Granule regulating device and granule regulating method

Abstract

A granule regulating device 1 is provided with: a cylindrical processing container 10 having an opening at an upper part; and a rotating plate 33 provided at a bottom part in the processing container 10. By the rotational motion of the rotating plate 33, the device swirls and fluidizes granules P charged into the processing container 10 to perform granule regulating. The device is provided with a chopper 53 for rotating a plurality of blade bodies inside the processing container 10 to cut the granules P. The chopper 53 is configured to vary a posture between a cutting position, where the blade bodies are positioned in an upper space of an outer edge part of the rotating plate 33 in the processing container 10, and a retreat position, where the blade bodies retreat from the upper space of the outer edge part of the rotating plate 33 in the processing container 10.

Description

Sizing device and sizing method

[0001] The present invention relates to a granulation device and a granulation method for sizing granules introduced into a processing vessel by causing them to undergo a swirling flow.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a granulation device is known that uses a rotation mechanism to cause granules in a processing vessel to flow in a swirling manner and thereby size-size the granules (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-275684

[0004] In the conventional sizing device, a rotating disk and a chopper are arranged inside a processing vessel. In this case, the chopper continues to contact the granules inside the processing vessel even after the chopper has finished cutting the granules, which causes the granules to adhere to the chopper and affects the accuracy of sizing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a sizing device and a sizing method that can prevent granules from adhering to the chopper and improve the accuracy of sizing by retracting the chopper from the granules inside the processing vessel.

[0006] Below, we will explain means for solving the above problems.

[0007] The granulation device of the present invention comprises a cylindrical processing container that is open at the top and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing container, and is a granulation device that uses the rotational movement of the rotating plate to cause the granules introduced into the processing container to flow in a swirling motion and be sized.The chopper also comprises a plurality of blade bodies that rotate inside the processing container to cut the granules, and the chopper's posture can be changed between a cutting position where the blade bodies are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing container, and a retracted position where the blade bodies are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing container.

[0008] In addition, in the particle size regulating device, it is preferable that the chopper is rotatable around a rotation axis provided in a horizontal direction, and that the chopper is rotated and displaced around the rotation axis, thereby allowing the chopper to change its posture between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0009] In addition, in the particle size regulating device, it is preferable that the chopper is slidable in the vertical direction, and that the chopper's sliding displacement in the vertical direction allows the chopper's posture to be changed between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0010] In addition, in the particle size regulating device, it is preferable that the chopper is supported by a support mechanism that changes the attitude of the chopper between the cutting position and the retracted position, and is detachable from the support mechanism.

[0011] The sizing method of the present invention is a sizing method performed using any of the sizing devices described above, and comprises a first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade body by the chopper at the cutting position, and a second step of continuing the first step for a predetermined period of time and then rotating the rotating plate with the chopper displaced to the retracted position.

[0012] In addition, the sizing method of the present invention is a sizing method that includes a cylindrical processing container that is open at the top and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing container, and uses the rotational movement of the rotating plate to cause granules introduced into the processing container to flow in a swirling motion and be sized. The chopper that rotates a plurality of blades inside the processing container to cut the granules is capable of changing its posture between a cutting position in which the blades are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate inside the processing container and a retracted position in which the blades are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate inside the processing container, and the method comprises: a first step in which the rotation of the rotating plate and the rotation of the blades by the chopper at the cutting position are performed simultaneously; and a second step in which the first step is continued for a predetermined time, and then the rotating plate is rotated with the chopper displaced to the retracted position.

[0013] According to the sizing device and sizing method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent particles from adhering to the chopper and improve the accuracy of sizing.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a sizing device according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a sizing device according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sizing device is in use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the chopper is retracted in the sizing device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lid part is removed in the sizing device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the chopper has been removed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the chopper motor has been removed.

[0015] First, a particle size sizing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The particle size sizing apparatus 1 is an apparatus for adjusting the particle length of granules and spheronizing the granules by causing granules P (see Figure 3) introduced into a processing vessel 10 to undergo a swirling flow.

[0016] 1 and 2, the particle size regulating device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include a main body case 2, a treatment vessel 10 provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2, a discharge section 40 adjacent to the treatment vessel 10, and a support mechanism 60 that supports a chopper 53 and the like. The main body case 2 is a housing provided with a plurality of casters 2a on the bottom surface, and houses a motor 31, a control device (not shown), and the like inside.

[0017] The processing vessel 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open top. An inlet 11 is provided at the upper opening of the processing vessel 10. As shown in Figure 2, a circular rotating plate 33 is provided at the inner bottom of the processing vessel 10. The rotating plate 33 has unevenness on its surface (upper surface) that corresponds to the particle size to be regulated. A rotating shaft 32 extending from a motor 31 is connected to the rotating plate 33. When the motor 31 rotates the rotating shaft 32, the rotating plate 33 rotates at the bottom of the processing vessel 10.

[0018] In the granulation apparatus 1, the rotation of the rotating plate 33 causes the granules P introduced into the processing vessel 10 to flow in a swirling motion, thereby adjusting the particle length of the granules and spheroidizing the granules. At this time, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating plate 33 causes the granules P introduced into the processing vessel 10 to move along the inner wall of the processing vessel 10 while rolling on the outer edge of the rotating plate 33, as shown in FIG.

[0019] The sized granules are discharged to the outside via the discharge unit 40. As shown in Figure 2, the discharge unit 40 is configured to include a cylinder 41, a rod 42, a closing member 43, and a discharge port 44. The closing member 43 forms part of the inner surface of the processing vessel 10. The rod 42 extending from the cylinder 41 has its tip connected to the outer surface of the closing member 43. When the cylinder 41 slides and displaces the rod 42 outward, the closing member 43 retracts from the processing vessel 10, and the granules can be discharged from the discharge port 44.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the particle size regulating device 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a chopper 53 that cuts granules P with a plurality of blades inside the processing vessel 10. The chopper 53 is fixed to a shaft member 52 extending from a chopper motor 51. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the chopper 53 is fixed to a tip end 52a of the shaft member 52. When the chopper motor 51 rotates the shaft member 52, the chopper 53 rotates inside the processing vessel 10, and the blades cut the granules P.

[0021] 3, the chopper motor 51, the shaft member 52, and the chopper 53 are supported by a support mechanism 60 provided on the upper surface of the main body case 2. The support mechanism 60 is configured to include an actuator 61 rotatably provided on the main body case 2, a connecting portion 62 provided so as to be able to move forward and backward from the actuator 61, a swing plate 63 having one end rotatably connected to the connecting portion 62, and a support portion 64 that supports the swing plate 63 rotatably around a rotation axis 64a.

[0022] A through-hole penetrating the rocking plate 63 is formed at the other end of the rocking plate 63. A lower support cylinder 55 is fixed around the through-hole on the upper surface of the rocking plate 63. An upper support cylinder 54 is fixed to the lower surface of the chopper motor 51. The lower end of the upper support cylinder 54 and the upper end of the lower support cylinder 55 are connected by a clamp member 56. A bellows-shaped cover member 57 is fixed around the through-hole on the lower surface of the rocking plate 63. The lower end of the cover member 57 is connected to the processing vessel 10.

[0023] As described above, the chopper motor 51, the shaft member 52, and the chopper 53 are supported by the support mechanism 60 via the upper support cylinder 54 and the lower support cylinder 55. In this case, the shaft member 52 is inserted through the upper support cylinder 54, the lower support cylinder 55, and the cover member 57, and extends into the processing vessel 10.

[0024] In the sizing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the chopper motor 51, shaft member 52, and chopper 53 are detachable from the support mechanism 60. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the inlet 11 is removed from the processing vessel 10, and as shown in Fig. 6, the chopper 53 is removed from the tip 52a of the shaft member 52. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, the upper support cylinder 54 and the lower support cylinder 55 are disconnected by the clamp member 56, thereby removing the chopper motor 51 and the shaft member 52 from the support mechanism 60. In this way, in the sizing apparatus 1, the chopper 53 and the like are detachable from the support mechanism 60, making it easy to perform maintenance of the sizing apparatus 1.

[0025] In the support mechanism 60, the actuator 61 can displace one end of the rocking plate 63 up and down via the connecting portion 62. When the actuator 61 displaces one end of the rocking plate 63 upward, the blades of the chopper 53 are positioned in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate 33 inside the processing vessel 10, as shown in Fig. 3 (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "cutting position" of the chopper 53). On the other hand, when the actuator 61 displaces one end of the rocking plate 63 downward, the blades of the chopper 53 are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate 33 inside the processing vessel 10, as shown in Fig. 4 (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "retracted position" of the chopper 53).

[0026] As described above, in the particle size regulating device 1, the chopper 53 is supported by the support mechanism 60 so that its posture can be changed between the cutting position and the retracted position by driving the actuator 61. More specifically, the chopper 53 is rotatable about a rotation axis 64a provided in the horizontal direction. The chopper 53 is rotated about the rotation axis 64a, so that the posture of the chopper 53 can be changed between the cutting position and the retracted position. This reduces the movement distance of the chopper 53, allowing the chopper 53 to be displaced between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0027] In the particle size regulating device 1 according to the present embodiment, the chopper 53 is movable between the cutting position and the retracted position by rotating and displacing the chopper 53, but it is also possible to make the chopper 53 slidable in the vertical direction. In this case, the chopper 53 is slidably displaced in the vertical direction, thereby changing the posture of the chopper 53 between the cutting position and the retracted position.

[0028] The sizing method performed by the sizing device 1 of this embodiment includes a first step in which the rotation of the rotating plate 33 and the rotation of the blade body by the chopper 53 at the cutting position are performed simultaneously, and a second step in which, after the first step has been performed for a predetermined time (e.g., several tens of seconds to several minutes), the chopper 53 is displaced to a retracted position and the rotation of the rotating plate 33 is performed.

[0029] Specifically, granules P are loaded into the processing vessel 10, and the chopper 53 is positioned at the cutting position. In this state, a control device provided in the sizing apparatus 1 drives the motor 31 and chopper motor 51 to rotate the rotating plate 33 and start chopping the granules P by rotating the chopper 53 (first step). After the first step continues for a predetermined time, the actuator 61 is driven to displace the chopper 53 to the retracted position, and driving of the motor 31 (rotation of the rotating plate 33) continues (second step). Note that the control device that controls these drives can also be provided external to the sizing apparatus 1. Alternatively, it is possible to configure the sizing apparatus 1 so that the user manually displaces the chopper 53 to the retracted position without using a control device.

[0030] According to the sizing device 1 of this embodiment, after the chopper 53 has finished cutting the granules P, the chopper 53 can be displaced to the retracted position, so that the chopper 53 does not continue to come into contact with the granules inside the processing vessel. This prevents the granules from adhering to the chopper 53, and improves the accuracy of sizing.

[0031] The applicant of the present application conducted an experiment to compare a size sizing method in which the chopper 53 was displaced to the retracted position in the size sizing device 1 according to this embodiment with a size sizing method in which the chopper 53 was left in the cutting position as a comparative example. The results of the experiment are described below.

[0032] The raw material used in this experiment was a powder mixture of lactose, cornstarch, and Ceolus in a weight ratio of 49:21:30, to which 3% hydroxypropyl cellulose was added. After sieving using the sieving device 1 and drying, the mixture was classified for 5 minutes using a rotary tap, successively using sieves with openings of 1.19 mm, 0.84 mm, and 0.71 mm, and the mass of the particles remaining on each sieve or passing through all sieves was measured.

[0033] In the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not retracted, the proportion of coarse powder (particles remaining on the 1.19 mm sieve) was 2.0%, the proportion of fine powder (particles that passed through the 0.71 mm sieve) was 9.3%, and the proportion of product standard powder (particles that passed through the 1.19 mm sieve and remained on the 0.71 mm sieve) was 88.6%.

[0034] On the other hand, in the sizing method performed in this embodiment with the chopper 53 retracted, the proportion of coarse powder was 0.6%, the proportion of fine powder was 7.4%, and the proportion of product-standard granules was 92.0%. Thus, it was confirmed that the sizing method performed with the chopper 53 retracted increased the yield of product-standard granules (improved sizing accuracy) compared to the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not retracted. This is thought to be due in part to the fact that, in the comparative example in which the chopper 53 was not retracted, granules adhered to the blades of the chopper 53 and the chopper 53 obstructed the flow of granules P inside the processing vessel 10.

[0035] As described above, in this experiment, it was confirmed that retracting the chopper 53 after its operating time is effective in improving product yield and preventing granules from adhering to the blades of the chopper 53. In other words, it was confirmed that the sizing device 1 according to this embodiment and the sizing method using the sizing device 1 can prevent granules from adhering to the chopper 53 and improve the accuracy of sizing.

[0036] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-160200 filed on September 25, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Note that the specific embodiments or examples described in the section on the mode for carrying out the invention are intended to clarify the technical content of the present invention, and the present invention should not be interpreted in a narrow sense by being limited to only such specific examples.

[0037] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The sizing device and sizing method according to the present invention are useful in that they can prevent particles from adhering to the chopper and improve the accuracy of sizing.

[0038] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Particle size regulating device 2 Main body case 2a Caster 10 Processing container 11 Inlet 31 Motor 32 Rotating shaft 33 Rotating plate 40 Discharge section 41 Cylinder 42 Rod 43 Closing member 44 Discharge port 51 Chopper motor 52 Shaft member 52a Tip portion 53 Chopper 54 Upper support cylinder 55 Lower support cylinder 56 Clamp member 57 Cover member 60 Support mechanism 61 Actuator 62 Connecting portion 63 Rocking plate 64 Support portion 64a Rotating shaft P Granules

Claims

1. A granulation device comprising a cylindrical processing vessel that is open at the top and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing vessel, the rotating motion of which causes granules introduced into the processing vessel to flow in a swirling motion and be sized, the device also comprising a chopper that cuts the granules by rotating a number of blade bodies inside the processing vessel, the chopper being capable of changing its position between a cutting position where the blade bodies are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing vessel, and a retracted position where the blade bodies are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate within the processing vessel.

2. The particle sizing device of claim 1, wherein the chopper is rotatable about a rotation axis provided in a horizontal direction, and the chopper is rotated and displaced about the rotation axis, thereby changing the position of the chopper between the cutting position and the retracted position.

3. The particle sizing device according to claim 1, wherein the chopper is slidable in the vertical direction, and the chopper's position can be changed between the cutting position and the retracted position by sliding and displacing the chopper in the vertical direction.

4. A grain sizing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the chopper is supported by a support mechanism that changes the attitude of the chopper between the cutting position and the retracted position, and is detachable from the support mechanism.

5. A sizing method performed using a sizing device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade body by the chopper at the cutting position; and a second step of rotating the rotating plate while displacing the chopper to the retracted position after continuing the first step for a predetermined period of time.

6. A method for sizing granules, comprising: a cylindrical processing vessel open at the top; and a rotating plate provided at the bottom of the processing vessel, in which the rotational motion of the rotating plate causes granules introduced into the processing vessel to flow in a swirling motion and be sized; the method comprising: a chopper which rotates a number of blade bodies inside the processing vessel to cut the granules, the position of which can be changed between a cutting position in which the blade bodies are located in the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the processing vessel, and a retracted position in which the blade bodies are retracted from the space above the outer edge of the rotating plate in the processing vessel; a first step of simultaneously rotating the rotating plate and rotating the blade bodies by the chopper at the cutting position; and a second step of rotating the rotating plate with the chopper displaced to the retracted position after the first step is continued for a predetermined period of time.

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