Dust solidification system and dust solidification method

Abstract

To improve a capability of solidifying collected dust.SOLUTION: A dust solidifying system (1) comprises: a pre-duster (2) that absorbs dust by negative pressure generated by a negative pressure generation source, removes solidification inhibitors from the absorbed dust, and flows the dust having contents of the solidification inhibitors reduced, in a direction of the negative pressure generation source; a dust capturing mechanism (31) that captures and then drops the dust flown by negative pressure from the pre-duster; a storage tank (33) that stores the dust captured and dropped by the dust capturing mechanism; and a dust solidifying mechanism (35) that solidifies the dust in a solidification chamber, and further comprises at least one of a dust re-scattering prevention mechanism (32) that prevents the dust dropped by the dust capturing mechanism from re-scattering, a stirring mechanism (34) that stirs the dust put into the dust solidifying mechanism, and an air-bleeding mechanism (36) that bleeds air flowing from the dust solidifying mechanism into the storage tank by negative pressure so as to prevent the air from intruding into the solidification chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dust solidification system and a dust solidification method.

Background Art

[0002] Fumes generated during laser processing, plasma processing, welding, etc. of metal materials, etc. may cause serious harm to the health if inhaled by workers. Therefore, in order to keep the working environment clean, a dust collector is operated to remove dust from the working environment. Here, the dust collected by the dust collector has a low bulk density, and it is difficult to handle in this state. Therefore, the dust is compressed and solidified and processed into an easy-to-handle state (for example, pellet form). The dust processed into an easy-to-handle state can be reused by performing processes such as remelting.

[0003] Patent Document 1, which is an example of the prior art, discloses a technique for compressing and solidifying dust collected by a dust collector in a pre-dust box.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, there is room for improvement in the moldability of dust containing chips and dust, etc. The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to improve the moldability of the collected dust.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems and achieves the object is a dust solidification system including fume and a solidification inhibitor that is larger in mass and size than the fume. This dust solidification system includes a pre-duster that sucks dust by negative pressure generated by a negative pressure generation source, removes the solidification inhibitor from the sucked dust, and makes the dust with a reduced content of the solidification inhibitor flow in the direction of the negative pressure generation source, a dust capture mechanism that captures and drops the dust flowing by negative pressure from the pre-duster, a storage tank that stores the dust captured and dropped by the dust capture mechanism, and a dust solidification mechanism that solidifies the dust in a molding chamber. And this dust solidification system further includes at least one of the following mechanisms (1) to (3). (1) A dust re-scattering prevention mechanism that prevents the re-scattering of the dust falling from the dust capture mechanism. (2) A stirring mechanism that stirs the dust input into the dust solidification mechanism. (3) An air extraction mechanism that prevents the intrusion of air into the molding chamber by extracting the air flowing into the storage tank from the dust solidification mechanism by negative pressure.

[0007] According to the dust solidification system having the above configuration, by removing the solidification inhibitor that inhibits solidification by the pre-duster, the content of the solidification inhibitor can be relatively reduced. As a result, the moldability of the dust is improved.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is that the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism includes a plurality of re-scattering prevention units arranged adjacent to each other in a direction crossing the falling direction of the dust from the dust capture mechanism. Each of the plurality of re-scattering prevention units is configured by joining a pair of plate bodies in a mountain shape in a side view, and the ridge line portion formed by the joining of the pair of plate bodies is arranged facing the upper dust capture mechanism. A slit for allowing the dust to pass downward is provided at a portion along the lower end of the plate body. It is possible to suppress the upward scattering of the dust in the apparatus that tries to re-scatter during the stirring of the dust by the stirring mechanism.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism further includes an inclined side wall outside the plate body provided in the outermost dust re-entrainment prevention unit among the plurality of dust re-entrainment prevention units, and the slits are provided between the lower ends of the plate bodies provided in the dust re-entrainment prevention units adjacent to each other and between the outermost dust re-entrainment prevention unit and the inclined side wall. Dust falling from the outermost side can pass downward through the slit.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism includes an upper-stage dust re-entrainment prevention unit group and a lower-stage dust re-entrainment prevention unit group formed by a plurality of dust re-entrainment prevention units, and the ridge line portions of each of the dust re-entrainment prevention units in the lower-stage dust re-entrainment prevention unit group are arranged in the slits formed in the upper-stage dust re-entrainment prevention unit group in a plan view. It is possible to suppress the upward re-entrainment of dust from the agitation mechanism.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a dust solidification method. The dust solidification method includes sucking dust by negative pressure generated by a negative pressure generating source, removing solidification inhibitors from the sucked dust, flowing the dust with a reduced content of solidification inhibitors in the direction of the negative pressure generating source, capturing and dropping the dust flowing by negative pressure, storing the captured and dropped dust in a storage tank, and solidifying the dust in a forming chamber by a dust solidification mechanism. And this dust solidification system further includes at least one of the following (1) to (3). (1) Preventing the re-entrainment of falling dust by a dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism. (2) Agitating the dust input into the dust solidification mechanism. (3) Preventing the intrusion of air into the forming chamber by extracting the air flowing into the storage tank from the dust solidification mechanism by negative pressure.

[0012] According to the dust solidification method of the above method, the content rate of the solidification inhibitor can be relatively reduced by the pre-duster, so that the formability when the dust is solidified in the forming chamber can be improved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, there is an effect that the moldability of the collected dust can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] An example of the dust solidification system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limitedly construed by the description of the following embodiments.

[0016] <Embodiment> In the following description, a case where dust generated from a laser processing machine is solidified will be described as an example. This dust contains fine fumes and coarse sputters. Fumes are easy to compress and solidify. Sputters are larger in mass and size than fumes and are difficult to solidify. Sputters are an example of a solidification inhibitor that inhibits the moldability when solidifying dust into pellets. Therefore, when solidifying the generated dust (including fine fumes and coarse sputters), it is necessary to increase the content rate of the fine fumes.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a dust solidification system 1 according to the present embodiment. The dust solidification system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a pre-duster 2 that classifies the sucked dust to remove solidification inhibitors, and a dust collector 3 that includes each component in a housing. The dust collector 3 includes a dust capture mechanism 31, a dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32, a storage tank 33, a stirring mechanism 34, a dust solidification mechanism 35, and an air venting mechanism 36. The dust solidification system 1 collects dust.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the pre-duster 2 of FIG. 1. The pre-duster 2 is installed on the side of the dust collector 3, and includes a dust inlet 21 that sucks and introduces dust from an external dust generation source, and a classification unit 22 that classifies the dust introduced from the dust inlet 21 to remove solidification inhibitors.

[0019] A duct (not shown) extending to the dust generation source is connected to the dust inlet 21, and the dust inlet 21 sucks dust by the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generation source provided in the dust capture mechanism 31 in the dust collector 3. The classification unit 22 removes solidification inhibitors from the sucked dust to reduce the content rate of the solidification inhibitors, and flows the dust with the reduced content rate of the solidification inhibitors to the dust collector 3. The movement of the dust in the pre-duster 2 is caused by the negative pressure suction force generated by the drive of the negative pressure generation source provided in the dust capture mechanism 31 in the dust collector 3.

[0020] When the sputter content rate in the dust introduced into the dust collector 3 is high, the moldability when solidifying the dust into pellets in the dust collector 3 will decrease. Therefore, the pre-duster 2 classifies the fumes and sputters in the sucked dust to reduce the sputter content rate in the dust to a predetermined ratio (hereinafter) and flow it to the dust collector 3. As a result, the sputter content rate in the dust introduced into the dust collector 3 is reduced, and the moldability when solidifying the dust into pellets in the dust collector 3 can be improved. Furthermore, the pre-duster 2 also removes steel plates or the like with a size of several millimeters or more that have been accidentally sucked in. Therefore, according to the pre-duster 2, it is possible to prevent the entry of accidentally sucked-in objects into the dust collector 3, and to prevent abnormal stops and damage to the dust collector 3 caused by the accidentally sucked-in objects being bitten in when solidifying the dust in the dust collector 3.

[0021] According to the pre-duster 2, for example, when the dust sucked in at the dust inlet 21 is 50% sputter and 50% fume, the dust flowing into the dust collector 3 can be made 20% sputter and 80% fume.

[0022] The solidification inhibitor recovery unit 23 is located below the classification unit 22 and recovers solidification inhibitors such as sputter that have been removed and fallen by the classification unit 22.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the dust capture mechanism 31, the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32, and the storage tank 33 of FIG. 1. The dust capture mechanism 31 is provided at the upper part of the dust collector 3 and captures and drops the dust flowing from the pre-duster 2.

[0024] The dust capture mechanism 31 includes a fan 311 that is a negative pressure generation source for generating a negative pressure at the upper part of the dust collector 3, a filter 312 that captures the dust introduced from the pre-duster 2, and a dust removal mechanism (not shown) that scrapes off the dust adhering to the filter 312. The dust adhering to the filter 312 is scraped off by a dust removal mechanism (not shown), and the dust that has separated from the filter 312 falls by its own weight. In addition, when the dust adhering to the filter 312 peels off by its own weight over time, the dust removal mechanism may not be provided. Here, the removal of the dust adhering to the filter 312 is periodically performed while the fan 311 is operating. However, even when the fan 311 is stopped, the dust adhering to the filter 312 may be removed.

[0025] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a part of the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 shown in FIG. 3. When the dust adhering to the filter 312 is scraped off while the fan 311 is operating as described above, the relatively light fume is lifted and re-scattered by the downward airflow generated by the fan 311. The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 prevents the backflow of the dust falling from the dust capture mechanism 31 due to re-scattering upward by blocking the downward airflow. Note that the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 may be omitted when there is no backflow or little influence due to the re-scattering of dust.

[0026] The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 includes an inclined side wall 320 and a plurality of re-scattering prevention units 321. The re-scattering prevention units 321 are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction crossing the falling direction of the dust from the dust capture mechanism 31. The re-scattering prevention unit 321 is configured by joining a pair of plate bodies P1 and P2 extending in the depth direction in FIG. 4 so as to form a gable shape, that is, joining them so as to form a mountain shape in a side view, and forming a top T constituting a ridge line portion. The ridge line portions formed by joining the pair of plate bodies P1 and P2 are arranged facing the upper dust capture mechanism 31 in a state of being substantially parallel to each other. A slit S for allowing dust to pass downward is provided in a portion along the lower ends of the pair of plate bodies P1 and P2. The width of the slit S may be, for example, 15 mm to 20 mm, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0027] Note that it is preferable that the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 further includes the inclined side wall 320 shown in FIG. 3 outside the plate bodies P1 and P2 included in the re-scattering prevention unit 321 located at the outermost periphery among the plurality of re-scattering prevention units 321. In the upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32U, the slit S is preferably formed not only between the lower ends of the plate bodies P1 and P2 provided in the adjacent re-scattering prevention units 321 but also between the re-scattering prevention unit 321 located at the outermost periphery and the inclined side wall 320.

[0028] Further, the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 preferably includes an upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32U and a lower-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32L formed by a plurality of re-scattering prevention units 321. Furthermore, the top T constituting the ridge line portion of each re-scattering prevention unit 321 in the lower-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32L is preferably disposed within the slit S formed in the upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32U in a plan view.

[0029] The storage tank 33 shown in FIG. 3 has an inclined side wall 330 and stores the dust that has passed through the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32. Note that when the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32 is omitted, the storage tank 33 may be configured to collect the dust that has fallen from the dust capture mechanism 31.

[0030] In the lower-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32L, the slit S is preferably formed between the plurality of re-scattering prevention units 321 and the inclined side wall 330 of the storage tank 33 in the same manner as in the upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group 32U.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the stirring mechanism 34 and the dust solidification mechanism 35 of FIG. 1. The stirring mechanism 34 shown in FIG. 5 is disposed below the storage tank 33. Due to the operating state of the dust solidification system 1 and the re-scattering of dust, etc., the content of fumes and sputters in the dust stored in the storage tank 33 can vary. The stirring mechanism 34 includes a stirring arm 340, and stirs and homogenizes the dust stored below the storage tank 33 by the rotation of the stirring arm 340 or the like. The dust homogenized by stirring moves to the dust solidification mechanism 35. According to the stirring mechanism 34, the components of the dust can be homogenized with a simple structure, and the solidification of the dust can be stably performed.

[0032] In addition, when the dust can be sufficiently solidified, such as when the solidification inhibitor is sufficiently excluded by the pre-duster 2, the stirring mechanism 34 may be omitted.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a view showing the stirring mechanism 34, the dust solidification mechanism 35, and the air venting mechanism 36 of FIG. 1. The dust solidification mechanism 35 shown in FIG. 6 is disposed at a position where the dust stirred by the stirring mechanism 34 is stored. The dust solidification mechanism 35 solidifies the dust homogenized by the stirring mechanism 34 into pellets in the molding chamber 350.

[0034] The dust solidification mechanism 35 includes a molding member 352 disposed in the molding chamber 350 and provided with molding holes 351, rods 353 and 354, and a discharge hole 355. The rod 354 is a pressure rod and is a rod that can enter and retreat into the molding hole 351. The rod 353 is a closing rod and is a rod that remains stationary during the formation of the solidified product. The rod 353 pushes the homogenized dust in the molding chamber 350 into the molding hole 351, and the dust homogenized by the pressure surface of the rod 353 and the pressure surface of the rod 354 is pressed and solidified in the molding chamber 350, thereby forming a pellet-shaped solidified product. The formed solidified product is sandwiched between the rod 353 and the rod 354, passes through the molding hole 351 together with the rod 353 and the rod 354, and is conveyed to the discharge hole 355 and discharged.

[0035] Here, the rod 354 is described as a pressure rod and the rod 353 is described as a closing rod. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the rod 354 may be a closing rod, the rod 353 may be a pressure rod, or both of the rods 353 and 354 may be reciprocally movable. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the rods 353 and 354 may be circular or polygonal such as a regular hexagon.

[0036] The air extraction mechanism 36 extracts the air that flows into the storage tank 33 from the dust solidification mechanism 35 under negative pressure, thereby preventing the intrusion of air into the molding chamber 350 and preventing the dust from scattering in the molding chamber 350 of the dust solidification mechanism 35. Also, when dust scatters, relatively light fumes scatter preferentially. However, by preventing the scattering of dust, the content rate of solidification inhibitors in the solidified product to be formed can be suppressed.

[0037] The air extraction mechanism 36 includes a ventilation hole 360, an air extraction duct 361, a seal portion 362, and a partition wall 363. The ventilation hole 360 is provided outside the molding chamber 350 and on the path of the rods 353 and 354. The air extraction duct 361 has an interior that communicates with the ventilation hole 360 and forms a retreat path for the air that has flowed in from the path of the rods 353 and 354. The seal portion 362 is a member that simply seals between the molding chamber 350 and the ventilation hole 360. The partition wall 363 surrounds the air extraction duct 361 and is a member that secures the path of the air extraction duct 361.

[0038] Note that when there is no scattering of dust in the molding chamber 350 or the influence is small, the air extraction mechanism 36 may be omitted.

[0039] Next, the operation of the dust solidification system 1 will be described. By the operation of the fan 311, negative pressure is generated, and due to this negative pressure, dust is sucked into the pre-duster 2. The sucked dust is classified by the pre-duster 2, and spatter and the like, which are solidification inhibitors, are excluded.

[0040] The excluded spatter and the like are collected in the solidification inhibitor recovery section 23 provided below the pre-duster 2. In addition, the remaining dust is transferred from the pre-duster 2 to the dust collector 3 by negative pressure.

[0041] The transferred dust adheres to the filter 312. The adhered dust is scraped off by a dust removal mechanism (not shown) and falls below the dust collector 3. The dust that falls below the dust collector 3 slides down the upper-stage re-entrainment prevention unit group 32U, the lower-stage re-entrainment prevention unit group 32L, and the inclined side wall 320 of the dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism 32, passes through the respective lower slits S, and is stored in the storage tank 33 located below the dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism 32.

[0042] The dust stored in the storage tank 33 is intermittently fed into the stirring mechanism 34 located below the storage tank 33 and stirred so that the fume and sputter become homogeneous.

[0043] The stirred dust is fed into the forming chamber 350 of the dust solidification mechanism 35. The dust fed into the forming chamber 350 is compacted by the rods 353 and 354 and formed into a pellet-shaped solid. At this time, the air in the forming chamber 350 is extracted by the air extraction mechanism 36. The extracted air is exhausted to the storage tank 33 via the ventilation holes 360 and the air extraction duct 361, etc.

[0044] The dust formed into pellets is discharged from the discharge hole 355.

[0045] As described above, according to each component of the dust solidification system 1 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The pre-duster 2 can reduce the content rate of sputter, which is a solidification inhibitor in the dust. The dust capture mechanism 31 can introduce and drop the dust into the dust collector 3. The dust re-entrainment prevention mechanism 32 can send the dust to the storage tank 33 while preventing the backflow of the dust due to re-entrainment. The stirring mechanism 34 can homogenize the dust below the storage tank 33. The dust solidification mechanism 35 can solidify the homogenized dust. The air venting mechanism 36 can prevent air from entering the forming chamber 350 of the dust solidification mechanism 35, prevent the dust from scattering in the forming chamber 350, and suppress the content rate of solidification inhibitors in the solidified product. Therefore, according to the dust solidification system 1 according to the present embodiment, the collected dust can be solidified with high formability. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to continuously perform all processes from dust collection to dust solidification in one system.

[0046] In the present embodiment, a dust solidification system including a pre-duster 2, a dust capture mechanism 31, a dust solidification mechanism 35, a dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32, a storage tank 33, a stirring mechanism 34, and an air venting mechanism 36 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism 32, the stirring mechanism 34, and the air venting mechanism 36 can be omitted as necessary, and at least one of them may be provided.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the case of solidifying the dust generated from a laser processing machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be applied to dust containing solidification inhibiting factors, such as dust generated during processing or welding by a plasma processing machine.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0048] 1 Dust solidification system 2 Pre-duster 21 Dust inlet 22 Classification section 23 Solidification inhibitor recovery section 3 Dust collector 31 Dust capture mechanism 311 Fan 312 Filter 32 Dust Re-dispersion Prevention Mechanism 32U Upper Re-dispersion Prevention Unit Group 32L Lower Re-dispersion Prevention Unit Group 320 Inclined Side Wall 321 Re-dispersion Prevention Unit T Top P1, P2 Plate S Slit 33 Storage Tank 330 Inclined Side Wall 34 Stirring Mechanism 340 Stirring Arm 35 Dust Solidification Mechanism 350 Molding Chamber 351 Molding Hole 352 Molding Member 353, 354 Rod 355 Discharge Hole 36 Air Venting Mechanism 360 Ventilation Hole 361 Air Venting Duct 362 Sealing Part 363 Partition Wall

Claims

1. A dust solidification system for solidifying dust containing fumes and solidification inhibitors that are larger in mass and size than the fumes, comprising: A pre-duster that sucks dust by negative pressure generated by a negative pressure source, removes solidification inhibitors from the sucked dust, and causes the dust with a reduced content of solidification inhibitors to flow in the direction of the negative pressure source; A dust capture mechanism that captures and drops the dust flowing by the negative pressure from the pre-duster; A storage tank that stores the dust captured and dropped by the dust capture mechanism; A dust solidification mechanism that solidifies the dust in a forming chamber; and further comprising: A dust re-scattering prevention mechanism that prevents re-scattering of the dust falling from the dust capture mechanism; A stirring mechanism that stirs the dust input into the dust solidification mechanism; An air extraction mechanism that extracts air flowing into the storage tank from the dust solidification mechanism by negative pressure to prevent air from entering the forming chamber; and comprising at least one of: The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism includes a plurality of re-scattering prevention units arranged adjacent to each other in a direction crossing the falling direction of the dust from the dust capture mechanism, Each of the plurality of re-scattering prevention units is configured by joining a pair of plate bodies so as to have a mountain shape in a side view, A ridge line portion formed by the joining of the pair of plate bodies is arranged facing the upper dust capture mechanism, A slit for allowing the dust to pass downward is provided between the lower ends of adjacent re-scattering prevention units along a portion along the lower end of the plate body. A dust solidification system.

2. Comprising the dust re-scattering prevention mechanism, The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism further includes an inclined side wall outside a plate body provided in a re-scattering prevention unit located at the outermost periphery among the plurality of re-scattering prevention units, The slit is provided between the lower ends of the plate bodies included in the re-scattering prevention units adjacent to each other, and between the re-scattering prevention unit located at the outermost periphery and the inclined side wall, in the dust solidification system according to claim 1.

3. The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism includes an upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group and a lower-stage re-scattering prevention unit group formed by the plurality of re-scattering prevention units. In the dust solidification system according to claim 2, the ridge line portion of each of the re-scattering prevention units in the lower-stage re-scattering prevention unit group is arranged in the slit formed in the upper-stage re-scattering prevention unit group in a plan view.

4. A dust solidification method for solidifying dust including fume and solidification inhibitors larger in mass and size than the fume, drawing in the dust by negative pressure generated by a negative pressure generating source, removing the solidification inhibitors from the drawn dust, and flowing the dust with a reduced content rate of the solidification inhibitors in the direction of the negative pressure generating source; capturing and dropping the dust flowing by the negative pressure; storing the captured and dropped dust in a storage tank; solidifying the dust in a forming chamber by a dust solidification mechanism; including, and further, preventing re-scattering of the dropping dust by a dust re-scattering prevention mechanism; stirring the dust input into the dust solidification mechanism; including at least one of extracting the air flowing into the storage tank from the dust solidification mechanism by the negative pressure; The dust re-scattering prevention mechanism includes a plurality of re-scattering prevention units arranged adjacent to each other in a direction crossing the dropping direction of the dust. Each of the plurality of re-scattering prevention units is configured by joining a pair of plate bodies so as to have a mountain shape in a side view, and the ridge line portion formed by the joining of the pair of plate bodies is arranged facing the upper dust capturing mechanism. A slit for allowing the dust to pass downward is provided between the lower ends of adjacent re-scattering prevention units at a portion along the lower end of the plate body. The dust that has slipped off the re-scattering prevention unit is passed through the slit and dropped downward. Dust solidification method.

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