Continuous Mixing Equipment

Abstract

To propose a continuous mixer which can continuously mix a liquid and a powder etc. in an efficient manner.SOLUTION: A continuous mixer 1 includes: a mixing tank 2; a rotating body 3 provided within the mixing tank 2; a hopper 4 connected to an upper surface of the mixing tank 2; and a liquid supply pipe 5 connected to the upper surface of the mixing tank 2. The rotating body 3 may rotate around a center axis of the mixing tank 2. Further, the hopper 4 is connected to a position offset from a center of the upper surface of the mixing tank 2. Furthermore, the hopper 4 is provided with a nozzle 7 for supplying water to an entire inner surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a continuous mixing device. [Background technology]

[0002] As a continuous mixing device that continuously mixes (kneads) a liquid with a powder or granules (hereinafter, "powder or granules" will be simply referred to as "powder, etc."), Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a device that mixes mixed materials supplied from the top of a mixing tank by rotating a rotor disposed inside the mixing tank. The rotor rotates around a rotation axis provided in the center of the mixing tank. Multiple protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the rotor, and mix the mixed materials that flow between the inner surface of the mixing tank and the outer surface of the rotor. Furthermore, the liquid and powder, etc. are separately introduced into the mixing tank through an inlet formed in the center of the top of the mixing tank.

[0003] Powders and other materials introduced through an inlet at the top center of the mixing tank fall onto the upper surface of the rotor and are dispersed around the rotor by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotor. The powders and other materials dispersed around the rotor flow down into the gap between the rotor and the mixing tank and are mixed with the liquid. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 62-289225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, because centrifugal force does not act easily at the center of the rotation, powder and other materials tend to accumulate in the center of the top surface of the rotor when the continuous mixer is used for a long time. If powder and other materials accumulate on the top surface of the rotor, the inlet becomes blocked and material cannot be fed, so operation must be stopped to remove the accumulated powder and other materials.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to propose a continuous mixing device that can efficiently and continuously mix liquids and powders, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The continuous mixing device of the present invention solves these problems: The device comprises a main body made of a hollow member and a lid that covers the top surface of the main body. A mixing tank; an output shaft which is a vertical shaft disposed at the center of the mixing tank; In the mixing tank and rotates around the output shaft. The apparatus includes a rotating body, a hopper disposed above the rotating body, and a liquid supply pipe for supplying liquid to the upper surface of the rotating body. The hopper is a cylindrical member with open top and bottom ends. The opening at the bottom of the hopper is connected to the through-hole in the lid. The rotor is an inverted truncated cone or cylinder with a closed top, and multiple stirring blades are protruding from the top and side surfaces of the rotor. The hopper is disposed at a position offset from the center of rotation of the rotor, and is provided with a nozzle for supplying liquid to the entire inner surface of the hopper.

[0008] In this continuous mixer, the connection point of the hopper (powder inlet) is located away from the center of the rotor, preventing powder and other materials from accumulating on the upper surface of the rotor. In addition, liquid is supplied to the inner surface of the hopper by the nozzle, preventing powder and other materials from adhering to the inner surface of the hopper. This makes it difficult for powder and other materials to accumulate at the powder inlet, allowing materials to be mixed continuously.

[0009] The opening edge of the hopper is preferably positioned at least 10 mm outside the center of the mixing tank and at least 10 mm inside the inner surface of the mixing tank in a plan view. If it is positioned within 10 mm from the center, powder may accumulate, and if it is positioned within 10 mm from the inner surface, the powder inlet may be blocked by a backflow of water in the mixing tank.

[0010] If the nozzles are provided along the inner surface of the hopper facing horizontally or diagonally downward, the liquid can be supplied to the inner surface of the hopper while swirling, which makes it possible to supply the liquid to the entire inner surface of the hopper with a minimum number of nozzles.

[0011] The number and arrangement of the liquid supply pipes are not limited, and for example, they may be arranged to supply liquid to the center of the upper surface of the rotating body, or they may be arranged in parallel along the edge of the upper surface of the rotating body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the continuous mixing device of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently and continuously mix liquid and powder, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a continuous mixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a continuous mixing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a continuous mixing device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In this embodiment, a continuous mixer 1 is described that kneads continuously supplied liquid (e.g., water) and hydraulic powder (e.g., cement) to continuously produce a highly viscous mixture. Note that the blend of liquid and powder, the viscosity of the mixture, etc. are not limited. As shown in Fig. 1, the continuous mixer 1 of this embodiment includes a mixing tank 2, a rotor 3, a hopper 4, and a liquid supply pipe 5. The continuous mixer 1 allows materials fed from the top of the mixing tank 2 via the hopper 4 to flow downward while kneading them in the mixing tank 2, and causes the resulting mixture to flow out from the bottom of the mixing tank 2.

[0015] The mixing vessel 2 is a hollow metallic container for producing a mixture. The mixing vessel 2 of this embodiment includes a main body 21 made of a hollow member and a lid 22 that covers the upper surface of the main body 21. The main body 21 has an inverted truncated cone shape with an upper surface area larger than a lower surface area. The rotor 3 is housed inside the main body 21. An outlet 23 for discharging the mixture is formed at the bottom of the main body 21. In this embodiment, the outlet 23 opens at the corner between the side wall and the bottom of the main body 21, allowing the mixture inside the main body 21 to flow out. The outlet 23 may be configured to be openable and closable.

[0016] The lid member 22 has a first through hole 24 formed at a position where the hopper 4 is connected, and a second through hole 25 formed at a position where the liquid supply pipe 5 is connected. The first through hole 24 is an inlet for powder. The inner diameter of the first through hole 24 is equal to the inner diameter of the lower end opening of the hopper 4. The first through hole 24 may have an inner diameter that allows the lower end of the hopper 4 to be inserted therethrough. The second through hole 25 is an inlet for liquid, and is formed in the center of the lid member 22.

[0017] An output shaft 61 extending from a power source (motor) 6 is disposed in the center of the main body 21. The output shaft 61 is connected to the rotating body 3. The power source 6 imparts a rotational force to the rotating body 3 via the output shaft 61.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotor 3 is rotatably provided inside the mixing tank 2. The rotor 3 has an inverted truncated cone shape with an upper surface area larger than the lower surface area, and rotates around an output shaft 61 (vertical axis). A gap of a predetermined size is formed between the outer surface of the rotor 3 and the inner surface of the mixing tank 2. In this embodiment, the corners of the upper surface and side surface of the rotor 3 are chamfered, and the upper part of the gap between the side surface of the rotor 3 and the inner surface of the main body 21 is widened. This makes it easier for the material to flow down.

[0019] A plurality of protrusions (agitating blades) 31 are provided on the outer surface (top and side surfaces) of the rotor 3. The protrusions 31 agitate the materials (water and powder) supplied into the mixing tank 2. In this embodiment, the protrusions 31 are cylindrical. The height of the protrusions 31 is slightly smaller than the size of the gap between the mixing tank 2 and the rotor 3 so as not to interfere with the rotation of the rotor 3 within the mixing tank 2. The shape and arrangement of the protrusions 31 are not limited, and may be determined as appropriate so as to efficiently agitate the materials while guiding them to the bottom of the main body 21.

[0020] The hopper 4 is disposed above the rotor 3. The hopper 4 in this embodiment is connected to the lid 22 of the mixing tank 2 above the rotor 3. The hopper 4 is made of a metallic cylindrical member with open upper and lower ends, and guides powder introduced through the upper opening (inlet) to the lower opening (mixing tank 2). The lower opening of the hopper 4 communicates with a first through-hole 24 of the lid 22, and the powder introduced into the hopper 4 is introduced into the mixing tank 2 through the first through-hole 24.

[0021] The hopper 4 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical lower portion 41 with a constant inner diameter and an upper portion 42 that has a truncated cone-like cross section and whose diameter increases toward the top. The shape of the hopper 4 is not limited, and may be, for example, a truncated cone-like cross section over its entire length (total height), or a cylindrical cross section with a uniform shape. As shown in FIG. 2 , the lower opening edge (inner surface of the lower portion 41) of the hopper 4 (lower portion 41) of this embodiment is located at a position offset from the inner surface and center of the mixing tank 2 in plan view (for example, 10 mm or more toward the center from the inner surface of the mixing tank 2). In other words, the hopper 4 is located eccentrically with respect to the center of the mixing tank 2, and the center of the hopper 4 and the center of rotation of the rotor 3 are not coaxial.

[0022] The hopper 4 is provided with nozzles 7 for supplying liquid to the entire inner surface of the hopper 4. In this embodiment, a pair of nozzles 7 is provided at the upper end of the hopper 4 (upper portion 42) at positions facing each other across the center of the hopper 4. A liquid supply pipe 71 is connected to the nozzles 7. The nozzles 7 spray the liquid (water) delivered through the liquid supply pipe 71 along the inner surface of the hopper 4. The nozzles 7 in this embodiment are made of a flexible member, and are configured so that the amount and direction of water sprayed from the nozzles 7 can be finely adjusted by bending or contracting the nozzles 7. The nozzles 7 in this embodiment are provided obliquely downward or sideways along the inner surface of the hopper 4 so that the liquid sprayed from the nozzles 7 reaches the entire inner surface of the hopper 4. This forms a flow of liquid that swirls in a spiral shape around the inner surface of the hopper 4. The orientation of the nozzles 7 is not limited; for example, when multiple nozzles 7 are arranged around the circumferential direction of the hopper 4, the nozzles 7 may be installed facing downward. In addition, in this embodiment, the nozzle 7 is arranged inside the hopper 4, but a through hole may be provided in the peripheral wall of the hopper 4, and the through hole may serve as the nozzle 7, or a liquid delivery hose with multiple holes formed therein may be provided around the upper end of the hopper 4, and the holes may serve as the nozzle 7.

[0023] The liquid supply pipe 5 supplies the liquid to the upper surface of the rotor 3. In this embodiment, one liquid supply pipe 5 is connected to the center of the lid 22. The liquid supply pipe 5 communicates with the second through-hole 25 of the lid 22 and supplies the liquid (water) to the inner surface of the mixing tank 2. The liquid supplied from the nozzle 7 and the liquid supplied from the liquid supply pipe 5 may be the same or different.

[0024] The production of materials using the continuous mixer 1 is carried out as follows. First, powder is charged into the opening at the top edge of the hopper 4, and water (liquid) is supplied into the mixing tank 2 through the liquid supply pipe 5. When charging the powder into the hopper 4, water is sprayed from the nozzle 7. The amount of water supplied through the nozzle 7 is set to an amount that will form a water film over the entire inner surface of the hopper 4. The amount of water supplied and the spray direction by the nozzle 7 are controlled by adjusting the tip of the nozzle 7. The amount of water supplied through the liquid supply pipe 5 is determined by subtracting the amount of water supplied through the nozzle 7 from the amount of water determined by the designed water-powder ratio of the material to be produced.

[0025] The powder supplied through the hopper 4 falls into the mixing tank 2 and is mixed with water within the mixing tank 2. Within the mixing tank 2, the rotation of the rotor 3 causes the powder and water to mix in the gap between the rotor 3 and the main body 21. The powder that has fallen onto the upper surface of the rotor 3 flows down into the gap between the rotor 3 and the main body 21 due to the flow of water supplied to the upper surface of the rotor 3 through the liquid supply pipe 5 and the centrifugal force acting on the powder. The materials mixed within the main body 21 are discharged from the outlet 23.

[0026] According to the continuous mixer 1 of this embodiment, the connection point (lower part 41, first through hole 24) of the hopper 4 is located away from the center (output shaft 61) of the rotor 3, thereby preventing powder and the like from accumulating on the upper surface of the rotor 3.

[0027] The lower opening edge (lower part 41) of the hopper 4 is separated from the inner surface and center of the mixing tank 2 (main body 21) in a plan view, and therefore, materials and the like splashed by the rotation of the rotor 3 can be prevented from flowing back into the hopper 4. In addition, the hopper 4 and the liquid supply pipe 5 are also disposed at positions separated from each other on the upper surface of the mixing tank 2, so that even if water supplied from the liquid supply pipe 5 splashes on the upper surface of the rotor 3, it is difficult for it to flow back into the hopper 4.

[0028] Furthermore, because the nozzles 7 supply liquid to the inner surface of the hopper 4, it is possible to prevent powder and other materials from adhering to the inner surface of the hopper 4. This makes it difficult for powder and other materials to accumulate in the powder inlet (lower part 41), allowing the materials to be mixed continuously. Furthermore, because the nozzles 7 are provided facing horizontally or diagonally downward along the inner surface of the hopper 4, water can be supplied to the inner surface of the hopper 4 while swirling. Therefore, water can be supplied to the entire inner surface of the hopper 4 with a minimum number of nozzles 7, preventing powder from adhering to the inner surface of the hopper 4.

[0029] The amount of water supplied from the liquid supply pipe 5 and the nozzle 7 is determined by a value set according to the water-to-powder ratio designed in the mix design, so that a material with a predetermined water-to-powder ratio is produced. In the mixing tank 2, the materials are mixed by the protrusions 31 of the rotor 3, so that the materials are mixed efficiently as they flow downward in the mixing tank 2.

[0030] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described components can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the connecting position of the hopper 4 is not limited as long as it is a position shifted from the center of the mixing vessel 2.

[0031] The shapes of the mixing vessel 2 and the rotor 3 are not limited, and may be cylindrical or the like as appropriate. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rotor 3 rotates around a vertical axis, but the rotation axis (output shaft 61) of the rotor 3 may be inclined or may be a horizontal axis.

[0032] The number and arrangement of the liquid supply pipes 5 are not limited and may be determined appropriately. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, three liquid supply pipes 5 may be arranged in parallel along the edge of the upper surface of the rotor 3. In this case, it is desirable that the liquid supply pipes 5 are arranged in parallel in an arc at positions spaced a predetermined distance from the periphery of the lid member 22. In addition, second through holes 25 are formed in the lid member 22 according to the arrangement of the liquid supply pipes 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Continuous mixing device 2 Mixing tank 3 Rotating body 4 Hopper 5 Liquid supply pipe 6 Power source 7 nozzles

Claims

1. A mixing tank having a main body made of a hollow member and a lid material covering the upper surface of the main body; an output shaft which is a vertical shaft disposed at the center of the mixing tank; a rotor provided in the mixing tank and rotating around the output shaft; a hopper disposed above the rotating body; a liquid supply pipe for supplying a liquid to the upper surface of the rotor, The hopper is a cylindrical member having open upper and lower ends, The opening at the bottom end of the hopper communicates with the through-hole of the lid material, The rotor has an inverted truncated cone shape or a cylindrical shape with a closed top surface, A plurality of stirring blades are provided on the upper surface and side surfaces of the rotor, The hopper is disposed at a position shifted from the rotation center of the rotating body, A continuous mixing device characterized in that the hopper is provided with a nozzle for supplying liquid to the entire inner surface of the hopper.

2. 2. The continuous mixer according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the lower opening of the hopper is located at a position at least 10 mm or more away from the center and inner surface of the mixing vessel in a plan view.

3. 3. The continuous mixer according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is provided along the inner surface of the hopper.

4. 4. The continuous mixer according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply pipe supplies the liquid to the center of the upper surface of the rotor.

5. 4. The continuous mixer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said liquid supply pipes are arranged in parallel along the edge of the upper surface of said rotor.

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