Kneading and Granulating Equipment

Abstract

Provided is a kneading and granulating device that can suppress a decrease in the efficiency of conveying molten resin within a transition piece. [Solution] The system includes a continuous mixer 12 that mixes powdered resin material, a transition piece 14 having a resin passage 14a through which molten resin sent from the continuous mixer 12 passes, and a gear pump 16 that pressure-feeds the molten resin sent from the continuous mixer 12 via the resin passage 14a of the transition piece 14. The transition piece 14 has a first heat medium passage for heating the transition piece 14 on the continuous mixer 12 side, and a second heat medium passage for heating the transition piece 14 on the gear pump 16 side. The second heat medium passage passes a heat medium that is hotter than the first heat medium passage.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a kneading and granulating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a kneading granulation apparatus for producing resin pellets has been known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. As shown in FIG. 6 , the kneading granulation apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a kneader 102 that kneads a resin material supplied through a hopper 101, a gear pump 103 disposed downstream of the kneader 102, and a transition piece 104 disposed between the kneader 102 and the gear pump 103. The T / P temperature, which is the temperature of the transition piece 104, is controlled by adjusting the temperature of a heater that heats the transition piece 104. That is, in the kneader 102, the molten resin itself may generate heat while kneading the resin material, and the temperature of the transition piece 104 is raised by the molten resin introduced into the transition piece 104. However, the temperature of the heater that heats the transition piece 104 is adjusted to keep the temperature of the molten resin within a predetermined range. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-70134 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the transition piece 104, the temperature of the molten resin introduced from the kneader 102 is relatively high, so the fluidity of the molten resin on the kneader 102 side is high (good). On the other hand, as the molten resin advances through the transition piece 104 from the kneader 102 side to the gear pump 103 side, the temperature of the molten resin decreases, and the fluidity of the molten resin decreases. In this case, the conveying efficiency within the transition piece 104 may decrease.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and its purpose is to prevent a decrease in the transport efficiency of molten resin within a transition piece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above object, the kneading and granulating device according to the present invention is a kneading and granulating device for resin, comprising: a continuous kneader for kneading powdered resin material; a transition piece having a resin passage through which molten resin fed from the continuous kneader passes; and a gear pump for pressure-feeding the molten resin fed from the continuous kneader through the resin passage of the transition piece. The transition piece has a first heat medium passage for heating the transition piece on the continuous kneader side, and a second heat medium passage for heating the transition piece on the gear pump side. The second heat medium passage is a passage through which a heat medium having a higher temperature than that of the first heat medium passage flows.

[0007] The kneading granulation apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a first heat medium passage and a second heat medium passage for heating the transition piece, and the second heat medium passage, which is the downstream heat medium passage, passes a heat medium having a higher temperature than the first heat medium passage, which is the upstream heat medium passage. This prevents a decrease in the temperature of the molten resin downstream of the heat medium passage, thereby preventing the formation of areas in the transition piece where the fluidity of the molten resin is poor. As a result, the transport efficiency of the molten resin within the transition piece can be appropriately maintained.

[0008] The first heat medium passage may be connected to a first heat medium supply source, and the second heat medium passage may be connected to a second heat medium supply source. In this case, the second heat medium supply source may be a heat medium supply source that supplies a heat medium having a higher temperature than the first heat medium supply source.

[0009] In this aspect, the first heat medium passage and the second heat medium passage are separately connected to two heat medium supply sources that supply heat medium having different temperatures, so that heat mediums of different temperatures can easily circulate through the first heat medium passage and the second heat medium passage.

[0010] The first heat medium passage and the second heat medium passage may be connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path. In this case, the heat medium supply path may include a first supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the first heat medium passage, and a second supply path that causes another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the second heat medium passage. Furthermore, at least one of the first supply path and the second supply path may be provided with a temperature regulator that adjusts the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the second supply path so that it is hotter than the heat medium flowing through the first supply path.

[0011] In this embodiment, a heat medium supplied from one heat medium supply source can be used to flow into the first heat medium passage and the second heat medium passage as heat mediums having different temperatures.

[0012] The first heat medium passage may be connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path. In this case, the heat medium supply path may include a first supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the first heat medium passage, and a kneader supply path that sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to the continuous kneader.

[0013] In this embodiment, the heat medium supply source for supplying the heat medium for heating the transition piece can also function as a supply source for supplying the heat medium for heating the continuous kneader.

[0014] The second heat medium passage may be connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path. In this case, the heat medium supply path may include a second supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the second heat medium passage, and a pump supply path that sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to the gear pump.

[0015] In this embodiment, the heat medium supply source for supplying the heat medium for heating the transition piece can also function as a supply source for supplying the heat medium for heating the gear pump. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the efficiency of transporting molten resin within the transition piece. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a kneading granulation apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transition piece provided in the kneading granulation device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for heating an upstream piece of a transition piece and a continuous mixer. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration for heating a downstream piece of a transition piece and a gear pump. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of the heat medium supply path. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional kneading granulation apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 , a kneading and granulating apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes a continuous mixer 12, a transition piece 14, and a gear pump 16. The continuous mixer 12 is a component for kneading the powdered resin material and includes a housing 18 having a kneading space 18a and a pair of rotors 19 disposed within the kneading space 18a. The powdered resin material is introduced into the kneading space 18a through a hopper 20. In the continuous mixer 12, the pair of rotors 19 includes a kneading flight for kneading the resin material and an extrusion flight for extruding the molten resin. Therefore, in the continuous mixer 12, by driving the pair of rotors 19, the resin material is kneaded while the molten resin is extruded.

[0020] The transition piece 14 is adjacent to the continuous kneader 12 and has a resin passage 14a through which the molten resin extruded from the continuous kneader 12 passes.

[0021] The gear pump 16 extrudes the molten resin that has passed through the transition piece 14 toward equipment (e.g., a pelletizer) not shown that is located downstream of the gear pump 16. The gear pump 16 includes a casing 22 and a pair of rotors 23 that are located in a cavity 22a formed in the casing 22. The molten resin is extruded from the gear pump 16 by driving the pair of rotors 23.

[0022] 2, the transition piece 14 has an upstream piece 25 attached to the continuous mixer 12, a downstream piece 26 attached to the gear pump 16, a seal ring 27 that seals between the upstream piece 25 and the downstream piece 26, and an adjusting ring 28 that is arranged between the upstream piece 25 and the downstream piece 26. That is, the upstream piece 25 and the downstream piece 26 are adjacent to each other with a gap in between in the flow direction of the molten resin (the left-right direction in FIG. 2, hereinafter referred to as the penetration direction), and the adjusting ring 28 is arranged between them.

[0023] The upstream piece 25 has a through hole 25a that defines an upstream portion of the resin passage 14a of the transition piece 14. The through hole 25a passes through the upstream piece 25 in the penetration direction. The upstream piece 25 is fastened to the continuous mixer 12 by bolts 30 around the through hole 25a.

[0024] The downstream piece 26 has a through hole 26a that defines a downstream portion of the resin passage 14a of the transition piece 14. The through hole 26a passes through the downstream piece 26 in the penetration direction. The downstream piece 26 is fastened to the gear pump 16 by bolts 31 around the through hole 26a.

[0025] The adjusting ring 28 has a through hole 28a formed therein so as to define an intermediate portion of the resin passage 14a of the transition piece 14. The adjusting ring 28 has a cylindrical main body portion 33 in which the through hole 28a is formed, and a flange portion 34 that protrudes radially outward from the main body portion 33. The through hole 28a penetrates the main body portion 33 in the penetration direction.

[0026] The main body 33 has an upstream end face 33a that sandwiches the seal ring 27 between itself and the upstream piece 25 and comes into close contact with the seal ring 27, and a downstream outer peripheral face 33b that is disposed along the inner peripheral face of the through hole 26a in the downstream piece 26. When the adjusting ring 28 is displaced in the penetration direction by operation of a biasing means 37, which will be described later, the downstream outer peripheral face 33b slides in the penetration direction while contacting the inner peripheral face of the through hole 26a in the downstream piece 26.

[0027] The adjusting ring 28 is provided with a biasing means 37 for generating a pressing force against the seal ring 27 by the adjusting ring 28. The biasing means 37 has a shaft member 37a that penetrates the flange 34 in the penetration direction, a spring member 37b attached to the shaft member 37a, and a pressing member 37c that sandwiches the spring member 37b between the shaft member 37a and the flange 34. The shaft member 37a has at one end a threaded portion 37e that screws into a threaded hole 37d provided in the downstream piece 26. The other end of the shaft member 37a is located on the upstream piece 25 side with respect to the flange 34 and is formed as a head 37f that can be rotated using a tool (not shown).

[0028] By rotating the shaft member 37a in one direction around its axis at the head 37f, the threaded portion 37e is displaced toward the upstream piece 25 relative to the downstream piece 26. At this time, the spring member 37b is compressed in the axial direction of the shaft member 37a, increasing the pressing force of the adjusting ring 28 against the seal ring 27. On the other hand, by rotating the shaft member 37a in the other direction around its axis, the threaded portion 37e is displaced away from the upstream piece 25, thereby weakening the compressive force of the spring member 37b. This reduces the pressing force of the adjusting ring 28 against the seal ring 27. In this way, the surface pressure on the sealing surface generated by the seal ring 27 can be adjusted to an appropriate range. This allows for appropriate prevention of molten resin leakage. Furthermore, when separating the continuous mixer 12 and the gear pump 16 for equipment maintenance, the connection between the continuous mixer 12 and the gear pump 16 can be released by operating the shaft member 37a of the biasing means 37.

[0029] The upstream piece 25 and the downstream piece 26 are each heated by a heat medium, which is a fluid. Specifically, the upstream piece 25 is provided with a first heat medium passage 41 through which the heat medium flows, and the downstream piece 26 is provided with a second heat medium passage 42 through which the heat medium flows. The first heat medium passage 41 is arranged to surround the through hole 25a of the upstream piece 25. The second heat medium passage 42 is arranged to surround the through hole 26a of the downstream piece 26. The heat medium may be steam, but is not limited to steam and may be, for example, oil.

[0030] The first heat medium passage 41 is connected to a first heat medium supply source 44 via a first heat medium supply passage 43, and the second heat medium passage 42 is connected to a second heat medium supply source 46 via a second heat medium supply passage 45. The second heat medium supply source 46 is a heat medium supply source that supplies a heat medium with a higher temperature than the first heat medium supply source 44. Therefore, the second heat medium passage 42 circulates a heat medium with a higher temperature than the first heat medium passage 41. For this reason, the amount of heating of the downstream piece 26 by the heat medium is greater than the amount of heating of the upstream piece 25 by the heat medium, and therefore, a decrease in the temperature of the molten resin in the downstream piece 26 can be suppressed.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, when the transition piece 14 is viewed from the continuous mixer 12 in the penetration direction, the upstream piece 25 has a rectangular outer shape, and the through-hole 25a of the upstream piece 25 also has a rectangular cross section. The first heat medium passage 41 extends in a rectangular shape within the upstream piece 25 so as to surround the through-hole 25a. Because the first heat medium passage 41 is formed to fit the outer shape of the upstream piece 25, the presence of the first heat medium passage 41 can prevent the upstream piece 25 from becoming large. The first heat medium supply passage 43 is connected to a portion of the first heat medium passage 41 above the through-hole 25a.

[0032] The first heat medium passage 41 is provided with a heat medium discharge port 41a. The discharge port 41a is provided in the first heat medium passage 41 at a position below the through hole 25a so that the heat medium that flows into the first heat medium passage 41 from the first heat medium supply passage 43 passes through the first heat medium passage 41 around the through hole 25a and is then discharged from the first heat medium passage 41. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the discharge ports 41a are provided at two locations, on the left and right sides in FIG. 3, so that the discharge port 41a can be selected depending on the installation environment of the kneading granulation apparatus 10. One of the two discharge ports 41a (the left side in FIG. 3) is used, and the other (the right side in FIG. 3) is closed. A first discharge path 49 that discharges the heat medium to the outside is connected to the discharge port 41a. Alternatively, only one discharge port 41a may be provided.

[0033] The first heat medium supply path 43 includes a first supply path 43a that allows a portion of the heat medium supplied from the first heat medium supply source 44 to flow into the first heat medium passage 41, and a mixer supply path 43b that branches off from the first supply path 43a and sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the first heat medium supply source 44 to the continuous mixer 12.

[0034] A passage (not shown) for circulating the heat medium introduced through the kneader supply path 43b is formed in the housing 18 of the continuous mixer 12. That is, the continuous mixer 12 is also heated by the heat medium. Note that the kneader supply path 43b may be omitted, and heating of the continuous mixer 12 by the heat medium may be omitted.

[0035] The heat medium that has flowed through the passage within the housing 18 is discharged from the housing 18 through the outlet 50. A mixer-side discharge path 51 that discharges the heat medium to the outside is connected to the outlet 50. The first discharge path 49 and the mixer-side discharge path 51 merge, but this merger is not essential. The discharged heat medium may be discarded, or may be returned to the first heat medium supply source 44.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, when the transition piece 14 is viewed from the gear pump 16 in the penetration direction, the downstream piece 26 has a circular outer shape. Therefore, the through hole 26a of the downstream piece 26 also has a circular cross section. That is, the resin passage 14a of the transition piece 14 continuously changes shape from a square to a circle. The second heat medium passage 42 extends circumferentially within the downstream piece 26 to surround the through hole 26a. Because the second heat medium passage 42 is formed to fit the outer shape of the downstream piece 26, the presence of the second heat medium passage 42 can prevent the downstream piece 26 from becoming large. The second heat medium supply passage 45 is connected to a portion of the second heat medium passage 42 above the through hole 26a.

[0037] A heat medium discharge port 42a is provided in the second heat medium passage 42. The discharge port 42a is provided in the second heat medium passage 42 at a position below the through hole 26a so that the heat medium that has flowed into the second heat medium passage 42 from the second heat medium supply passage 45 passes through the second heat medium passage 42 around the through hole 26a and is then discharged from the second heat medium passage 42. A second discharge path 53 that discharges the heat medium to the outside is connected to the discharge port 42a.

[0038] The second heat medium supply path 45 includes a second supply path 45a that allows a portion of the heat medium supplied from the second heat medium supply source 46 to flow into the second heat medium passage 42, and a pump supply path 45b that branches off from the second supply path 45a and sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the second heat medium supply source 46 to the gear pump 16.

[0039] A passage (not shown) for circulating the heat medium introduced through the pump supply passage 45b is formed in the casing 22 of the gear pump 16. That is, the gear pump 16 is also heated by the heat medium. Note that the pump supply passage 45b may be omitted, and heating of the gear pump 16 by the heat medium may be omitted.

[0040] The heat medium that has flowed through the passage within the casing 22 is discharged from the casing 22 through the outlet 55. A pump-side discharge path 56 that discharges the heat medium to the outside is connected to the outlet 55. The second discharge path 53 and the pump-side discharge path 56 merge, but this merger is not essential. The discharged heat medium may be discarded, or may be returned to the second heat medium supply source 46.

[0041] As described above, the kneading granulation apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is provided with the first heat medium passage 41 and the second heat medium passage 42 for heating the transition piece 14, and the second heat medium passage 42, which is the downstream heat medium passage, circulates a heat medium having a higher temperature than the first heat medium passage 41, which is the upstream heat medium passage. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the temperature of the molten resin downstream of the heat medium passages 41 and 42, thereby suppressing the formation of portions in the transition piece 14 where the fluidity of the molten resin is poor. As a result, the transport efficiency of the molten resin within the transition piece 14 can be appropriately maintained.

[0042] In this embodiment, the first heat medium passage 41 is connected to a first heat medium supply source 44, and the second heat medium passage 42 is connected to a second heat medium supply source 46. That is, the first heat medium passage 41 and the second heat medium passage 42 are separately connected to two heat medium supply sources 44, 46 that supply heat mediums having different temperatures. Therefore, heat mediums of different temperatures can easily flow through the first heat medium passage 41 and the second heat medium passage 42.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first heat medium supply path 43 includes a first supply path 43a connected to the first heat medium passage 41 and a kneader supply path 43b connected to the continuous kneader 12. Therefore, the first heat medium supply source 44 for supplying a heat medium for heating the transition piece 14 can also function as a supply source for supplying a heat medium for heating the continuous kneader 12.

[0044] In this embodiment, the second heat medium supply passage 45 includes a second supply passage 45a connected to the second heat medium passage 42 and a pump supply passage 45b connected to the gear pump 16. Therefore, the second heat medium supply source 46 for supplying the heat medium for heating the transition piece 14 can also function as a supply source for supplying the heat medium for heating the gear pump 16.

[0045] (Other embodiments) It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first heat medium passage 41 is connected to the first heat medium supply source 44, and the second heat medium passage 42 is connected to the second heat medium supply source 46, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0046] For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the first heat medium passage 41 and the second heat medium passage 42 may be connected to a single heat medium supply source 60. In this case, the first heat medium passage 41 and the second heat medium passage 42 are connected to a heat medium supply path 61 that is connected to the heat medium supply source 60. The heat medium supply path 61 includes a main supply path 61a, a first supply path 43a, and a second supply path 45a. The main supply path 61a is a flow path connected to the heat medium supply source 60, and the first supply path 43a and the second supply path 45a are connected in parallel to the main supply path 61a. The first supply path 43a causes the heat medium that has flowed through the main supply path 61a to flow into the first heat medium passage 41. The second supply path 45a causes the heat medium that has flowed through the main supply path 61a to flow into the second heat medium passage 42.

[0047] The heat medium supply source 60 is configured to generate a heat medium such as steam. The first supply path 43a is provided with a pressure reducing valve 63a, which is an example of a temperature regulator 63 that can adjust the temperature of the heat medium. That is, the pressure reducing valve 63a reduces the temperature of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source 60. Therefore, the pressure reducing valve 63a provided in the first supply path 43a adjusts the temperature of the heat medium so that the heat medium flowing through the second supply path 45a is hotter than the heat medium flowing through the first supply path 43a.

[0048] The temperature regulator 63 is not limited to the pressure reducing valve 63a. For example, the temperature regulator 63 may be a cooler that cools the heat medium flowing through the first supply path 43a. Alternatively, the temperature regulator 63 may be a heater that is disposed in the second supply path 45a and heats the heat medium. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10: Kneading and granulating equipment 12: Continuous mixer 14: Transition Piece 14a: Resin passage 16: Gear pump 41:First heat medium path 42:Second heat medium path 43: First heat transfer medium supply channel 43a: 1st supply route 43b: kneader supply channel 44: First heat medium supply source 45: Second heat transfer medium supply channel 45a: 2nd supply path 45b: Pump supply line 46: Second heat transfer medium supply source 60: Heat medium supply source 61: Heat medium supply path 63: Temperature regulator

Claims

1. A kneading and granulating device for resin, a continuous mixer that mixes a powdered resin material; a transition piece having a resin passage through which the molten resin sent from the continuous kneader passes; a gear pump that pressure-feeds the molten resin sent from the continuous kneader through the resin passage of the transition piece; Equipped with the transition piece has a first heat medium passage for heating the transition piece on the continuous kneader side and a second heat medium passage for heating the transition piece on the gear pump side, The kneading and granulating apparatus, wherein the second heat medium passage is a passage through which a heat medium having a higher temperature than that of the first heat medium passage flows.

2. the first heat medium passage is connected to a first heat medium supply source; the second heat medium passage is connected to a second heat medium supply source; The kneading and granulating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second heat medium supply source is a heat medium supply source that supplies a heat medium having a temperature higher than that of the first heat medium supply source.

3. the first heat medium passage and the second heat medium passage are connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path; the heat medium supply path includes a first supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the first heat medium passage, and a second supply path that causes another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the second heat medium passage, 2. The kneading granulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first supply path and the second supply path is provided with a temperature regulator that adjusts the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the second supply path so that it is higher in temperature than the heat medium flowing through the first supply path.

4. the first heat medium passage is connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path; 2. The kneading granulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat medium supply path includes a first supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the first heat medium passage, and a kneader supply path that sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to the continuous kneader.

5. the second heat medium passage is connected to a heat medium supply source via a heat medium supply path; 2. The kneading granulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat medium supply path includes: a second supply path that causes a portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to flow into the second heat medium passage; and a pump supply path that sends another portion of the heat medium supplied from the heat medium supply source to the gear pump.

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