Agitator and stirring apparatus equipped therewith

Abstract

To provide a stirrer which achieves both shear performance and discharge performance, and a stirring device including the same.SOLUTION: A stirrer 1 includes a shear member 2 for shearing a stirred object by rotating, and a stirring blade 3 which is arranged on one side of a rotation axis L1 of the shear member 2 and discharges the stirred object toward the shear member 2, wherein the shear member 2 includes a body part 21 having a plurality of through holes 212, and a projection 22 projecting to one side of the rotation axis L1 from the body part 21, and the projection 22 is provided on a side closer to an edge 21a of the body part 21 than the through hole 212. A stirring device includes a stirrer 1, a stirring tank for storing a stirred object, and a drive part for rotating the stirrer 1, wherein the shear member 2 is arranged on a side closer to a bottom part of the stirring tank than the stirring blade 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a stirring body and a stirring device including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the production of cosmetics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and foods, a stirring device has been used to stir a plurality of materials. The stirring device is provided with a stirring body for stirring the materials (the object to be stirred). Particularly in the field of cosmetics, an aqueous thickener that increases the viscosity of a liquid may be used to prevent dripping and evaporation of moisture. When the aqueous thickener is added to a chemical solution and stirred with a stirring device, the aqueous thickener condenses to form a condensate, and the components of the chemical solution become uneven. Therefore, after stirring, it has been necessary to use a dispersing device to shear the condensate and homogenize the components of the chemical solution.

[0003] Using a dispersing device after stirring takes time for transfer to the dispersing device and shearing of the condensate. Also, automation such as transfer from the stirring device to the dispersing device is difficult. Therefore, a stirring device capable of shearing the condensate without using a dispersing device has been desired. Specifically, a stirring body that achieves both the shearing performance of shearing the condensate and the discharge performance of making the components of the liquid uniform has been desired.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a stirring body including a stirring blade and a shearing member having a through-hole in a disk portion. Thereby, the object to be stirred discharged by the stirring blade can be sheared by the shearing member. However, in the configuration of the stirring body, it is considered that the object to be stirred discharged by the stirring blade easily flows in a direction away from the rotation axis, and the shearing performance of the stirring body is considered to be low.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a stirring body that achieves both shear performance and discharge performance, and a stirring device equipped therewith. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The agitator of the present disclosure comprises a shearing member that rotates to shear a material to be agitated, and a stirring blade positioned on one side of the rotation axis of the shearing member and discharging the material to be agitated toward the shearing member, wherein the shearing member comprises a main body having a plurality of through holes and projections that protrude from the main body to one side of the rotation axis, and the projections are provided on the edge side of the main body relative to the through holes.

[0008] With this configuration, the agitator blades can discharge the material to be agitated toward the shearing member, and the material that flows into the through-holes provided in the shearing member can be sheared by the main body. Furthermore, by providing protrusions, the material to be agitated that collides with the protrusions is more likely to flow into the through-holes, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member. This makes it possible to achieve both shearing performance and discharge performance.

[0009] The stirring device of the present disclosure comprises the stirring body, a stirring tank for containing the material to be stirred, and a drive unit for rotating the stirring body, wherein the shearing member is positioned on the bottom side of the stirring tank relative to the stirring blade.

[0010] With this configuration, a stirring device can be made that achieves both shearing performance and discharge performance through the stirring element, and the material to be stirred in the stirring tank can be efficiently stirred. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of a stirring device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Perspective view of a stirring device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Plan view of the stirring body according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 [Figure 5] Schematic diagram of a stirring device for explaining measurement conditions [Figure 6] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Example 1 [Figure 7] Perspective view of the stirring body according to Example 2 [Figure 8] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Example 2 [Figure 9] Perspective view of the stirring body according to Example 3 [Figure 10] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Example 3 [Figure 11] Perspective view of the stirring body according to Example 4 [Figure 12] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Example 4 [Figure 13] Perspective view of the stirring body according to Example 5 [Figure 14] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Example 5 [Figure 15] Perspective view of the stirring body according to Comparative Example 1 [Figure 16] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the stirring body according to Comparative Example 1 [Figure 17] Perspective view of the dispersing blade according to Comparative Example 2 [Figure 18] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the dispersing blade according to Comparative Example 2 [Figure 19] Perspective view of the flat paddle blade according to Comparative Example 3 [Figure 20] Image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the flat paddle blade according to Comparative Example 3 [Figure 21] Perspective view of the pulsator blade according to Comparative Example 4 [Figure 22]An image showing the ratio of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred after stirring the material to be stirred with the pulsator blade according to Comparative Example 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, a stirring body and a stirring device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In each figure (the same applies to FIGS. 5 to 22), the dimensional ratio in the drawing and the actual dimensional ratio do not necessarily match, and the dimensional ratios between the drawings do not necessarily match either.

[0013] In the following description, the upward and downward directions used refer to the upward and downward directions in the state where the stirring device is installed. The axial direction D1 refers to the direction in which the rotation axis L1 described later extends, the radial direction D2 refers to the direction extending perpendicularly from the rotation axis L1, and the circumferential direction D3 refers to the direction around the rotation axis L1 (the rotation direction of the rotation axis L1). Among the radial directions D2, the side closer to the rotation axis L1 is referred to as the inner side, and the side farther from the rotation axis L1 is referred to as the outer side.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the stirring device 100 according to the present embodiment is used for stirring a material to be stirred, such as cosmetics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and foods. The material to be stirred may have fluidity and includes liquids, particulate or powdered solids, and mixtures thereof.

[0015] The stirring device 100 includes a stirring body 1 for stirring the material to be stirred, a stirring tank 101 for accommodating the material to be stirred, and a driving unit 102 for rotating the stirring body 1. The stirring body 1 is preferably fixed to the driving unit 102 via a shaft member 103.

[0016] The stirring tank 101 includes a bottom portion 101a, a peripheral wall portion 101b, and a lid portion 101c. The shape of the bottom portion 101a is shown as a flat plate shape, but is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the bottom portion 101a may be a dish shape, a semi-elliptical shape, a hemispherical shape, a conical shape, or the like. The shape of the peripheral wall portion 101b is cylindrical.

[0017] The shaft member 103 is mounted at a position offset from the central axis L2 of the stirring tank 101 (eccentrically mounted). This creates a turbulent flow state in the stirring tank 101, improving the stirring efficiency of the material being stirred. The eccentricity distance Ln2 of the rotation axis L1 of the shaft member 103 is preferably 10% or more of the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101, and more preferably 20% or more. In this embodiment, the eccentricity distance Ln2 is, for example, 47.5 mm, which is 25% of the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101.

[0018] In this embodiment, the shaft member 103 (rotation axis L1) is arranged substantially parallel to the central axis L2 of the stirring tank 101, but is not limited to this. For example, the shaft member 103 may be arranged at an inclination with respect to the central axis L2 of the stirring tank 101.

[0019] Preferably, the shaft member 103 is rotatably attached to the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101. This makes it easier to add the material to be stirred to the stirring tank 101 compared to when the shaft member 103 is attached to the lid 101c of the stirring tank 101. It also makes it easier for an operator to reach inside the stirring tank 101, making it easier to clean the inside of the stirring tank 101. Furthermore, it becomes possible to stir even small amounts of material, enabling multi-product, small-batch production of cosmetics and other products. The shaft member 103 may also be attached to the lid 101c of the stirring tank 101.

[0020] The drive unit 102 includes a drive motor (not shown) and a speed reducer. Examples of the drive motor include electric motors, air motors, and hydraulic motors. Examples of the speed reducer include gear reducers, belt reducers, and mechanical transmissions. The drive unit 102 is located on the bottom 101a side (lower side) of the stirring tank 101, but is not limited to this. For example, the drive unit 102 may be located on the lid 101c side (upper side) of the stirring tank 101. The drive unit 102 may also be, for example, an electric screwdriver.

[0021] The agitator 1 is placed inside the stirring tank 101 and fixed to the shaft member 103. It is preferable that the agitator 1 is placed in close proximity to the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101. The placement height H1 of the agitator 1 is preferably 5 mm to 20 mm from the bottom 101a. This allows the material to be stirred even if it has a high tendency to settle. It also allows the material to be stirred even if it is a small amount relative to the stirring tank 101. In this embodiment, the placement height H1 of the agitator 1 is, for example, 7 mm from the bottom 101a.

[0022] The agitator 1 comprises a shearing member 2 that rotates to shear the material to be agitated, and a stirring blade 3 positioned on one side of the rotation axis L1 of the shearing member 2 and discharging the material to be agitated toward the shearing member 2. In this embodiment, the shearing member 2 is positioned closer to the bottom 101a of the agitator tank 101 than the stirring blade 3.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the shearing member 2 comprises a main body portion 21 having a plurality of through holes 212, and a projection portion 22 projecting from the main body portion 21 to one side of the rotation axis L1. The diameter Dm1 (width or length) of the main body portion 21 is preferably substantially the same as (including a difference of ±5%) or greater than the diameter Dm2 of the stirring blade 3 (see Figure 3). This increases the amount of material to be stirred flowing through the shearing member 2, thereby improving the shearing performance of the stirring body 1. In this embodiment, the main body portion 21 is formed in a disc shape, but is not limited to this. For example, the main body portion 21 may be formed in a polygonal plate shape or a curved plate shape.

[0024] The through-hole 212 is a hole that penetrates the main body 21 along the axial direction D1. By rotating the main body 21 provided with the through-hole 212, the material to be stirred flowing into the through-hole 212 can be sheared by the main body 21. This improves the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. In this embodiment, the through-hole 212 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, but is not limited to this. For example, the through-hole 212 may be formed in a circular or triangular shape.

[0025] The through holes 212 are preferably arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, the through holes 212 are arranged in parallel along the radial direction D2. Also, the through holes 212 are arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction D3. The through holes 212 are not limited to the above, and may be arranged in parallel to represent a polygonal shape, for example.

[0026] The width W1 of the through-hole 212 in the radial direction D2 is substantially the same as the width W1 of the other through-holes 212 in the radial direction D2. The length Ln1 of the through-hole 212 in the circumferential direction D3 increases toward the outside in the radial direction D2. The length Ln1 (area) of the through-hole 212 is greater than the length Ln1 (area) of the other through-holes 212 located inside the radial direction D2, and is substantially the same as the length (area) of the other through-holes 212 arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction D3. The width W1, length Ln1, and area of ​​the through-hole 212 are not limited to those described above. For example, the width W1, length Ln1, and area of ​​all through-holes 212 may be substantially the same.

[0027] The projection 22 is provided on the edge 21a side of the main body 21, rather than on the through hole 212. This makes it easier for the material being stirred that collides with the projection 22 to flow into the through hole 212, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. In this embodiment, the projection 22 is provided on the edge 21a of the main body 21, but it is not limited to this.

[0028] It is preferable that the projection 22 is provided with a gap G1 or a through hole 223. This allows the agitated material flowing into the gap G1 or through hole 223 to be sheared by the projection 22, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. It is preferable that the projection 22 has at least one projection 221. In this embodiment, the projection 22 has a plurality of projections 221, with a gap G1 provided between adjacent projections 221. The gap G1 in this embodiment can also be described as a rectangular (slit-shaped) through hole 223. Note that the projection 22 does not necessarily have to have a gap G1 or a through hole 223.

[0029] The projection 22 is preferably formed in a shape that aligns with the rotational direction (circumferential direction D3) of the rotation axis L1 when viewed in the axial direction D1. The projection 221 is more preferably formed in an arc shape (curved shape). In this embodiment, the projection 22 is provided with a reinforcing portion 222 that reinforces the projection 221, and the reinforcing portion 222 connects one end of each projection 221 in the axial direction D1. The projection 22 forms an annular shape with respect to the projection 221 and the reinforcing portion 222 when viewed in the axial direction D1. However, the projection 22 is not limited to the above.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, it is preferable that the angle θ1 of the projection 221 with respect to the radial direction D2 exceeds 70 degrees. This makes it easier for the material being stirred that collides with the projection 221 to flow into the through hole 212, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. It is more preferable that the angle θ1 of the projection 221 be 80 degrees or more, and even more preferable that it be 85 degrees or more.

[0031] The width W3 (arc angle θ3) of the gap G1 (or through hole 223) along the circumferential direction D3 is preferably 60% or less of the width W2 (arc angle θ2) of the projection 221 along the circumferential direction D3. This increases the amount of material to be agitated flowing into the through hole 212 and improves the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. The width W3 (arc angle θ3) of the gap G1 (or through hole 223) is more preferably 40% or less of the width W2 (arc angle θ2) of the projection 221, and even more preferably 20% or less. The width W3 of the gap G1 is preferably 10 mm or less, and more preferably 5 mm or less. In this embodiment, for example, the width W2 of the projection 221 is 17.2 mm (arc angle θ2 is 33.4 degrees), and the width W3 is 3.5 mm (arc angle θ3 is 6.6 degrees).

[0032] The number of projections 221 is determined by the width W2 (arc angle θ2) of the projection 221 and the width W3 (arc angle θ3) of the gap G1. It is preferable that the number of projections 221 is greater than the number of blades 31, which will be described later. In this embodiment, for example, there are nine projections 221.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the height H2 of the projection 22 is preferably 1 mm or more. This ensures the effect of improving shear performance by providing the projection 22. The height H2 of the projection 22 is more preferably 5 mm or more, and even more preferably 10 mm or more. The height H2 of the projection 22 is preferably lower than the height H3 of the stirring blade 3. This suppresses the decrease in the discharge performance of the stirring blade 3 due to the provision of the projection 22. In this embodiment, for example, the height H2 of the projection 22 is 10 mm, and the height H3 of the stirring blade 3 is 13 mm.

[0034] The inner surface of the projection 22 in the radial direction D2 is preferably substantially parallel to the rotation axis L1 (including an inclination of 10 degrees or less). This makes it easier to allow the material to be stirred to flow into the through hole 212, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2.

[0035] The main body portion 21 is provided with an insertion hole 211 through which the shaft member 103 shown in Figure 1 is inserted. The insertion hole 211 is a hole that penetrates the main body portion 21 along the axial direction D1. The center of the insertion hole 211 substantially coincides with the axis of rotation L1. Preferably, the insertion hole 211 is formed in a polygonal shape or other anti-rotation shape. This prevents the fixing between the main body portion 21 and the shaft member 103 from being released by rotation. In this embodiment, the insertion hole 211 is, for example, hexagonal.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the main body 21 is provided with a mesh portion 213 formed in a mesh-like manner. The through holes 212 are provided in the mesh portion 213. The mesh portion 213 is provided with a plurality of first linear portions 213a extending radially outward from the rotation center (rotation axis L1) of the shearing member 2. In this embodiment, the first linear portions 213a extend in a straight line, that is, radially, but are not limited to this. For example, the first linear portions 213a may extend in a curved shape. The width W4 (see Figure 3) of the first linear portions 213a is substantially constant, but is not limited to this. For example, the first linear portions 213a may be formed to be wider toward the outside in the radial direction D2.

[0037] The first line sections 213a are arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction D3. The number of first line sections 213a is preferably greater than the number of protrusions 221 and the second line sections 213b, which will be described later. The number of first line sections 213a is preferably 10 or more, and more preferably 20 or more. This makes it easier for the material being stirred to collide with the first line sections 213a, improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. The number of first line sections 213a is preferably 26 or less. This prevents the material being stirred from clogging the through-holes 212. In this embodiment, for example, the number of first line sections 213a is 21.

[0038] The mesh portion 213 preferably comprises a plurality of second line portions 213b extending along the circumferential direction D3. The second line portions 213b connect a plurality of first line portions 213a. This improves the strength of the first line portions 213a. In this embodiment, the second line portions 213b are formed in an annular shape, but are not limited thereto. For example, the second line portions 213b may be formed in an angular annular shape, or in an intermittent annular shape with a portion interrupted. The width W5 of the second line portions 213b (see Figure 3) is substantially constant and substantially the same as the width W4 of the first line portions 213a, but is not limited thereto.

[0039] The second line sections 213b are arranged in parallel in the radial direction D2. It is preferable that the number of second line sections 213b is 8 or less. This helps to prevent the material being stirred from clogging the through-hole 212. It is even more preferable that the number of second line sections 213b is 6 or less. In this embodiment, for example, the number of first line sections 213a is 5. The second line sections 213b form the edge 21a of the main body 21, but are not limited to this.

[0040] The stirring blade 3 is discharged from one side to the other in the axial direction D1. In this embodiment, the stirring blade 3 is discharged from the top to the bottom of the stirring tank 101 in Figure 1, but is not limited to this. Preferably, the other end of the stirring blade 3 in the axial direction D1 is positioned closer to the main body 21 than one end of the projection 22 in the axial direction D1. This makes it easier for the material to be stirred to flow into the through hole 212, and improves the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. It is more preferable that the stirring blade 3 is fixed in contact with the main body 21. This allows the shearing member 2 and the stirring blade 3 to rotate integrally with a common drive. The stirring blade 3 is not limited to the above, and may be fixed at a position away from the shear member 2 via the shaft member 103 shown in Figure 1.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the diameter Dm2 of the stirring blade 3 is appropriately set according to the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101 in Figure 1 and the viscosity of the material being stirred. As the viscosity of the material being stirred increases, it is preferable to increase the diameter Dm2 of the stirring blade 3 relative to the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101. The diameter Dm2 of the stirring blade 3 is preferably 25% or more of the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101. This suppresses the occurrence of un-stirred areas in the stirring tank 101. In this embodiment, the diameter Dm2 is, for example, 60 mm, which is 32% of the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101.

[0042] The stirring blade 3 comprises at least one blade 31 and a shaft portion 32 to which the blade 31 is fixed. Preferably, there are two blades 31. This helps to suppress the decrease in discharge performance that occurs when increasing the number of blades 31.

[0043] The blade 31 is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis L1 (for example, the horizontal plane). The stirring blade 3 is preferably an inclined paddle blade or a propeller blade. The inclination angle of the outer end of the blade 31 in the radial direction D2 with respect to the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis L1 is preferably 20 to 70 degrees, and more preferably 35 to 55 degrees. This increases the amount of material to be stirred flowing to the shearing member 2, and improves the shearing performance of the stirring body 1. In this embodiment, for example, the blade 31 is a screw-shaped blade (propeller blade) with a twisting rotation speed of 0.0956 times (the above inclination angle is 35.8 degrees). The relationship between the above inclination angle and the twisting rotation speed is given by Equation 1 below. [Mathematics 1] Tilt angle=tan -1 (H3 / (Dm2×π×torsion rotations))×180 / π

[0044] The shaft portion 32 is provided with a through hole 321 through which the shaft member 103 shown in Figure 1 is inserted. The center of the through hole 321 substantially coincides with the rotation axis L1. The through hole 321 has substantially the same shape as the through hole 211 provided in the main body portion 21 shown in Figure 4.

[0045] The parameters of the shear member 2 and the stirring blade 3 (such as the torsional rotation speed of the blade 31, the height H2 of the projection 221, the width W2 (arc angle θ2) of the projection 221, the number of projections 221 installed, the number of first line sections 213a installed, and the number of second line sections 213b installed) may be determined, for example, by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis based on the shear stress in the liquid at the through-hole 212 of the main body 21 and the gap G1 of the projection 221, as well as the leakage rate of the stirred material. [Examples]

[0046] To specifically demonstrate the effects of the stirring body 1 and the stirring device 100, examples and comparative examples of the stirring body 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 22.

[0047] <Evaluation of shear performance and discharge performance> The material to be stirred, containing powder, was placed in the stirring tank 101 shown in Figure 5 and stirred for 1 minute with the stirring device of the example or comparative example described later. After 5 minutes of stirring, the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the material to be stirred and the viscosity of the material to be stirred were measured to evaluate the shear performance and discharge performance.

[0048] The mixture to be stirred was a mixture of 1,3-butylene glycol and an acrylic acid / alkyl methacrylate copolymer (aqueous thickener). The liquid 1,3-butylene glycol was first added to the stirring tank 101, and then the powdered acrylic acid / alkyl methacrylate copolymer (40g) was added over 10 minutes by sieving.

[0049] The proportion of powder on the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring was measured using an image processing device. Specifically, a photograph of the liquid surface of the stirred material was taken, and the image was processed so that the powder portion of the photograph was white and the rest was black. The area ratio of the white portion in arbitrary regions a to c was then measured. The viscosity of the stirred material after stirring was measured using a rotational viscometer (NDJ-5S).

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the measurement conditions are as follows: the inner diameter Dm3 of the stirring tank 101 is 190 mm, the liquid height H4 of the material being stirred is 74 mm (equivalent to 2 L), the placement height H1 of the stirring body 1 is 7 mm from the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101, the eccentricity distance Ln2 of the rotation axis L1 is 47.5 mm from the central axis L2 of the stirring tank 101, and the rotation speed of the stirring body 1 is 1346 rpm. The drive unit 102 is a Makita electric screwdriver fixed to the lid 101c.

[0051] <Example 1> Example 1 is the agitator 1 according to the above embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4. Specifically, the twist rotation number of the blade 31 is 0.0956 times, the height H2 of the projection 22 is 10 mm, the arc angle θ2 of the projection 221 is 33.4 degrees, there are 9 projections 221, there are 21 first line sections 213a, and there are 5 second line sections 213b. The diameter Dm1 of the main body 21 and the diameter Dm2 of the agitator blade 3 are both 60 mm. The height H3 of the agitator blade 3 is 13 mm. The diameter Dm1 (except for Comparative Examples 2 to 4), diameter Dm2, and height H3 are the same for the other examples and comparative examples. Figure 6 is an image showing the proportion of powder on the liquid surface of the agitated material after agitating the material with the agitator 1 according to Example 1.

[0052] <Example 2> Example 2 is the agitator 1 shown in Figure 7. Specifically, the twist rotation number of the blade 31 is 0.1207 times, the height H2 of the projection 22 is 5 mm, the arc angle θ2 of the projection 221 is 30 degrees, there are 6 projections 221, there are 18 first line sections 213a, and there are 5 second line sections 213b. Figure 8 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring the material with the agitator 1 according to Example 2.

[0053] <Example 3> Example 3 is the agitator 1 shown in Figure 9. Specifically, it is an agitator 1 in which the number of first line sections 213a installed has been changed to 12 compared to the agitator 1 of Example 2. Figure 10 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the agitated material after the agitator 1 of Example 3 has stirred the material.

[0054] <Example 4> Example 4 is the stirring body 1 shown in Figure 11. Specifically, compared to the stirring body 1 of Example 2, the arc angle θ2 of the projection 221 is changed to 10 degrees, and the number of first line sections 213a is changed to 12. Figure 12 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the material being stirred after stirring with the stirring body 1 of Example 4. <Example 5> Example 5 is the agitator 1 shown in Figure 13. Specifically, it is an agitator 1 modified from the agitator 1 of Example 2 by changing the number of twisting rotations of the blade 31 to 0.0283 times and changing the number of first line sections 213a to 12. Figure 14 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the agitated material after agitating the material with the agitator 1 of Example 5.

[0055] <Comparative Example 1> Comparative Example 1 is the stirring body C1 shown in Figure 15. The stirring blade C3 is the same as the stirring blade 3 in Example 2, but the shearing member C2 differs from the shearing member 2 in Example 2 in that it does not have through holes 212 (mesh portion 213). Figure 16 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring the material with the stirring body C1 according to Comparative Example 1.

[0056] <Comparative Example 2> Comparative Example 2 is the disperser blade C4 shown in Figure 17. Figure 18 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring with the disperser blade C4 according to Comparative Example 2.

[0057] <Comparative Example 3> Comparative Example 3 is a typical flat paddle blade C5 shown in Figure 19. Figure 20 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring with the flat paddle blade C5 according to Comparative Example 3.

[0058] <Comparative Example 4> Comparative Example 4 is a typical pulsator blade C6 shown in Figure 21. Figure 22 is an image showing the proportion of powder at the liquid surface of the stirred material after stirring with the pulsator blade C6 according to Comparative Example 4.

[0059] [Table 1]

[0060] [Table 2]

[0061] Table 1 shows the composition of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Example 1. Table 2 shows the measurement results of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-4. A lower value for the proportion of powder on the liquid surface of the stirred material indicates that the powder floating on the liquid surface of the stirred material is being sheared. A higher value for the viscosity of the stirred material indicates that the thickening agent powder is being sheared.

[0062] As shown in Table 2, the disperser blade C4 (Comparative Example 2), which has excellent shearing performance, and the flat paddle blade C5 (Comparative Example 3) and pulsator blade C6 (Comparative Example 4), which have excellent discharge performance, tend to have a high proportion of powder at the liquid surface and low viscosity of the material being stirred. From these results, it can be concluded that the agitator 1, which has a low proportion of powder at the liquid surface and high viscosity of the material being stirred, has excellent shearing and discharge performance. Therefore, the agitator 1 according to Examples 1 to 5 can be evaluated as having excellent (or achieving both) shearing and discharge performance.

[0063] As shown in Tables 1 and 2, it is considered that the shearing performance of the shearing member improves as the height H2 of the protrusions increases (Examples 1-5 and Comparative Example 1). The shearing performance tends to improve as the arc angle θ2 of the protrusions increases (Examples 3 and 4). The shearing performance tends to improve as the number of protrusions 221 increases (Examples 1-5 and Comparative Example 1). In other words, it is considered that the shearing performance improves as the arc angle θ3 (width W3) of the gap G1 between the protrusions 221 decreases (see Figure 3). From these results, it is considered that the shearing performance of the shearing member 2 improves when the flow rate (leakage rate) of the agitated material flowing out from one side of the axial direction D1 of the protrusions 221 or from the gap G1 is reduced (see Figure 4).

[0064] Furthermore, in the shearing member, the shearing performance tends to improve when the first line portion 213a is installed (Example 3 and Comparative Example 1). Consequently, the shearing performance tends to improve when the through hole 212 shown in Figure 3 is provided. The shearing performance tends to improve as the number of first line portions 213a installed increases (Examples 1-3). From this, it can be concluded that the shearing performance improves as the number of through holes 212 installed increases.

[0065] In a stirring blade, it is thought that increasing the twisting rotation speed of the blade improves the shearing performance of the agitator (Examples 3 and 5). On the other hand, it is thought that if the twisting rotation speed exceeds a certain value, the discharge performance of the stirring blade decreases (Examples 1 to 5).

[0066] [1] As described above, the agitator 1 according to this embodiment comprises a shearing member 2 that rotates to shear the material to be agitated, and a stirring blade 3 that is positioned on one side of the rotation axis L1 of the shearing member 2 and discharges the material to be agitated toward the shearing member 2. The shearing member 2 comprises a main body portion 21 having a plurality of through holes 212, and a projection portion 22 that protrudes from the main body portion 21 toward one side of the rotation axis L1, wherein the projection portion 22 is provided on the edge side of the main body portion 21 relative to the through holes 212.

[0067] With this configuration, the stirring blade 3 can discharge the material to be stirred toward the shearing member 2, and the material that has flowed into the through-hole 212 provided in the shearing member 2 can be sheared by the main body 21. Furthermore, by providing the projection 22, the material to be stirred that collides with the projection 22 is more likely to flow into the through-hole 212, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. This makes it possible to achieve both shearing performance and discharge performance. As a result, the time required to stir the material to be stirred can be reduced, and for example, the productivity of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals can be improved while ensuring the quality of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

[0068] [2] Furthermore, in the stirring body 1 according to [1] above, it is preferable that the projection 22 is provided with a gap G1 or a through hole 223.

[0069] With this configuration, the material to be stirred can flow through the gap G1 or through hole 223 provided in the projection 22, thereby improving the discharge performance of the stirring body 1. Furthermore, the material to be stirred that has flowed through the gap G1 or through hole 223 can be sheared by the projection 22, thereby improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2.

[0070] [3] Furthermore, in the stirring body 1 according to [1] or [2] above, it is preferable that the projection 22 is formed in a shape that is aligned with the rotation direction (circumferential direction D3) of the rotation axis L1 when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the rotation axis L1.

[0071] With this configuration, the shear stress of the projection 22 in the liquid can be improved by rotating the projection 22 along the circumferential direction D3 of the shearing member 2. This improves the shearing performance of the shearing member 2.

[0072] [4] Furthermore, in the stirring body 1 relating to any one of the above [1] to [3], it is preferable that the main body portion 21 is provided with a mesh portion 213 formed in a mesh shape, and the through hole 212 is provided in the mesh portion 213.

[0073] With this configuration, the material to be stirred can flow more easily into the through-holes 212, improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2. Furthermore, a large number of fine through-holes 212 can be provided, further improving the shearing performance of the shearing member 2.

[0074] [5] Furthermore, in the stirring body 1 according to [4] above, it is preferable that the mesh portion 213 is provided with a linear portion (first linear portion 213a) that extends radially outward D2 from the rotation center of the shearing member 2.

[0075] With this configuration, the rotational direction (circumferential direction D3) of the shearing member 2 and the linear portion (first linear portion 213a) can be made approximately perpendicular, making it easier for the material being agitated to be sheared by the linear portion (first linear portion 213a). This improves the shearing performance of the shearing member 2.

[0076] [6] Furthermore, in the stirring body 1 relating to any one of the above [1] to [5], it is preferable that the other end of the rotation axis L1 of the stirring blade 3 in the axial direction D1 is positioned closer to the main body 21 than one end of the projection 22 in the axial direction D1.

[0077] With this configuration, the material to be stirred discharged by the stirring blade 3 can flow more easily into the through-hole 212, thereby improving the shear performance of the stirring body 1.

[0078] [7] Furthermore, the stirring device 100 according to this embodiment comprises a stirring body 1 relating to any one of [1] to [6] above, a stirring tank 101 for containing the material to be stirred, and a drive unit 102 for rotating the stirring body 1, and the shearing member 2 is positioned on the bottom 101a side of the stirring tank 101 than the stirring blade 3.

[0079] With this configuration, the stirring device 100 can be made that achieves both shearing performance and discharge performance with the stirring element 1, and the material to be stirred in the stirring tank 101 can be stirred efficiently.

[0080] [8] Furthermore, in the stirring device 100 according to [7] above, it is preferable that the device includes a shaft member 103 that is rotatably attached to the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101, and that the stirring body 1 is fixed to the shaft member 103 at a position close to the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101.

[0081] With this configuration, highly sedimentable material to be stirred can be effectively stirred. Furthermore, by attaching the shaft member 103 to the bottom 101a of the stirring tank 101, the length of the shaft member 103 can be shortened in stirring devices 100 where the stirring body 1 is located close to the bottom 101a, making it easier to clean the inside of the stirring tank 101.

[0082] It should be noted that the stirring body 1 and the stirring device 100 are not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, nor are they limited to the effects described above. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the stirring body 1 and the stirring device 100 can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of this disclosure. For example, one or more of the configurations and methods described below may be arbitrarily selected and adopted in the configurations and methods of the embodiments described above.

[0083] (A) In this embodiment, the stirring body 1 is equipped with one stirring blade 3, but is not limited to this. For example, the stirring body 1 may be configured to be equipped with multiple stirring blades 3 arranged in parallel in the axial direction D1.

[0084] (B) In this embodiment, the mesh portion 213 comprises a first line portion 213a extending along the radial direction D2 and a second line portion 213b intersecting the first line portion 213a and extending along the circumferential direction D3, but is not limited thereto. For example, the mesh portion 213 may be configured to have a grid-like structure comprising a straight first line portion 213a and a straight second line portion 213b perpendicular to it.

[0085] (C) In this embodiment, the stirring blade 3 is fixed in contact with the main body 21 and rotates integrally with the shearing member 2, but is not limited to this. For example, the stirring blade 3 may be fixed to a shaft member different from the shaft member 103 and rotate differently from the shearing member 2. That is, the shearing member 2 and the stirring blade 3 may be rotated separately. In this case, from the viewpoint of improving shearing performance, it is preferable that the rotational speed of the shearing member 2 is faster than the rotational speed of the stirring blade 3. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 1...Agitator, 2...Shearing member, 21...Main body, 21a...Edge, 211...Through hole, 212...Through-hole, 213...Mesh part, 213a...First line part, 213b...Second line part, 22...Protrusion, 221...Protrusion, 222...Reinforcement part, 223...Through-hole, 3...Agitator blade, 31...Blade, 32...Shaft part, 321...Through hole, 100...Agitator, 101...Agitator tank, 101a...Bottom, 101b...Peripheral wall part, 101c...Lid part, 102...Drive part, 103...Shaft member, G1...Gap, L1...Rotation shaft, L2...Central shaft

Claims

1. A shearing member that rotates to shear the material being stirred, The system comprises a stirring blade positioned on one side of the rotation axis of the shearing member and discharging the material to be stirred toward the shearing member, The shearing member comprises a main body having a plurality of through holes and a projection that protrudes from the main body to one side of the rotation axis, The projection is provided on the edge side of the main body portion, The main body portion includes a mesh portion formed in a mesh-like manner, The through-hole is formed by the mesh portion of the stirring body.

2. The stirring body according to claim 1, wherein the projection is provided with a gap or a through hole.

3. The stirring body according to claim 2, wherein the projection is formed in a shape that is aligned with the rotational direction of the rotation axis when viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis.

4. The stirring body according to claim 1, wherein the mesh portion includes a linear portion extending radially outward from the rotation center of the shearing member.

5. The stirring body according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the stirring blade in the axial direction of the rotation shaft is positioned closer to the main body than the one end of the projection in the axial direction.

6. A stirring body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A stirring tank containing the material to be stirred, The system comprises a drive unit for rotating the agitator, The shearing member is positioned on the bottom side of the stirring tank, relative to the stirring blade, in the stirring device.

7. The stirring tank is equipped with a shaft member that is rotatably attached to the bottom of the tank, The stirring device according to claim 6, wherein the stirring element is fixed to the shaft member at a position close to the bottom of the stirring tank.

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