two noses (16), both outer striking devices (13) striking both outer briquettes (7) of the briquette row (5a), and the middle striking device (13) striking both inner briquettes (7) together.

19. A facility for producing briquettes, at least one briquetting press (1), in particular a hot briquetting press, capable of continuously producing at least one string of briquettes (5); at least one device (6) for cutting the string of briquettes (5) emerging from the briquetting press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is disposed downstream of the briquetting press (1); A facility for manufacturing briquettes.

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