Mixing Tank Wall Roughness for Returning Adhered Material

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mixing technologies fail to effectively and reliably return materials adhered to the inner walls of mixing tanks back into the mixing process, particularly for high-viscosity materials, leading to quality and productivity issues.

Innovation Solution

A mixing tank with a higher surface roughness in the upper part of the inner wall, featuring indentations and protrusions, and a mixing device with a stirring mechanism that includes this tank, allowing adhered materials to be flaked off and returned to the mix under their own weight or with slight vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a smooth inner wall is used in the mixing tank, then material flow is smooth and mixing is efficient, but material adheres to the inner wall and cannot be returned to the mixing process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial return reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing tank inner wall is designed with different surface roughness characteristics at different heights: the lower part (where material accumulates) has a smooth surface for efficient mixing, while the upper part (where material adheres) has a rough surface with protrusions and indentations to facilitate material detachment and return to the mixing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a rough surface is provided on the inner wall to prevent adhesion, then material can be returned to mixing, but mixing efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial return reliabilityVSAvoidmixing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing tank inner wall is designed with different surface roughness characteristics at different heights: the lower part (where material accumulates) has a smooth surface for efficient mixing, while the upper part (where material adheres) has a rough surface with protrusions and indentations to facilitate material detachment and return to the mixing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If liquid spraying is used to wash off adhered material, then material can be returned to mixing, but the method is complex and not applicable to high-viscosity materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial return reliabilityVSAvoidwashing mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing tank inner wall is designed with different surface roughness characteristics at different heights: the lower part (where material accumulates) has a smooth surface for efficient mixing, while the upper part (where material adheres) has a rough surface with protrusions and indentations to facilitate material detachment and return to the mixing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 ensures that materials adhered to the inner wall are efficiently detached and reintegrated into the mixing process, preventing quality drops and productivity losses.

Implementation Method 1

returning a material adhered to an inner wall to material to be subjected to mixing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

an upper part of an inner wall in a height direction has a higher surface roughness than a lower part thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface roughness effect:

Data Source

PatentUS20250381539A1Mixing tank and mixing device

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

In a mixing tank, an upper part of an inner wall in a height direction has a higher surface roughness than a lower part thereof.