Apparatus for the production of particulate or extruded material

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus 1 for the production of granular or extrudate substances, comprising a vessel 3 having an inlet 8 for the material to be processed, an inlet 9 for a liquid, a stirring device 5 for producing an intermediate product consisting of the material to be processed and the liquid, and an outlet 10 for the intermediate product, and a discharge pipe 2, characterized in that the apparatus 1 comprises a discharge pipe 2 having an inlet 24 for the intermediate product, an outlet 14 for the granular or extrudate substance, and a conveying device 26 for conveying the intermediate product from the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 in the direction of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2, and the discharge pipe 2, which can rotate about a central axis EE, is arranged in the vessel 3 so that the discharge pipe 2 can be moved between an open position and a closed position relative to the vessel 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing particulate or extruded substances, wherein the apparatus has an inlet for the material to be processed, an inlet for a liquid, a stirrer for producing an intermediate product consisting of the material to be processed and the liquid, a container having an outlet for the intermediate product, and a discharge pipe.

Background Art

[0002] In industrial processes, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, very frequently, apparatuses for producing particulate or extruded substances are used to subsequently post-treat these particulate or extruded substances, for example, using a drying apparatus, particularly by a fluidized bed apparatus or a spouted bed apparatus. At that time, the apparatus for producing particulate or extruded substances is connected to the drying apparatus via a transfer conduit. In order for the particulate or extruded substances to be further processed, these apparatuses always need to be discharged.

[0003] Patent Document 1 shows a granulator having a vertical raw material inlet and a rotor that circulates around a vertical axis. The material is first ground by cutters that cooperate with each other in a horizontal plane and then further by cutters that cooperate with each other in another vertical plane. The perforated plate prevents premature outflow of the raw material from the region of the first cutter, and the completed particulate substance can flow out from the region of another cutter through the opening of the cylindrical sieve. It is possible that the cutter on the rotor side and the opening in the cylindrical sieve are arranged in different ways considering an increase in the filling amount. The discharge of the material is assisted by a blade wheel that is mounted on a shaft and circulates in a chamber between the sieve and the outer wall of the casing. By the action of the centrifugal force of the blade wheel, the completed particulate substance is conveyed from this chamber through the casing outlet into the collecting container.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a mixing granulator having a mixing vessel and a stirrer located within the mixing vessel and having a drive shaft oriented vertically. In this mixing granulator, the mixing vessel is formed to be curved at the bottom side of the mixing vessel, and in a state of conforming to the curved bottom, a mixing tool formed to be curved is provided. At that time, the bottom is formed to be closed, the mixing vessel has an outflow opening in the wall region, an addition device for liquid and solid substances is provided into the original mixing vessel, and a pulverizing and conveying device for assisting the discharge of the mixed material and the granulated material is provided inside the mixing vessel in front of the outflow opening. At that time, the mixing vessel has a cover on the upper side of the mixing vessel, and the pulverizing and conveying device is surrounded by a protective casing. Accordingly, when there are still larger product lumps on the front side, this pulverizing and conveying device causes pulverization and at the same time causes the conveyance of the granulated material to the outflow opening. Accordingly, this pulverizing and conveying device assists in the discharge of the mixing vessel through an outflow opening arranged on the side of the mixing vessel.

[0005] In these devices according to the prior art, it is generally customary to discharge particularly wet granular substances through an outflow opening arranged on the side of the device. Using a rotating stirrer and gravity, the produced granular material is usually conveyed by gravity or pneumatically into a drying device downstream of the outflow opening, i.e., downstream of the sieve. In this mode of discharge, the mass flow rate conveyed from this device is not constant throughout all discharge processes. Typically, at the start of the discharge process, the mass flow rate conveyed from this device is greater than at the end of this discharge process, such that the particulate matter produced subsequently falls into the subsequent sieve in lumpy form. Conditional upon this, the structural space for discharge is dimensioned generously to prevent clogging of the production equipment. With the decreasing mass flow rate, the discharge of this device deteriorates further, because the particulate matter can only be conveyed from the device with some difficulty, for example by an agitator. Similarly, for this reason, the discharge time is extremely long and not reproducible, depending on the product characteristics, which is a further disadvantage of these devices shown in the prior art.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The problem of the present invention is thus to provide a device for the production of particulate matter or extruded matter, which device overcomes the disadvantages from the prior art and enables, in particular, an accurately definable discharge time depending on the product characteristics of the material to be processed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] This problem is solved in the device described at the beginning, wherein the device comprises a discharge pipe having an inlet for the intermediate product, an outlet for the particulate matter or extruded matter, and a conveying device for conveying the intermediate product from the inlet of the discharge pipe in the direction of the outlet of the discharge pipe. This is solved by arranging the discharge pipe, which is rotatable about the central axis, on the container such that the discharge pipe is movable relative to the container between an open position and a closed position.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] Advantageously, due to the configuration according to the invention of this device, it is possible to produce an intermediate product from the material to be processed and a liquid, and subsequently to convey this intermediate product out of this device via a discharge pipe in the open position and having a conveying device, and to granulate it or to extrude it.

[0010] In the open position, the outlet of the container of the device and the inlet of the discharge pipe of this device at least partially coincide. The position where the outlet of the container of the device and the inlet of the discharge pipe of this device do not at least partially coincide is correspondingly referred to as the closed position. In the open position, accordingly, the intermediate product can be transferred from the container, through the outlet of this container and the inlet of the discharge pipe, into this same discharge pipe. In the closed position, the transfer of the intermediate product from the container into the discharge pipe is not possible. In order to move the discharge pipe from the closed position to the open position, this discharge pipe is rotatable manually or automatically, for example using a drive unit, in particular a torque motor or a servo motor. Advantageously, the discharge pipe is rotated by 180°. This is because this achieves good cleaning of the discharge pipe in the closed position.

[0011] The intermediate product produced in the container is transported into the discharge pipe in the discharge step, i.e., in the open position of the discharge pipe relative to this container. In the discharge pipe, the intermediate product is conveyed out of the device by a conveying device at an adjustable mass flow rate. The mass flow rate generated by this conveying device is advantageously constant. Conditioned by an adjustable mass flow from the container and the discharge pipe, in the device according to the invention, the discharge time can be precisely defined, in particular depending on the product characteristics, or is defined and, accordingly, is precisely reproducible.

[0012] A further advantageous configuration of this advantageous device is shown in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to a further advantageous configuration of this device in this regard, the inlet for the liquid is formed in the form of a nozzle, in particular a single-substance nozzle or a multi-substance nozzle. This has the advantage that the liquid can be accurately and precisely metered, for example in the form of a pure substance, an emulsion, a suspension or a slurry, and added to the material to be processed in the container. Advantageously, the liquid is a granulating liquid.

[0014] Corresponding to a further configuration of the device according to the invention, the discharge pipe is arranged below the container. The arrangement below this discharge pipe causes improved discharge, for example based on an additional gravitational action on the manufactured intermediate product during the discharge process. The discharge pipe arranged below the container is arranged in one cutting plane, which extends at a distance parallel to the cutting plane passing through the vertical central axis of the container. Due to this arrangement of the discharge pipe relative to the container, the intermediate product can move particularly well from this container into this discharge pipe. Corresponding to a special formation of this device, this distance is equal to zero, and thus the discharge pipe is arranged in the cutting plane extending through the vertical central axis of the container. In this special formation, the area of the outlet of the container and the area of the inlet of the discharge pipe can be formed particularly large or are formed.

[0015] Due to an additional further configuration of the present invention, the stirring device has stirring blades, in particular stirring blades formed at least partially flexibly. It is also possible for these stirring blades of this stirring device to be formed rigidly and / or at least partially flexibly. Due to at least partial flexibility of the stirring blades, it is not necessarily required for the stirring device to move to a predetermined position during the movement of the discharge pipe from the closed position to the open position. Rather, this stirring device can simply be stopped at an appropriate position within the container and can remain there. According to this further configuration, these stirring blades flex based on the flexibility of these stirring blades during the movement of the discharge pipe from the closed position to the open position, and thus no damage occurs to the stirring blades of the stirring device and / or the discharge pipe.

[0016] Due to an additional advantageous configuration of the device according to the present invention, the conveying device can be driven or is driven by a shaft. By this, it is possible to drive the conveying device using, for example, a shaft and a drive unit, in particular a servo motor or a torque motor, connected via a transmission mechanism, for example, and thus the angular velocity of the conveying device can be accurately adjusted. Advantageously, the shaft driving the conveying device is a hollow shaft.

[0017] Due to a further advantageous further configuration of this device, the conveying device is a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or another such thing. Advantageously, the conveying device has regions, and the screw thread depth of this conveying device is different within these regions. By this, it is possible to compress the conveyed intermediate product with different intensities in succession in the direction towards the outlet of the discharge pipe and, in some cases, to press it through the outlet of this discharge pipe.

[0018] Advantageously, the outlet of the discharge pipe is formed as a sifting device. By this, it is possible to directly produce particulate matter or extruded matter at the outlet of this discharge pipe during the conveyance from the discharge pipe. Advantageously, the sieve device comprises a sieve and a rotor. By means of this rotor, the intermediate product conveyed from the discharge pipe is sheared or scraped in the sieve of the sieve device, so that particulate matter or extruded matter falls from the sieve of the sieve device. Particularly advantageously, the sieve device is formed in a conical shape. Extremely particularly advantageously, the opening of the sieve of the sieve device is formed in a circular, oval, rectangular, and / or square shape. The rotor is advantageously formed in the manner of an anchor and is adapted to the inner surface of the sieve of the sieve device.

[0019] In a very particularly advantageous further configuration of the device according to the invention, the conveying device and the rotor are formed as a structural member unit of one member as a structural member of the discharge pipe. In that case, this structural member unit can be driven or is driven by a common axis. By this, the device has fewer structural members and can thus be manufactured at low cost. In addition, the structure of the device according to the invention is structurally simpler by a structural member unit consisting of one member having a conveying device and a rotor.

[0020] According to an additional and advantageous further configuration of the invention, the rotor can be driven or is driven by a shaft. Advantageously, the shaft driving the rotor can be driven or is driven independently of the shaft driving the conveying device. Extremely particularly advantageously, the shaft driving the rotor is formed coaxially with respect to the shaft driving the conveying device. Most advantageously, the shaft driving the rotor is arranged in a hollow shaft driving the conveying device.

[0021] Due to an additional configuration of the device according to the invention, the device comprises a drying device having an inlet for particulate matter or extruded matter, and the outlet of the discharge pipe can be connected or is connected to the inlet of this drying device. By means of a direct connection between the outlet of the discharge pipe of the device and the inlet of the drying device, the transfer pipe for transporting moist granular or extruded material into this drying device is completely omitted. As a result, a clearly reduced surface area in contact with the product is provided, and thus less product loss, compared to conventional granulation lines, i.e., granulators, transfer pipes and drying devices. In addition, the outlet of the discharge pipe can project into the fluidized bed of the drying device. By this, the surface area in contact with the product during the transport of still moist granular material from the granulation unit into the fluidization device is further reduced.

[0022] Advantageously, in this case, the inlet of the drying device has a supply conduit for a fluid, in particular a gas. The introduction of a fluid, in particular a fluidization gas, advantageously an inert gas, assists or aids the transfer of the extruded or granular material flowing out of the outlet of the discharge pipe into the drying device, advantageously a fluidized bed device or a spouted bed device, and these extruded or granular materials are at least partially fluidized. Particularly advantageously, the inlet of the drying device has an inlet bottom or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom. The inlet bottom is formed, for example, in the form of a perforated plate, so that the fluidization medium can pass through this inlet bottom and fluidize the granular or extruded material, similar to a fluidization device. With such a configured inlet of the drying device, the extruded or granular material flowing out of the outlet of the discharge pipe of the device is directly fluidized without the extruded or granular material coming into contact with the inner surface of the inlet of the drying device. Along with this, a further reduced surface area in contact with the product is provided, and thus less product loss.

[0023] Due to an additional and advantageous configuration of the device, this device is provided with yet another nozzle for cleaning the discharge pipe in the closed position of the discharge pipe. By this, it is possible to remove or clean product residues from the discharge pipe, and thus this discharge pipe is clean during the next discharge of the container, and a new charge can be transported or conveyed from this device without contamination or residues of the previous charge. Corresponding to the advantageous configuration, the nozzle is arranged on one rail. Particularly advantageously, the rail is telescopically extensible. By this, the nozzle can be optimally positioned along the inlet of the discharge pipe of the device in order to optimally clean each angle of the discharge pipe. Most particularly advantageously, the nozzle is arranged or can be arranged to be movable in the longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to this nozzle. Particularly the possibility of moving the nozzle in the transverse direction with respect to the inlet, i.e., closer to this inlet, can improve the removal of contaminants or residues of the previous charge, and thus the discharge pipe can be optimally cleaned.

[0024] The device according to the invention is discharged by a method, in which the method has the following steps: namely, a) Production of an intermediate product from the material to be processed and a liquid in a container closed by a discharge pipe, wherein the stirring device is at least temporarily active, b) Movement of the discharge pipe from the closed position with respect to the container to the open position with respect to this container, c) Conveyance of the intermediate product from the container and from the outlet of this discharge pipe via the conveying device of the discharge pipe, and comprises the steps.

[0025] Advantageously, by this method, it is possible to manufacture an intermediate product from a material to be processed and a liquid, and subsequently convey this intermediate product from this apparatus via a discharge pipe in an open position and having a conveying device, and granulate it or extrude it. At this time, in the open position, the outlet of the container of the apparatus and the inlet of the discharge pipe to this apparatus at least partially coincide. The intermediate product produced in the container is transported into the discharge pipe by means of a stirring device and / or gravity in the discharge process, and there, it is conveyed from the apparatus by means of a conveying device at an adjustable, advantageously constant mass flow rate. Depending on this, in the apparatus according to the invention, the discharge time can be precisely specified depending on the product characteristics, or is specified and is precisely reproducible.

[0026] A further advantageous configuration of this method is described below.

[0027] By means of the method related thereto, before step b), the stirring device is moved to a predetermined position. Advantageously, by this, the rotation of the discharge pipe is simplified, facilitated or improved from the closed position to the open position, for example by the raising or lowering of the stirring device at a predetermined position in the container. At this time, advantageously, the stirring device is moved to a predetermined position by raising, or the stirring blades of this stirring device are stopped at a predetermined angle in the container. Thus, damage to the apparatus is avoided.

[0028] By a further advantageous configuration of this method, when moving the discharge pipe from the closed position with respect to the container to the open position with respect to the container according to step b), the discharge pipe is rotated by an angle of from 10° to 300°, in particular basically by an angle of 180°. Advantageously, when moving the discharge pipe from the closed position with respect to the container to the open position with respect to the container according to step b), the discharge pipe is rotated manually or automatically. For example, a better degree of automation can be achieved by the automatic rotation of the discharge pipe.

[0029] Corresponding to an additional configuration of this method, this device is provided with a drying device, and the extruded or granular material flowing out from the outlet of the discharge pipe according to step c) is processed, in particular dried, in this drying device. Advantageously, in this case, the inlet of the drying device has a supply conduit for a fluid, in particular a gas. The introduction of a fluid, in particular a fluidizing gas, advantageously an inert gas, assists or aids the transfer of the extruded or granular material flowing out from the outlet of the discharge pipe into the drying device, advantageously a fluidized bed device or a spouted bed device. Particularly advantageously, the inlet of the drying device, i.e., the inlet conduit, has an inlet bottom or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom. Due to such a configured inlet of the drying device, the extruded or granular material flowing out from the outlet of the discharge pipe of the device is directly fluidized without the extruded or granular material contacting the inner surface of the inlet of the drying device. Accordingly, a reduced surface area in contact with the product is provided, and thus less product loss.

[0030] An additional advantageous configuration of this method is that the device is further provided with another nozzle, and in this case, the device is intended to be cleaned throughout at least temporarily in the closed position. By this, it is possible to remove or clean product residues from the discharge pipe, and thus the discharge pipe is clean during the next discharge of the container, and a new charge can be transported or conveyed from this device without contamination or residues from the previous charge. Corresponding to an advantageous configuration, the nozzle is arranged on one rail. Particularly advantageously, the rail is telescopically extendable. By this, the nozzle can be optimally positioned along the inlet of the discharge pipe of the device in order to optimally clean each angle of the discharge pipe. Very particularly advantageously, the nozzle is or can be arranged to be movable longitudinally and transversely relative to this nozzle. In particular, by the movability of the nozzle in the transverse direction relative to the inlet, i.e., closer to this inlet, contaminants or residues of the preceding charge can be removed improvedly, and thus the discharge pipe can be optimally cleaned.

[0031] According to an advantageous configuration of the method, the device for carrying out this method is a device according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

[0032] The present invention will be explained in detail below on the basis of the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0034] In FIG. 1, a plan view of one embodiment of an advantageous apparatus 1 having a discharge pipe (Entleerrohr) 2 arranged in the cutting plane A-A is shown, wherein this discharge pipe 2 is in the closed position.

[0035] The apparatus 1 illustrated in this embodiment is formed as a vertical granulator, whereby other granulation machine configurations are likewise possible. The apparatus 1 comprises a container 3 in which a stirring device 5 is arranged on a drive shaft 4. The drive shaft 4 in the container 3 is preferably telescopically configured in the vertically oriented axis Y. As a result, the stirring device 5 is formed to be height-adjustable in relation to the bottom 6 of the container 3. This enables the distance between the stirring device 5 and the bottom 6 of the container 3 to be varied, and the stirring device 5 to be raised or lowered.

[0036] In this embodiment, the stirring device 5 has three stirring blades 7, although the number of these stirring blades 7 is not fixed. The drive shaft 4 carrying the stirring device 5 is driven by a drive unit (not shown in FIG. 1), preferably a motor, particularly preferably an electric motor, and most preferably a servo motor or torque motor. With this configuration, it is possible to stop the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7 at each appropriate position of these stirring blades 7 in the container 3 via a control unit (not shown) connected to the motor, and accordingly, to accurately position the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7, for example, at a predetermined position. In addition, the raising or lowering of the stirring device 5, which also has the stirring blades 7, can also be advantageously achieved by a drive shaft 4 that is telescopically extendable and retractable.

[0037] The container 3 has an inlet 8 for the material to be processed and an inlet 9 for a liquid, in particular a granulation liquid. Advantageously, and different from what is shown in FIG. 1, the inlet 9 for the liquid is configured in the form of a nozzle, in particular a single-substance nozzle or a multi-substance nozzle. This has the advantage that the liquid can be accurately and precisely metered and added to the material to be processed in the container 3, for example in the form of a pure substance, an emulsion, a suspension or a slurry. Advantageously, this liquid is a granulation liquid. In this embodiment, the inlet 8 for the material to be processed corresponds to the inlet 9 for the liquid.

[0038] In the container 3, using the stirring device 5, the material to be processed is mixed with the liquid and processed into an intermediate product. The container 3 accordingly has an outlet 10 for the intermediate product produced from the material to be processed and the liquid in this container 3. Here, the outlet 10 is arranged at the bottom 6 of the container 3. In this embodiment, the container 3 additionally has a chopping device 12 driven by a drive unit 11, for example for comminuting and homogenizing the intermediate product. In addition, the device 1 has a control unit 13, and this control unit controls the entire device 1 and the process progress of this device.

[0039] Below the container 3, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a discharge pipe 2 is arranged. The discharge pipe 2 in the closed position in FIG. 1 is arranged in the cutting plane A - A. The discharge pipe 2 arranged below this container 3 is arranged in the cutting plane A - A, and this cutting plane extends at an interval D parallel to a cutting plane X - X passing through the vertical central axis Y of the container 3.

[0040] In this embodiment of FIG. 1, the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 is formed as a sieving device 15. By this, it is possible to directly produce particulate matter or extruded matter at the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 during conveyance from the discharge pipe 2. Advantageously, the sieving device 15 comprises a sieve 38 and a rotor (not shown here). By this rotor, the intermediate product conveyed from the discharge pipe 2 is sheared or scraped at the sieve 38 of the outlet 14 formed as the sieving device 15, and thus the particulate matter falls from the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15. In this embodiment, the sieving device 15 is formed in a conical shape and has a square opening 16. It is also possible that these openings 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15 are formed in a circular, oval, rectangular, and / or square shape. The rotor (not shown) is advantageously formed in the manner of anchors and is adapted to the inner side surface 33 of the sieve 38 of the outlet 14 formed as the sieving device 15.

[0041] A cross-section of the advantageous device 1 according to the cutting plane A-A in FIG. 1, having a portion B within the region of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2, is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the discharge pipe 2 is in the closed position.

[0042] The container 3, below which the discharge pipe 2 is arranged, in this embodiment, has a lower circular container portion 18 with a container wall 17 and an upper conical container portion 20 with a container wall 19. This lower container portion 18 and this upper container portion 20, together with the bottom 6 of the container 3, surround the inner container chamber 21.

[0043] The inlet 8 for the material to be processed and the inlet 9 for the liquid are arranged in this embodiment within the upper region of the conical container portion 20.

[0044] Below the container 3, at the bottom 6 of the container 3, the discharge pipe 2 is arranged. At this time, this discharge pipe is rotatably arranged within the wall portion 22 of the bottom 6 of the container 3, and at this time, the discharge pipe 2 is movable from a closed position to an open position. In FIG. 2, the discharge pipe 2 is in the closed position. The discharge pipe 2 has a wall portion 23. This wall portion 23 is provided with an inlet 24 for the discharge pipe 2. This inlet 24 preferably has the dimensions of the outlet 10 of the container 3. Furthermore, the discharge pipe 2 has an outlet 14 formed as a sifting device 15 on one of the end side surfaces of both end side surfaces 25 of this discharge pipe. Within the outlet 14, a rotor adapted to the inner wall portion of the sieve 38 of the sifting device 15 (not shown in FIG. 2) is arranged.

[0045] The discharge pipe 2 of the device 1 has a conveying device 26, and this conveying device is formed in particular as a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or other such things, and in the longitudinal direction of the discharge pipe 2, it conveys along the central axis E-E in the direction of the outlet 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the conveying device 26 formed as a conveying screw conveyor has one area with a constant screw thread depth. Advantageously, however, this conveying device 26 has different areas, and at this time, preferably, the screw thread depth of this conveying device 26 is different within these different areas. The conveying device 26 is driven by a shaft 27 arranged on the central axis E-E of the discharge pipe 2. By this, it is possible to drive the conveying device 26 using, for example, the shaft 27 and a drive unit, in particular a servo motor or a torque motor, connected via a transmission mechanism (not shown here for example), and thus, the angular velocity of the conveying device can be accurately adjusted. Advantageously, the shaft 27 driving the conveying device 26 is a hollow shaft. In this case, within the shaft 27 formed as a hollow shaft, advantageously, yet another shaft (not shown here) drives a rotor (not shown here). By this, it is also possible to rotate the rotor (not shown) in the opposite direction to the shaft 27 as well, using a drive unit (not shown).

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view in the region of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 according to section B in FIG. 2, where the discharge pipe 2 is in the closed position. In this closed position, the intermediate product cannot be transferred from the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2. The discharge pipe 2 is in the closed position, and thus, the intermediate product can be manufactured from the material and liquid to be processed within the container 3. The wall 23 of the discharge pipe 2 at least partially forms the bottom 6 of the container 3 in the closed position, and thus, in this closed position, this intermediate product cannot be transferred from this container 3 into the discharge pipe 2. In this embodiment, the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 is arranged on the side facing in the direction opposite to the bottom 6 of the container 3. The outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 forms a sieve device 15, where a rotor (not shown) is arranged inside the sieve 38 of this sieve device 15. The sieve 38 of this sieve device 15 has an opening 16 for discharging the intermediate product as particulate matter or extruded matter from the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 formed as the sieve device 15.

[0047] The discharge pipe 2 is arranged within the wall 22 provided for this discharge pipe, and this wall forms part of the container 3, particularly the bottom 6. Other arrangements of the discharge pipe 2 in the container 3 are conceivable.

[0048] Figure 4 shows a plan view of one embodiment of an advantageous apparatus 1 having a discharge pipe 2 arranged in the cutting plane A-A, where this discharge pipe 2 is in the open position and also enters into the dashed-line illustrated inlet 28 of a drying device 29, preferably a fluidizing device, particularly preferably a fluidized bed device or a spouted bed device, also illustrated by dashed lines.

[0049] In the container 3, using a stirring device 5 having stirring blades 7, the material to be processed, which is supplied to the container 3 through the inlet 8, is mixed with the liquid supplied to this container 3 through the inlet 9 and processed into an intermediate product. Additionally, in this embodiment, the container 3 has a comminuting device 12 driven by a drive unit 11, for example for comminuting and homogenizing this intermediate product. The container 3 has an outlet 10 for the intermediate product produced from the material to be processed and the liquid within this container 3. This outlet 10 is arranged in the bottom 6 of the container 3.

[0050] Below the container 3, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a discharge pipe 2 is arranged. The discharge pipe 2, which is in the closed position in FIG. 1, is arranged in the cutting plane A-A. The discharge pipe 2 arranged below this container 3 is arranged in the cutting plane A-A, and this cutting plane extends at an interval D parallel to the cutting plane X-X passing through the vertical central axis Y of the container 3. In this embodiment, the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2, formed as a sieve device 15 having a sieve 38, also enters into the inlet 28 illustrated by dashed lines of the drying device 29 also illustrated by dashed lines. As the drying device 29, a fluidizing device, for example a fluidized bed device or a spouted bed device, is conceivable.

[0051] Unlike the device 1 of the same structure shown in FIG. 1, the discharge pipe 2 in FIG. 4 is in an open position. In this open position, the manufactured intermediate product can be transferred from the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2. In this open position, the outlet 10 of the container 3 of the device 1 and the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 of this device 1 at least partially coincide. In this embodiment, the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 has an inlet surface 30 corresponding to the outlet 10 of the container 3. The inlet surface 30 of this inlet 24 and the outlet surface 31 of the outlet 10 are such that in the container 3, at least in the open position of the discharge pipe 2 with respect to the container 3, the intermediate product manufactured in this container 3 can pass through the outlet surface 31 of the outlet 10 of this container 3 and the inlet surface 30 of the inlet 24 and be transferred into the discharge pipe 2.

[0052] Advantageously, the stirring device 5 has stirring blades 7 formed in a flexible manner. It is also possible that these stirring blades 7 of the stirring device 5 are formed rigidly as well and / or at least partially flexibly. Due to at least the partial flexibility of the stirring blades 7 of the stirring device 5, it is not necessarily required for this stirring device 5 to move to a predetermined position during the movement of the discharge pipe 2 from the closed position to the open position. Rather, this stirring device 5 can simply be stopped at an appropriate position within the container 3 and remain there. The at least partially flexible stirring blades 7 will, in that case, flex based on their flexibility during the movement of the discharge pipe 2 from the closed position to the open position, and thus no damage will occur to the stirring blades 7 of the stirring device 5 and / or the discharge pipe 2.

[0053] The intermediate product transferred into the discharge pipe 2 using the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7 or gravity is then conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the discharge pipe 2 along the central axis E-E located within the cutting plane A-A in the discharge pipe 2, in particular using a conveying device 26 formed as a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or another such thing. At that time, the conveying device 26 is driven by a shaft 27 arranged on the central axis E-E of the discharge pipe 2. By this, it is possible to drive the conveying device 26, for example, using the shaft 27, via a drive unit, preferably connected to a transmission mechanism, in particular a servo motor or a torque motor, not shown here. Thus, the rotational speed, and in particular the angular velocity, of the conveying device 26 can be accurately adjusted.

[0054] The intermediate product produced in the container 3 is transported into the discharge pipe 2 by the stirring device 5 and / or by gravity in the discharge process, i.e., in the open position of the discharge pipe 2 relative to this container 3. In the discharge pipe 2, the intermediate product is conveyed from the device 1 by the conveying device 26 with an adjustable mass flow rate. The mass flow rate generated by this conveying device 26 is preferably constant. Conditioned by the adjustable mass flow rate, in this device 1, the discharge time can be accurately specified, in particular depending on the product characteristics, or is specified and, accordingly, can be accurately reproduced.

[0055] The shaft 27 driving the conveying device 26 is preferably formed as a hollow shaft. Thus, a rotor not shown here can be driven using a coaxial shaft within the shaft 27 formed as a hollow shaft. By this, it is possible to rotate the rotor not shown here with an accurately adjustable rotational speed, together with the rotational direction of the shaft 27, or in the opposite direction to this rotational direction, using a separate drive unit not shown here either. Similar to the rotational speed of the shaft 27, the rotational speed of the coaxial shaft for the rotor not shown here can also be adjusted independently of each other and is controllable.

[0056] In the discharge pipe 2, the intermediate product that is conveyed under control in the direction towards the outlet 14 flows out as particulate matter or extruded matter from this outlet 14, through the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15, into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 shown by the dashed line. A rotor (not shown) shears the particulate matter or extruded matter at the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15. Thus, the fine particle size of these particulate matter or extruded matter can be adjusted purposefully according to the rotational speed of the rotor (not shown). These particulate matter or extruded matter are subsequently further processed, for example dried, or coated, or other such treatments in the drying device 29 shown by the dashed line. To facilitate the transfer into the drying device 29, these particulate matter or extruded matter are fluidized already in the inlet 28 of the drying device 29.

[0057] In FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the advantageous device 1 according to the cutting plane A-A in FIG. 4, having a portion C in the region of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2, is shown. At this time, the discharge pipe 2 is in the open position and enters into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29.

[0058] The discharge pipe 2 is arranged in the wall portion 22 that forms part of the container 3. Different from FIGS. 1 to 3, the discharge pipe 2 shown in FIG. 5 is not in the closed position, but rather in the open position. The inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 having the inlet surface 30 of its inlet is directed towards the container 3. Thus, in the inner chamber 21 of the container 3, the intermediate product produced from the material to be conveyed and the liquid to be conveyed can be transferred from the container 3, through the outlet 10 having the outlet surface 31, through the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2, into the discharge pipe 2.

[0059] The discharge pipe 2 of device 1 has a conveying device 26. In this embodiment, this conveying device 26 is formed as a conveying screw conveyor having a constant screw thread depth. This conveying device 26 is driven by a shaft 27 arranged on the central axis E-E of the discharge pipe. This conveying device 26 is driven via a shaft 27 through a drive unit (not shown here), in particular a servo motor or a torque motor. By this means, the rotational speed and in particular the angular velocity of the conveying device 26 can be accurately adjusted. This conveying device 26 conveys the intermediate product transferred from the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2 in the direction of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2.

[0060] At the outlet 14, the intermediate product as particulate matter or extruded matter is transported from the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieve device 15 into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29. The particulate matter or extruded matter that has fallen into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 can be fluidized within the inlet 28 of this drying device 29. For this purpose, the inlet 28 has a supply conduit 32 through which a fluidization medium, in particular a gas such as air, can be supplied. The transfer from the sieve 38 of the sieve device 15 of the discharge pipe 2 to the drying device 29, preferably into a fluidized bed device or a jet fluidized bed device, from the outflow part is assisted or supplemented by the fluidization medium that can be supplied through the supply conduit 32. Thus, the transfer conduit from device 1 to the drying device 29 is at least almost completely omitted. Particularly preferably, the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 has an inlet bottom or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom. The inlet bottom is formed, for example, in the form of a perforated plate, so that the fluidization medium can penetrate through this inlet bottom and, similar to a fluidization device, fluidize the particulate matter or extruded matter. This described embodiment is not shown in the figures. Due to the configured inlet 28 of the drying device 29 in this way, the extruded substance or particulate substance flowing out from the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 of the device 1 is directly fluidized without the extruded substance or particulate substance coming into contact with the inner surface 33 of the inlet 28 of the drying device 29. This results in a clearly reduced surface area in contact with the product and, thus, less product loss in comparison to the device 1 connected to the drying device 29 via the transfer conduit.

[0061] Figure 6 shows a detailed view within the region of the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 according to part C in Figure 5, where the discharge pipe 2 is in the open position and extends into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29.

[0062] The intermediate product manufactured in the container 3 is conveyed into this discharge pipe 2 through the outlet 10 of this container 3 having the outlet surface 31 and the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 having the inlet surface 30 in the open position, using the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7. Inside the discharge pipe 2, the intermediate product is conveyed using the conveying device 26 in the direction towards the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 and subsequently through the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the outlet 14 formed as the sieving device 15, thus generating a particulate substance or an extruded substance. Particularly advantageously, the intermediate product is sheared by a rotor (not shown here) before passing through the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15. The particulate substance or extruded substance manufactured in this way falls into the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 and is further processed within the drying device 29, particularly within the fluidization device. For improved transfer into the drying device 29, the inlet 28 having the inner surface 33 has a supply conduit 32 for a fluidization medium such as air.

[0063] In yet another embodiment, the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 can project into the fluidized bed of the drying device 29. As a result, the supply conduit 32 is not provided, and the particulate or extruded material is nevertheless introduced directly into the fluidized bed and fluidized therein. The method for discharging from the device 1 for the production of particulate or extruded material is described in the device 1 described above in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0064] In the step of the first method, the intermediate product is produced in the inner chamber 21 of the container 3 closed by the discharge pipe 2 from the supplied material to be processed and the supplied liquid, wherein the stirring device 5 is at least temporarily active, i.e., rotated, for example, by a drive unit not shown. Thus, in the container 3, in the step of the first method, the intermediate product can be produced from the material to be processed and the liquid, and this intermediate product can subsequently be conveyed from the device 1 via the discharge pipe 2 having the conveying device 26 in the open position and granulated or extruded.

[0065] Thereafter, in the step of the second method, the discharge pipe 2 is moved from the closed position with respect to the container 3 to the open position with respect to the container 3. Advantageously, the discharge pipe 2 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by a rotation angle of 180° for this purpose. Other rotation angles for rotating the discharge pipe 2 from the closed position to the open position are possible and conceivable. The rotation of the discharge pipe 2 is performed manually or automatically, for example, by a drive unit such as a torque motor or a servo motor. As a result, the outlet surface 31 of the outlet 10 of the container 3 and the inlet surface 30 of the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 at least partially overlap, and thus the intermediate product can be transferred from the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2.

[0066] Subsequently, in the steps of the third method, the intermediate product is conveyed from container 3 and via the conveying device 26 of the discharge pipe 2 from the outlet 14 of this discharge pipe 2. The intermediate product produced in container 3 is transported into discharge pipe 2 by means of stirrer 5 and / or gravity during the discharge process, and there, it is conveyed from device 1 by conveying device 26 at an adjustable, preferably constant mass flow rate. Depending on this, in the device 1 according to the invention, the discharge time can be precisely defined depending on the product characteristics, or is defined and can be accurately reproduced.

[0067] Advantageously, for this purpose, before the steps of the second method, stirrer 5 is moved to a predetermined position. Stirrer 5 can be moved to a predetermined position, for example, using a drive unit. For example, stirrer 5, which is driven at a predetermined angular velocity, can be stopped purposefully at each position within container 3. Similarly, it is also possible to raise or lower stirrer 5 by means of a telescopically extendable drive shaft 4 at the height of this stirrer. This is advantageous for the movement of discharge pipe 2 from the closed position to the open position and vice versa from the open position to the closed position. This is because in this way, stirrer 5 and / or container 3 are not damaged.

[0068] Device 1 preferably has a drying device 29, and the extruded or particulate material flowing out from the outlet 14 of discharge pipe 2 in accordance with the steps of the third method is further processed, in particular dried or coated, within this drying device 29. Advantageously, in this case, the inlet 28 of drying device 29 has a supply conduit 32 for a fluid, in particular a gas.

[0069] The transfer of the extruded or particulate material flowing out from the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2, which is formed as a sieve device 15 having an opening 16, into the drying device 29, preferably a fluidized bed device or a jet fluidized bed device, is assisted or aided by the introduction of a fluid, in particular a fluidizing gas, preferably an inert gas, via the supply conduit 32.

[0070] Particularly preferably, the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 has an inlet bottom or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom. Due to the inlet 28 of the drying device 29 configured in this way, the extruded or particulate material flowing out from the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 2 of the device 1 is directly fluidized without the extruded or particulate material coming into contact with the inner surface 33 of the inlet 28 of the drying device 29. Thereby, a further reduced surface area in contact with the product and thus less product loss are provided.

[0071] Furthermore, the device 1 is provided with at least one further nozzle, in particular a cleaning nozzle, so that the device 1 can be cleaned in at least one further method step during the entire closed position. During the production of the intermediate product in the container 3 in the closed position, it is possible to remove or clean the product residue from the inner chamber of the device 1, in particular the discharge pipe 2, so that the discharge pipe 2 is clean during the next discharge of the container 3 and a new charge can be transported or conveyed from the device 1 without contamination or residues from the previous charge. For this purpose, the nozzles (not shown) are arranged on the rails. By this means, the nozzles can be optimally positioned along the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2 of the device 1 in order to optimally clean each angle of the discharge pipe 2. Very particularly advantageously, the nozzle arranged on this rail is movable, positionable or arranged longitudinally and transversely with respect to the inlet 24 of the discharge pipe 2. In particular, due to the movability of this nozzle transversely with respect to the inlet 24, i.e., closer to this inlet 24, contaminants or residues of the previous charge can be removed improvedly, and thus, the discharge pipe 2 can be optimally cleaned.

[0072] According to an advantageous configuration of the method according to the invention, the device 1 for carrying out this method is the device 1 described in FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the discharge pipe 2.

[0074] The discharge pipe 2 has, in a first embodiment, mostly a cylindrical shape. This discharge pipe 2 has an inlet 24 having an inlet surface 30, where this inlet 24 is adapted to the bottom 6 of the container 3 in the shape-giving form of this inlet, and thus, the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7 is rotatable in the open position. By this, it is possible to transfer the intermediate product from the inner chamber 21 of the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2 in the open position.

[0075] In addition, the discharge pipe 2 is provided with a notch 34 adapted to the bottom 6 of the container 3, not shown here either, in the shape-giving form of this discharge pipe 2, and thus, the stirring device 5 having the stirring blades 7 is rotatable in the closed position to enable the production of an intermediate product from the material supplied to the container 3 and the liquid supplied to this container 3 without transporting the intermediate product into the discharge pipe 2.

[0076] In the first embodiment according to FIG. 7, the discharge pipe 2 has a conveying device 26 that is not visible. This conveying device is formed as a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or some other such thing, and conveys along the central axis E-E in the longitudinal direction of the discharge pipe 2. The discharge pipe 2 mostly has a cylindrical shape. This discharge pipe 2 can similarly adopt other geometric shapes respectively.

[0077] The first embodiment of the discharge pipe 2 has an outlet 14 in the form of a sieve device 15 formed as a perforation shielding part 35. The perforation shielding part 35 of this sieve device 15 has openings 36 of the same size in the shown embodiment. Different-sized openings 36 can be considered within the perforation shielding part 35 of this sieve device 15. With the openings 36 of the same size in the perforation shielding part 35 of the sieve device 15 in the first embodiment of the discharge pipe 2, a narrow size distribution of the extruded material flowing out can be achieved, and thus the same or similar fine particles can be generated. These same or similar fine particles can subsequently be rounded, and thus, for example, small spheres of the same size for capsule filling are generated.

[0078] In FIG. 8, a perspective view of the second embodiment of the discharge pipe 2 is shown. At this time, this figure shows the conveying device 26 schematically shown inside the conveying device 26.

[0079] The discharge pipe 2 mostly has a cylindrical shape in the second embodiment. This discharge pipe 2 can similarly adopt other geometric shapes respectively. This discharge pipe 2 has an inlet 24 with an inlet surface 30. At this time, this inlet 24 is adapted to the bottom 6 of a container 3 not shown here in the form-giving form of this inlet, and thus, a stirring device 5 having stirring blades 7 can rotate in the open position, and the intermediate product can be transferred from the container 3 into the discharge pipe 2 in the open position.

[0080] In addition, the discharge pipe 2, in the form-giving configuration of this discharge pipe 2, also has a notch 34 adapted to the bottom 6 of the container 3. Thus, a stirring device 5 having stirring blades 7 is rotatable in the closed position in order to be able to produce an intermediate product from the material supplied to the container 3 and the liquid supplied to this container 3 without transporting the supplied material or the supplied liquid into the discharge pipe 2.

[0081] In a second embodiment according to FIG. 8, the discharge pipe 2 has a conveying device 26 having a constant screw thread depth and conveying in the longitudinal direction of the discharge pipe 2 in the direction of the outlet 14 along the central axis E-E. This conveying device is formed in particular as a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or another thing of that kind. The conveying device 26 and a rotor (not shown) are preferably formed as a structural member unit of the discharge pipe 2 to consist of one member.

[0082] In this second embodiment, the discharge pipe 2 has an outlet 14 formed as a sieve device 15 having an opening 16. The sieve 38 of the sieve device 15 formed in a conical shape has an opening 16 of the same size in the illustrated embodiment. Different sizes of the opening 16 in the sieve 38 of this sieve device 15 are conceivable. By the sieve 38 of this sieve device 15, in the second embodiment of the discharge pipe 2, a wide size distribution of particulate matter, in particular according to a Gaussian distribution, is achieved. The produced particulate matter has a porous, non-uniform structure. Particulate matter having a wide size distribution produced in the device 1 having a discharge pipe 2 corresponding to FIG. 8 is suitable, for example, for pressing into tablets.

[0083] A perspective view of the third embodiment of the discharge pipe 2 is illustrated in FIG. 9, in which this figure shows a schematically shown conveying device 26. The conveying device 26 and a rotor (not shown) are formed as different structural member units so as to be composed of a plurality of parts in this embodiment. A structural member unit composed of one member, which consists of the conveying device 26 and the rotor, is similarly possible as described in FIG. 8.

[0084] The third embodiment of the discharge pipe 2 according to FIG. 9 is different from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in that, at the outlet 14, it includes a perforated shield 35 having an opening 36 of the same size and a shaft 37 for driving a rotor (not shown here), and this rotor shears particulate matter inside the opening 16 of the sieve 38 of the sieving device 15. By this, particulate matter having a narrower size distribution can be manufactured.

[0085] The features of the discharge pipe 2 illustrated in all of FIGS. 7 to 9, as well as the features of the discharge pipe 2 shown in still other FIGS. 1 to 6, can be configured in appropriate combinations. For example, the rotor (not shown) of the sieving device 15 according to FIG. 9 can similarly be driven via a drive unit (not shown) using a shaft 27 formed coaxially as a hollow shaft. Note that this application relates to the invention described in the claims, but may also include the following as other aspects. 1. An apparatus (1) for manufacturing particulate matter or extruded matter, wherein this apparatus (1) has an inlet (8) for the material to be processed, an inlet (9) for the liquid, a stirring device (5) for manufacturing an intermediate product composed of the material to be processed and the liquid, and an outlet (10) for the intermediate product, a container (3), and in the above apparatus provided with a discharge pipe (2), the apparatus (1) has an inlet (24) for the intermediate product, an outlet (14) for the particulate matter or extruded matter, and a conveying device (26) for conveying the intermediate product from the inlet (24) of the discharge pipe (2) in the direction of the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2), and is provided with a discharge pipe (2), characterized in that the discharge pipe (2) rotatable about a central axis E-E is arranged in the container (3) such that the discharge pipe (2) is movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the container (3). 2. The apparatus (1) according to 1 above, characterized in that the inlet (9) for the liquid is formed in the form of a nozzle. 3. The apparatus (1) according to 1 or 2 above, characterized in that the discharge pipe (2) is arranged below the container (3). 4. The discharge pipe (2) is arranged within a single cutting plane A-A, characterized in that this cutting plane extends at an interval D parallel to a cutting plane X-X extending through the vertical central axis Y of the container (3). The apparatus (1) according to 3 above. 5. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 1 to 4 above, characterized in that the stirring device (5) has stirring blades (7), particularly stirring blades (7) formed at least partially flexibly. 6. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 1 to 5 above, characterized in that the conveying device (26) is drivable or driven by a shaft (27). 7. The apparatus (1) according to 6 above, characterized in that the shaft (27) driving the conveying device (26) is a hollow shaft. 8. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 1 to 7 above, characterized in that the conveying device (26) is a conveying screw conveyor, a spiral conveyor, or another such thing. 9. The conveying device (26) has regions, and the depth of the screw thread of the conveying device (26) is different within these regions. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 above. 10. The outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) is formed as a sieving device (15). The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 above. 11. The sieving device (15) includes a sieve (38) and a rotor. The device (1) according to claim 10 above. 12. The conveying device (26) and the rotor are formed as one member as a structural member unit of the discharge pipe (2). The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 above. 13. The sieving device (15) is formed in a conical shape. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 12 above. 14. The opening (16) of the sieve (38) of the sieving device (15) is formed in a circular, oval, rectangular, and / or square shape. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13 above. 15. The rotor is drivable or driven by a shaft (37). The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 14 above. 16. The shaft (37) for driving the rotor is drivable or driven independently of the shaft (27) for driving the conveying device (26). The device (1) according to claim 15 above. 17. The shaft (37) for driving the rotor is formed coaxially with the shaft (27) for driving the conveying device (26). The device (1) according to claim 15 or 16 above. 18. The shaft (37) for driving the rotor is arranged inside the hollow shaft for driving the conveying device (26). The device (1) according to any one of claims 15 to 17 above. 19. The liquid is a granulating liquid. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18 above. 20. The device (1) includes a drying device (29) having an inlet (28) for the particulate matter or extruded matter. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 1 to 19 above, characterized in that the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) can be connected to, or is connected to, the inlet (28) of this drying device (29). 21. The apparatus (1) according to 20 above, characterized in that the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) projects into the fluidized bed of the drying device (29). 22. The apparatus (1) according to 20 above, characterized in that the inlet (28) of the drying device (29) has a supply conduit (32) for a fluid, in particular a gas. 23. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 20 to 22 above, characterized in that the inlet (28) of the drying device (29) has an inlet bottom, or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom. 24. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 1 to 23 above, characterized in that the apparatus (1) further comprises another nozzle for cleaning the discharge pipe (2) in the closed position. 25. The apparatus (1) according to 24 above, characterized in that the nozzle is arranged on one rail. 26. The apparatus (1) according to 25 above, characterized in that the rail is telescopically extendable and retractable. 27. The apparatus (1) according to any one of 24 to 26 above, characterized in that the nozzle can be arranged, or is arranged, so as to be movable in the longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to this nozzle.

Explanation of Symbols

[0086] 1 Device 2 Drain Pipe 3 Container 4 Drive Shaft 5 Stirring Device 6 Bottom 7 Stirring Blade 8 Inlet 9 Inlet 10 Outlet 11 Drive Unit 12 Cutting Device 13 Control Unit 14 Outlet 15 Sieve Device 16 Opening 17 Container Wall 18 Lower Circular Container Portion 19 Container Wall 20 Upper Conical Container Portion 21 Inner chamber of the container 22 Wall portion 23 Wall portion 24 Inlet 25 End side surface 26 Conveyor device 27 Shaft 28 Inlet 29 Drying device 30 Inlet surface 31 Outlet surface 32 Supply conduit 33 Inner surface 34 Notch portion 35 Perforation shielding portion 36 Opening 37 Shaft 38 Sieve A Cutting plane B Portion C Portion D Interval E Central axis X Cutting plane

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for the production of particulate or extruded material, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises an inlet (8) for the material to be processed, an inlet (9) for a liquid, a stirring device (5) for producing an intermediate product from the material to be processed and the liquid, and an outlet (10) for the intermediate product, in a container (3), and in the above apparatus provided with a discharge pipe (2), wherein the apparatus (1) has an inlet (24) for the intermediate product, an outlet (14) for the particulate or extruded material, and a conveying device (26) for conveying the intermediate product from the inlet (24) of the discharge pipe (2) in the direction of the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2), and is provided with a discharge pipe (2), characterized in that the discharge pipe (2), rotatable about an axis E-E, is arranged in the container (3) such that the discharge pipe (2) is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the container (3).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (9) for the liquid is formed in the form of a nozzle.

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge pipe (2) is arranged below the container (3).

4. The discharge pipe (2) is arranged within a cutting plane A-A, which cutting plane extends at a distance D parallel to a cutting plane X-X extending through the vertical central axis Y of the container (3). The apparatus (1) according to claim 3 is characterized by this.

5. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stirring device (5) has stirring blades (7), in particular stirring blades (7) formed at least partly flexibly.

6. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conveying device (26) is drivable or is driven by a shaft (27).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the shaft (27) driving the conveying device (26) is a hollow shaft.

8. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the conveying device (26) is a conveying screw conveyor or a helical conveying device.

9. The conveying device (26) has regions, and the depth of the screw thread of the conveying device (26) is different within these regions, the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) is formed as a sieving device (15), the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The sieving device (15) comprises a sieve (38) and a rotor, the device (1) according to claim 10.

12. The conveying device (26) and the rotor are formed as one member as a structural member unit of the discharge pipe (2), the device (1) according to claim 11.

13. The sieving device (15) is formed in a conical shape, the device (1) according to claim 10 or 12.

14. The opening (16) of the sieve (38) of the sieving device (15) is formed in a circular, oval, rectangular, and / or square shape, the device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13.

15. The rotor is drivable or driven by a shaft (37), the device (1) according to claim 11.

16. The shaft (37) for driving the rotor is drivable or driven independently of the shaft (27) for driving the conveying device (26), the device (1) according to claim 15.

17. The shaft (37) for driving the rotor is formed coaxially with the shaft (27) for driving the conveying device (26), the device (1) according to claim 15 or 16.

18. The outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) is formed as a sieving device (15), the sieving device (15) comprises a sieve (38) and a rotor, the rotor is drivable or driven by a shaft (37), and, the shaft (37) for driving the rotor is arranged in the hollow shaft for driving the conveying device (26), the device (1) according to claim 7.

19. The liquid is a granulating liquid, the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The device (1) comprises a drying device (29) having an inlet (28) for the particulate or extruded material, The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) is connectable to, or is connected to, the inlet (28) of this drying device (29).

21. The device (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the outlet (14) of the discharge pipe (2) projects into the fluidized bed of the drying device (29).

22. The device (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the inlet (28) of the drying device (29) has a supply conduit (32) for a fluid, in particular a gas.

23. The device (1) according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the inlet (28) of the drying device (29) has an inlet bottom, or is at least partially formed as an inlet bottom.

24. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the device (1) further comprises a further nozzle for cleaning the discharge pipe (2) in the closed position.

25. The device (1) according to claim 24, characterized in that the nozzle is arranged on one rail.

26. The device (1) according to claim 25, characterized in that the rail is telescopically extensible.

27. The device (1) according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the nozzle is arranged, or can be arranged, so as to be movable in the longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to this nozzle.

Images