Double-Walled Mixing Head With Perforated Liner
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial mixing machines face issues with material accumulation and adherence in the mixing head, leading to incomplete mixing and contamination of mixed batches, especially when switching between different material compositions, as insufficiently mixed material falls back onto completed mixes and adheres to the mixing head.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled mixing head with perforations connecting the inner and outer walls, equipped with a flexible inliner that can be fixed via pressure adjustments, allowing for negative or overpressure to detach adherent material and ensure complete mixing by integrating it back into the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-walled mixing head with pressure control is used, then material accumulation and adherence in the mixing head is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure control through a double-walled mixing head design where the wall space between inner and outer walls can be pressurized or evacuated. This pneumatic system prevents material accumulation and adherence by controlling pressure differentials, eliminating the need for mechanical scraping mechanisms while ensuring complete mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a flexible inliner positioned at the bottom of the mixing head that can deform under pressure changes. This flexible element adapts to pressure variations in the wall space, maintaining contact with the mixing surface to prevent material accumulation while allowing the structure to remain relatively simple.
2Productivity
If mixing is performed in overhead position, then mixing efficiency is improved, but unmixed material falls back onto completed mixes causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using pressure control in the wall space to prevent material accumulation before it can fall back onto completed batches. The pressure differential is maintained throughout the mixing process to ensure all material remains engaged with the mixing tools, eliminating the contamination issue that occurs after overhead mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure control system acts as a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors and adjusts pressure in the wall space to prevent material adherence. This active control ensures that mixing efficiency is maintained without the harmful effect of unmixed material falling back, as the pressure differential prevents accumulation throughout the entire mixing cycle.
3Manufacturing precision
If mixing tools rotate at different speeds, then mixing thoroughness is improved, but material accumulation around tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic pressure control system in the wall space prevents material accumulation around mixing tools by maintaining a pressure differential that keeps material engaged with the tools. This allows multi-speed mixing operations to proceed without accumulation, as the pressure ensures all material remains active in the mixing process regardless of tool rotation speed variations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents unmixed material from contaminating completed batches and ensures thorough mixing by using pressure to detach and reintegrate material, maintaining batch integrity and reducing cleaning time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
which can be fixed to the inner wall of the mixing head by a negative pressure present in the wall space
Implementation Method 2
it is desirable to subject the wall space to overpressure, so that the inliner is deformed in this direction similar to a flexing process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A mixing machine (1) comprises a mixing head (3) equipped with one or more elements for connecting it to a container containing a material to be mixed, forming a closed mixing vessel containing the material. The mixing head (3) is pivotably mounted relative to a frame (2) such that the mixing vessel formed by the mixing head (3) and the container can be pivoted to carry out the mixing process. At least one rotaryally driven mixing tool is arranged in the mixing head (3), the drive shaft (23) of which extends through the wall of the mixing head (3). The mixing head (3) is double-walled, with the inner wall (8) of the double-walled structure being perforated. These perforations provide fluid pathways, connecting the space enclosed by the inner wall (8) to the space between the inner wall (8) and the outer wall (9).The wall cavity (10) is connected to a pressure adjustment device provided for adjusting the pressure in the wall cavity (10). A flexible liner (15) is arranged in the mixing head (3) to line its inner surface provided by the inner wall (8). This liner (15) can be fixed to the inner wall (8) of the mixing head by a negative pressure applied in the wall cavity (10). A liner for a mixing head of such a mixing machine is also described.