Mill for densifying metallic material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mill (1) for densifying a material, for example a shredded and / or crushed metallic material obtained from scrap. The mill (1) comprises : a loading member (2), a densifying chamber (3), a grille (4), a vibrating table (5), and a feeding chamber (6). The loading member (2) is suitable for receiving the material to feed the mill. The densifying chamber (3) comprises a rotor (30) provided with a plurality of hammers (31) configured to beat the material and increase its density until it becomes a densified material. The grille (4) is adapted to be passed through by the densified material. The vibrating table (5) is adapted to receive the densified material that has passed through the grille (4) and is configured to convey said densified material towards the outside of the mill (1). The feeding chamber (6) connects the loading member (2) to the densifying chamber (3) and comprises a pushing member (60) configured to push the material into the densifying chamber (3).

Description

"MILL FOR DENSIFYING METALLIC MATERIAL"DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to the technical field of mills for the densi f ication of metal scrap .

[0002] It is known to the expert in the art that the "mill" is a machine for processing metal material , for example shredded and / or crushed material obtained from scrap . Such processing consists in making the material denser, so as to make it more easily transportable .

[0003] Therefore , the obj ect of the present invention is a mill for densi fying a material .

[0004] Mills according to the prior art are extremely bulky machines that occupy areas on the order of hundreds of square metres .

[0005] In addition to their considerable dimensions , a further drawback of the mills currently on the market consists in the manner in which the mill is fed . In particular, the material is placed on a conveyor belt that carries it above a densi fying chamber ( otherwise known to the expert in the art as "grinding chamber" ) where it is dropped .

[0006] Disadvantageously, the material may be positioned non-uni formly along the conveyor belt , and such nonuni formity results in a non-uni form and discontinuous filling of the densi fying chamber, which may therefore betoo full or too empty. It is also evident to the expert in the art that an excess of material in the densifying chamber may cause malfunctions, jamming, and unnecessary machine stoppages, with consequent economic damage for the company.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a mill for densifying a material, for example shredded and / or crushed metal material obtained from scrap, that is capable of at least partially overcoming the above- mentioned drawbacks.

[0008] Said object is achieved with a mill according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0009] The features and advantages of the mill according to the invention will however be evident from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, provided by way of example and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:- figures 1-2 are perspective views of the mill in one embodiment, taken from different angles;- figure 3 is a side view of the mill according to the embodiment of figures 1-2;- figure 4 is a perspective view of a rotor;- figures 5-5a are perspective views of a lower chamber portion, taken from different angles;figure 6 is a perspective view of a gril le ;- figure 7 is a perspective view of a drive unit ; figure 8 is a side view of a loading member and a feeding chamber ; and- figure 8a is a schematic sectional view of a pushing member translatable in the feeding chamber .

[0010] In the following description, elements common to the various embodiments represented in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numbers .

[0011] In said drawings , the number 1 denotes a mill for densi fying a generic material , for example shredded and / or crushed metal material obtained from scrap, according to the invention as a whole .

[0012] According to the present invention, the mill 1 comprises : a loading member 2 , a densi fying chamber 3 , a grille 4 , a vibrating table 5 , and a feeding chamber 6 .

[0013] The loading member 2 is suitable for receiving the material to feed the mill .

[0014] Preferably, the loading member 2 comprises a hopper . The material is loaded into the hopper using a mechanical gripping arm, for example a mechanical claw . Alternatively, the hopper may also be loaded with material using a conveyor belt in accordance with the prior art .

[0015] The densi fying chamber 3 comprises a rotor 30 whichin turn is provided with a plurality of hammers 31. The hammers 31 are configured to beat the material and increase its density until it becomes densified material.

[0016] Preferably, the rotor 30 comprises a plurality of shafts, and each hammer of the plurality of hammers 31 is mounted with angular play on a respective shaft of the plurality of shafts.

[0017] The grille 4 is adapted to be passed through by the densified material. In detail, the grille 4 is provided with slots that allow only the densified material having dimensions suitable to pass through said slots.

[0018] The material is considered densified when - as a result of the beating by the hammers 31 - the fragments of material occupy a smaller volume (at equal weight) and are able to pass through the slots of the grille 4.

[0019] Preferably, the grille 4 is passed through by the densified material, so that the densified material can exit the densifying chamber 3.

[0020] The vibrating table 5 is adapted to receive the densified material that has passed through the grille 4 and is configured to convey said densified material towards the outside of the mill 1.

[0021] In particular, the vibrating table 5, thanks to its vibratory motion, enables the densified material to advance; furthermore, its vibrations help to homogenizethe outflow of the densi fied material .

[0022] The feeding chamber 6 connects the loading member 2 with the densi fying chamber 3 .

[0023] The feeding chamber 6 comprises a pushing member 60 ( also known to the expert in the art as "pusher" ) which is configured to push the material into the densi fying chamber 3 , in particular towards the rotor 30 .

[0024] In detail , said pushing member 60 is housed in the feeding chamber 6 .

[0025] The feeding chamber 6 is also provided with a dust discharge channel 68 for the exit of fumes and / or dust produced by the entry of material into the feeding chamber 6 .

[0026] Preferably, the feeding chamber 6 is provided with at least one sensor configured to detect the exact position of the pushing member 60 along the feeding chamber 6 .

[0027] According to an embodiment schematically illustrated in figure 8a, the pushing member 60 comprises a rod 61 translatable along a rod movement axis S . The rod 61 is provided at one end with a pushing head 62 configured to push the material towards the rotor 30 . In particular, the axial translation of the rod 61 occurs along a prevailing direction of extension of the feeding chamber6 .

[0028] According to one embodiment , the mill 1 also comprises a management and control unit configured to detect the energy absorption of the rotor 30 during its operation . The management and control unit regulates the actuation of the pushing member 60 as a function of the energy absorption by the rotor 30 . It is evident that a high energy consumption is associated with substantial inactivity ( or reduced translation) of the pushing member 60 , and vice versa .

[0029] According to one embodiment , the loading member 2 i s positioned above the feeding chamber 6 .

[0030] Preferably, the densi fying chamber 3 is contiguous to the feeding chamber 6 , and said densi fying chamber 3 and feeding chamber 6 are substantially aligned along a material movement axis M .

[0031] In particular, the material movement axis M is hori zontal .

[0032] It is speci fied that - for the purposes of the present discussion - the terms "hori zontal" , "vertical", "upper" , " lower" , "above" , "below" and related derivatives are to be understood (unless otherwise speci fied) as referring to the mill 1 in operating conditions .

[0033] Preferably, the rod movement axis S and the material movement axis M are parallel or coincident .

[0034] According to one embodiment, the densifying chamber3, the grille 4, and the vibrating table 5 are substantially aligned along a material conveying axis C.

[0035] Preferably, the material conveying axis C is vertical. Therefore, the densifying chamber 3, the grille4, and the vibrating table 5 are arranged vertically in axial succession.

[0036] The densified material, exploiting gravity, passes through the grille 4 and is then transported towards the outside of the mill 1 by the vibrating table 5.

[0037] According to the embodiment represented in the attached figure 3, the material movement axis M and the material conveying axis C are incident and preferably orthogonal to each other.

[0038] The feeding chamber 6, the densifying chamber 3, the grille 4, and the vibrating table 5 define a main machine portion P' having a substantially inverted "L" shape. It is specified that the inverted "L" shape is observable on a plane lying along the material movement axis M and the material conveying axis C.

[0039] According to the embodiment represented in the attached figure 3, the feeding chamber 6, the densifying chamber 3, the grille 4, and the vibrating table 5 delimit a secondary machine portion P" having a rectangular shape. It is specified that the rectangularshape is observable on the plane lying along the material movement axis M and the material conveying axis C .

[0040] According to one embodiment , the mill 1 also comprises a hydraulic and oleodynamic power unit 7 and a mill drive unit 8 .

[0041] The hydraulic and oleodynamic power unit 7 i s configured to regulate the axial translation of the pushing member 60 and to supply a lubrication circuit of the mill 1 .

[0042] In particular, the hydraulic and oleodynamic power unit 7 and the mill drive unit 8 are housed in the secondary machine portion P" , so as to limit the overall si ze of the mill 1 .

[0043] The mill 1 is also provided with an electrical panel placed inside a containment cabinet 9 . In particular, the containment cabinet 9 is also positioned in the secondary machine portion P" .

[0044] According to one embodiment , the mill drive unit 8 comprises a slide 80 and a motor 81 mounted on said slide 80 .

[0045] The slide 80 is movable along a slide translation direction A, so as to facilitate maintenance or replacement operations of the mill drive unit 8 ( or parts thereof ) .

[0046] Said slide trans lation direction A is incident to ,and preferably orthogonal to , the lying plane defined by the material movement axis M and the material conveying axis C .

[0047] Preferably, the slide 80 and the motor 81 are located below the loading member 2 and / or below the feeding chamber 6 ( figure 3 ) .

[0048] The motor 81 is electric and powers the rotation of the rotor 30 via a belt transmission 82 .

[0049] According to one embodiment , the densi fying chamber 3 comprises a lower chamber portion 3a and an upper chamber portion 3b connected to one another .

[0050] For example , the lower portion 3a and the upper chamber portion 3b are connected by a universal j oint 33 , preferably a hinge ( figure 2 ) .

[0051] In the lower chamber portion 3a a seat 32 is obtained where the grille 4 is housed . Preferably, the grille 4 is curvilinear and the seat 32 comprises a pair of curvilinear shoulders on which the grille 4 rests when the mill 1 is in operation; therefore , the seat 32 acts as a sort of cradle for the grille 4 .

[0052] The densi fying chamber 3 , in particular the upper chamber portion 3b, is provided with a fume extraction duct 34 to remove smoke produced during densi f ication, that is , from the operation of the hammers 31 impacting the material .

[0053] In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures 5 and 5a, a discharge opening 35 is obtained in the densifying chamber 3, positioned below the grille 4, that is below the seat 32. Therefore, the densified material that passes through the grille 4 reaches the vibrating table 5 by crossing the discharge opening 35.

[0054] Innovatively, the mill that is the subject of the present invention fulfils the intended purpose.

[0055] Advantageously, the mill is extremely compact and can reach extremely reduced dimensions when compared with any other mill currently on the market.

[0056] According to an advantageous aspect, the mill is fully automatic; in fact, once the material has been placed into the loading member, the operator only needs to collect the densified material from the vibrating table, as the mill does not require the presence of any dedicated operator.

[0057] According to a further advantageous aspect, the mill that is the subject of the present invention reduces the energy consumption of the rotor.

[0058] To the embodiments of the aforementioned mill, an expert in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may apply variants or replace elements with others that are functionally equivalent. Such variants are also withinthe scope of protection as de fined by the following claims . Furthermore , each of the variants described as belonging to one possible embodiment may be implemented independently in the other embodiments described .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mill (1) for densifying a material, for example a shredded and / or crushed metal material obtained from scrap, said mill (1) comprising: a loading member (2) suitable for receiving the material to feed the mill (1) ; a densifying chamber (3) comprising a rotor (30) provided with a plurality of hammers (31) , said plurality of hammers (31) being configured to beat the material and increase the density thereof until it becomes a densified material ;- a grille (4) suitable for being passed through by the densified material; a vibrating table (5) suitable for receiving the densified material that has passed through the grille (4) and configured to convey said densified material towards the outside of the mill (1) , wherein the mill (1) also comprises a feeding chamber (6) connecting the loading member (2) to the densifying chamber ( 3 ) , said feeding chamber (6) comprising a pushing member (60) configured to push the material into the densifying chamber (3) .

2. Mill (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pushing member (60) comprises a rod (61) translatablealong a rod movement axis (S) , said rod (61) being provided at one end with a pushing head (62) configured to push the material towards the rotor (30) .

3. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a management and control unit configured to detect the energy absorption of the rotor (30) , said management and control unit actuating the pushing member (60) as a function of the energy absorption by the rotor (30) .

4. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading member (2) is positioned above the feeding chamber (6) , and wherein the densifying chamber (3) is contiguous to the feeding chamber (6) , so that said densifying chamber (3) and feeding chamber (6) are substantially aligned along a material movement axis (M) .

5. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the densifying chamber (3) , the grille (4) , and the vibrating table (5) are substantially aligned along a material conveying axis (C) .

6. Mill (1) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the material movement axis (M) and the material conveying axis (C) are incident and preferably orthogonal to each other, the feeding chamber (6) , the densifying chamber (3) , thegrille (4) , and the vibrating table (5) defining a substantially "L"-shaped, main machine portion (P' ) .

7. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeding chamber (6) , the densifying chamber (3) , the grille (4) , and the vibrating table (5) delimit a rectangular, secondary machine portion (P") .

8. Mill (1) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a hydraulic and oleodynamic power unit (7) and a mill drive unit (8) , the hydraulic and oleodynamic power unit (7) and the mill drive unit (8) being housed in the secondary machine portion (P") , so as to limit the overall size of the mill (1) .

9. Mill (1) according to claim 8, wherein the mill drive unit (8) comprises a slide (80) and a motor (81) mounted to said slide (80) , the slide (80) being movable along a slide translation direction (A) , so as to facilitate the maintenance of said mill drive unit (8) .

10. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the densifying chamber (3) comprises a lower chamber portion (3a) and an upper chamber portion (3b) connected to each other, a seat (32) where the grille (4) is housable being obtained in the lower chamber portion (3a) .

11. Mill (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a discharge opening (35) positioned underthe grille (4) is obtained in the densifying chamber (3) , so that the densified material passing through the grille (4) reaches the vibrating table (5) by crossing said discharge opening (35) .

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