DE9321486U1 - Extrusion machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an extrusion machine, in particular for extruding chemical granules, preferably for detergents, with a machine frame, an extrusion press with a material inlet opening and a material outlet opening, a drive for the extrusion press and a molding tool provided in the area of the material outlet opening and a cutting tool associated with it.

In such known extrusion machines, the forming tool is fixed to the extrusion press. The cutting tool is also fixed to the extrusion press. During production with the extrusion press, it is necessary to change the forming tool and/or cutting tool at certain intervals. To do this, the extrusion press must first be stopped so that the production process is interrupted. After the forming tool or cutting tool has been changed, production must then be started again. However, this start-up process initially results in a certain amount of production waste until the production process is adjusted again so that the desired quality is achieved.

For example, there are manufacturing processes for the extrusion of detergents in which dry materials are first weighed and then transported over several floors to a mixer. There, various liquids are added to the powdery materials. The mixture is then fed to the extruder. If this manufacturing process has to be interrupted due to a change of a mold or cutting tool on the extruder, a batch of dry product remains in the mixer. When the production plant is restarted, this dry product must first be discharged before the extruder, as the dry product would otherwise cause the extruder screw to become blocked. Consequently, the mixing process of the manufacturing process must first be started up to the point where the mixer delivers a desired extrudable pre-product. Until the mixture delivered by the mixer is plastic enough, several hundred kilos of material are discharged before the extruder. Checking the mixture delivered by the mixer is usually done manually and is time-consuming and labor-intensive. If this preparatory work is not carried out conscientiously when restarting the extrusion machine, a complex cleaning of the extruder in all product-carrying organs is required.

Changing a forming tool or a cutting tool on such an extrusion machine therefore not only causes a loss of production during the changeover work, but also a considerable loss of production when the extrusion machine is restarted.

The object of the present invention is therefore to develop an extrusion machine of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that production interruptions for changing a forming tool and/or a cutting tool are avoided as far as possible.

This object is achieved according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 in that a changer device is provided which has a carrier element for at least two interchangeable forming tools and/or cutting tools, and that the carrier element is arranged to be movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the material outlet opening relative to the extrusion press.

The changer device allows the forming and/or cutting tool to be changed quickly and easily during the production process, as it is possible to "switch" between two tools at short notice, with the new tool being moved in front of the opening of the extrusion press, while the used tool is moved out of the opening of the extrusion press and can then be removed from the changer device and overhauled or cleaned.

Thanks to the invention, it is no longer necessary to stop the production process to change the mold or cutting tool, and there is no longer any production waste associated with this. The extrusion machine and the upstream machines can run continuously.

The carrier element of the changer device can have either only the cutting tools or only the forming tools, in which case the forming tool or the cutting tool are arranged stationary with respect to the extrusion press in the conventional manner. In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, both the forming tools and the cutting tools are accommodated by the carrier element, so that the changer device can exchange forming tools and cutting tools. This has the advantage that the operating personnel can also view and check the cutting tool at the same time each time the forming tool is changed.

and then, if necessary, decide whether the cutting tool should also be replaced or reused without being replaced.

In an advantageous embodiment, the carrier element is circular and is rotatably mounted in a changer housing that is eccentrically attached to the extrusion press in the area of its material outlet opening. If the forming tools and/or the cutting tools are arranged on a circular path concentric to the pivot point of the carrier element, one forming tool after the other can be brought to the outlet opening of the extrusion press by simply rotating the carrier element further. This "revolver-like" arrangement also allows for problem-free production changes due to the possibility of quickly changing the forming tools.

In a further embodiment, the carrier element is designed in the shape of a part circle and is pivotably mounted in a changer housing that is eccentrically mounted on the extrusion press in the area of its material outlet opening. This design is preferably used when only two or three forming tools or cutting tools are changed, which is then done by a pendulum movement of the carrier element. While one forming tool or cutting tool is in operation, the other tool can be exchanged.

If the forming tools and/or the cutting tools have the same radial distance from the rotation or swivel axis of the carrier element, then the tool change can be carried out by a simple rotation or swivel movement around the carrier element axis.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided in that the carrier element is accommodated in a changer housing attached to the extrusion press in the area of its material outlet opening in a substantially translationally displaceable manner, with the respective arrangements of forming tool and/or cutting tool being arranged next to one another in the direction of displacement. This embodiment represents an alternative to the design with a swinging carrier element, so that the same advantages are also achieved with this embodiment.

It is also advantageous if the cutting tool is formed by a rotatably mounted knife arrangement arranged on the side of the mold facing away from the extrusion press, which is actuated by a cutting drive. In such a rotary knife system, the knives directly touch the mold or are pressed against the mold during their rotation. The speed of the knife arrangement can be between a few revolutions per minute and several thousand revolutions per minute. For this purpose, a gear is provided between the drive and the cutting tool, which is preferably infinitely adjustable; but the drive itself can also be infinitely adjustable. A particularly compact structure is ensured if at least one deflection gear is provided in the drive train between the cutting drive and the cutting tool.

If at least one balance shaft is provided in the drive train between the cutting drive and the cutting tool, only minor vibrations occur even at high speeds of the cutting tool.

If the changer assembly is hinged to the extrusion press, this enables easy replacement of the entire changer assembly

and on the other hand, quick, easy access to the interior of the extrusion press is created, which facilitates repair and cleaning work.

Heating and/or cooling arrangements can also be provided in the changer system if this is required for a corresponding production process.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an example with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of an extrusion machine according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the extrusion machine according to Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified extrusion machine with a pendulum carrier element,

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 with a translatorily movable carrier element,

Fig. 5 a schematic side view of an extrusion machine with stationary forming tool and exchangeable cutting tool and

Fig. 6 is a schematic, partially sectioned side view of an extrusion machine with a stationary cutting tool and an exchangeable forming tool.

Fig. 1 shows an extrusion machine, for example for extruding pasta, such as noodles, according to a first embodiment of the invention in a sectional side view along the line WW in Fig. 2. The cylinder-like housing 20 of an extrusion press 2 is attached to a schematically indicated machine frame 1. A rotatable screw shaft 25 is accommodated in the cylinder housing 20, which is guided in a sealing manner through the end wall 26 provided at a first end of the cylinder housing 20, and is rotatably connected there to a drive motor 23. The drive motor 23 is also mounted on the machine frame

1. In the vicinity of the front wall 26, a material inlet opening 21 is provided in the cylinder housing 20, which is designed in the form of a filling funnel 21'.

The other end of the cylinder housing 20 forms a material outlet opening 22. The worm shaft 25 ends in the area of the material outlet opening 22.

A housing 35 of a changer device for forming and cutting tools is attached to the cylinder housing 20 in the area of the outlet opening 22. The changer housing 35 is circular and is flanged to the cylinder housing 20 by means of an eccentrically provided flange, with the fastening being carried out in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for example by means of radially arranged screw connections (indicated by dot-dash lines).

A circular support element 34 is arranged concentrically to the changer housing 35 in the changer housing 35. The support element 34 is rotatably mounted in the changer housing 35, with the axis of rotation 36 of the support element 34 parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the cylinder 20 of the extrusion press

2. This causes the carrier element 34 to rotate in a plane that runs parallel to the plane of the material outlet opening 22.

The carrier element 34 is penetrated by two axially parallel, stepped bores 40, 40'. The bores 40, 40' are arranged in such a way that the distance between their respective central axis and the axis of rotation 36 of the carrier element 34 essentially corresponds to the distance between the axis of rotation 36 and the axis 24 of the cylinder housing 20 of the extrusion press 2. In this way, the bores 40, 40' can be brought centrally in front of the material discharge opening 22 of the extrusion press 2 by rotating the carrier element 34.

A molding tool 30, 31 is inserted into each of the holes 40, 40', which forms a boundary of the hole 40, 40'. On the side of the molding tool 30, 31 facing away from the material outlet opening 22, a cutting tool 32, 33 is arranged, which consists of a rotatable holder into which a plurality of blades are radially inserted. The diameter of this blade arrangement, i.e. of the cutting tool 32, 33, essentially corresponds to the diameter of the molding tool 30, 31. The cutting tool 32, 33 is actuated by a motor or hydraulic drive (37) and an angle gear (37'). The angle gear 37' is held centrally in the hole 40, 40' via radial supports 41, 41'. A cardan shaft 42 extending radially from the angular gear 37' leads to the motor or hydraulic drive 37, which is mounted in a rear recess of the carrier element 34.

An annular seal 43 is inserted between the front side 22' of the cylinder housing 20 in the region of the material outlet opening 22 and the rear front side of the carrier element 34 in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

The seal 43 seals the interior of the cylinder housing 20 of the extrusion press 2, which is under high pressure, from the changer housing 35, so that no leakage occurs in this area at the transition from the cylinder housing 20 to the carrier element 34.

The axial force acting on the carrier element 34 due to the pressure generated by the extrusion press 2 is absorbed by a circumferential radial/axial bearing between the carrier element 34 and the changer housing 35. This bearing 44 is only shown schematically.

The carrier element 34 is provided on its circumference with a circumferential groove 45, which is provided with teeth at its groove base and accommodates a schematically shown drive chain 38'. The drive chain 38' runs over a pinion 38'', which is attached to the axis of an electric motor 38. The electric motor 38 is supported on the machine frame 1. Instead of a chain drive for the carrier element 34, a worm drive, a gear drive, a spur gear, bevel gear, or other drives or gear motors can also be provided. The electric motor can optionally also be replaced by a pneumatic or hydraulic motor.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the extrusion machine according to Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1. The circular support element 34, which can be rotated about the axis 36, has three forming tools 30, 31, 39 located on a common circular path, which can be moved in a revolver-like manner in front of the material outlet opening 22 of the extrusion press 2 by rotating the support element 34 through an angle of approximately 120°.

In Fig. 3 a modification of the extrusion machine according to Fig. 2 is shown, wherein the carrier element 34' is partially

is circular and has two forming tools 30, 31. By means of a pendulum movement corresponding to the double arrow Y shown in Fig. 3, the forming tools and the cutting tools assigned to them can be alternately pivoted in front of the material outlet opening 22 of the extrusion press 2. The drive for the pivoting is an electric motor 46, on the shaft of which a pinion 46'' is attached, which is in meshing connection with a ring gear 46', the ring gear 46' being fastened to the circumference of the carrier element 34'. In this way, by reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor 46, the carrier element 34' can swing around its axis 36' in the changer housing 35'.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which the changer housing 35'' is essentially rectangular and has a lower (47) and an upper (47') rail for receiving the also rectangular support element 34''.

In the carrier element 34'', two arrangements 30', 31' consisting of a forming tool and a cutting tool are arranged horizontally next to one another. On its underside, the carrier element 34'' is provided with a rack 48 which meshes with a gear wheel 48', which is also in meshing connection with the pinion 49' of an electric motor 49. In this way, by reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor 49, the carrier element 34'' can be moved horizontally back and forth according to the double arrow Z, whereby in a respective end position one of the arrangements 30', 31' consisting of a forming tool and/or cutting tool can be moved in front of the material outlet opening 22 of the extrusion press and the other arrangement is accessible for service work.

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A modification of the extrusion machine described so far is shown in Fig. 5. The extrusion press 102 is connected to a changer housing 135 at the front end of its cylinder housing 120 in the area of the material outlet opening 122 in the manner already described. The changer housing 135 has a through hole 140 into which a molding tool 130 is inserted in a stationary but replaceable manner at the end facing the cylinder housing 120. On the side of the molding tool 130 facing away from the material outlet opening 122 there is a rotatable carrier element which can be rotated about its axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder housing 120 in the manner already described. The carrier element 134 has a plurality of holes 140', of which only one is shown in Fig. 5. In each of these bores 140' a cutting tool 132 is arranged in a manner also described.

In this extrusion machine, a new cutting tool can be inserted behind the forming tool 130 by twisting or pivoting the carrier element 134. Of course, the other carrier element versions described can also be used in this design.

Fig. 6 shows a similar design to Fig. 5, but the cutting tool 232 is arranged stationary in the bore 240' of the changer housing 235 behind the forming tool 230. In the rear area of the changer housing 235, on the side of the cutting tool 232 facing the material outlet opening 222, a carrier element 234 is provided, which can be designed in the same way as the carrier elements described so far. A plurality of forming tools 230 are arranged in the carrier element 234, only one of which is shown here. By rotating, pivoting or moving the respective

By moving the carrier element 234, it is possible to switch between the forming tools 230 provided in the carrier element 234, whereby one forming tool 230 is moved into the bore 240' between the material outlet opening 222 and the cutting tool 232. The embodiments of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 can also be combined, so that either the forming tool or the cutting tool can be changed as required.

The previously described embodiments of the extrusion machine according to the present invention are based on a horizontal arrangement of the extrusion press and the vertical arrangement of the plane of movement of the carrier element in the changer housing. However, the extrusion press can also be arranged vertically and the plane of movement of the carrier element in the changer housing can be arranged horizontally; however, all angles between these extreme positions are also possible. An intermediate piece can also be provided between the cylinder housing 20 of the extrusion press 2 and the changer housing 35, which creates an angular offset between the axis of the extrusion press 2 and the axis of rotation 36 of the carrier element 34. The changer housing 35 can also be attached to the cylinder housing 20 via a hinge, whereby the changer housing 35 can be folded away quickly and easily if access to the interior of the cylinder housing 20 is necessary, for example for cleaning or maintenance work.

A preferred embodiment of the arrangements 30', 31' of the implementation of the invention with a swinging support element 34' has any angle between the arrangements 30', 31', wherein the angle is measured as the angle that between the two from the pivot axis 36' of the support element 34' through the respective center of the arrangement

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30' or 31' from the forming tool and/or cutting tool.

The extrusion machine according to the present invention can also be used for plastic and injection molding tools by arranging a vertically mounted changer with attached injection molding tools for metal or plastic injection instead of insert molding tools on a horizontally discharging extruder, for example, so that the injection molding tools can be used in rapid cycle sequence. In this way, the injection sequence cycle time can be increased, the cooling time extended and the ejection of the injected parts moved to a third station without further disadvantages. The cost-effectiveness is significantly increased by this process. Heating surface arrangements can be integrated into the changer system and can be supplied with steam via rotary connections or electrically via sliding contacts. Cooling arrangements can also be provided, with rotary connections allowing the supply of special cooling media such as cold water or brine.

The changer device 3 can also be designed as a retrofit part for existing extruders or screw presses of any size or design.

During the changeover process, the extrusion working pressure can be reduced by suitable devices and controls known to the expert, but the working pressure can also already be set flexibly in the design.

A practical example of the cost savings when using the extrusion machine according to the invention has shown that with an hourly output of 6000 kg/h per extrusion line and a price per kilo of DM 2.00 for the

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Extrusion press processed material results in a production loss of DM 12,000 every hour the extruder is down. If you take into account that the machine has to be switched off up to six times a day in order to change the blades, which takes 30 minutes, the invention saves several million DM in production loss over 240 working days a year.

Claims (21)

Weber & Heim _ , u D . . .... - 15 - D-81479 Munich German Patent Attorneys T . nog 7QQn ., European Patent Attorneys ™&khgr; 9!''7I ™47 Euro Trademark Attorneys hax Uöy" /y' blö6 L 712 PROTECTION CLAIMS 1. Extrusion machine with a machine frame (1), an extrusion press (2) with a material inlet opening (21) and a material outlet opening (22), a drive (23) for the extrusion press (2) and a forming tool (30) provided in the area of the material outlet opening (22) and a cutting tool associated with it (32), characterized in that a changer device (3) is provided which has a carrier element (34) for at least two exchangeable forming tools (30, 31) and/or cutting tools (32, 33), and that the carrier element (34) is arranged to be movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the material outlet opening (22) relative to the extrusion press (2). 2. Extrusion machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier element (34) is circular and is rotatably mounted in a changer housing (35) mounted eccentrically on the extrusion press (2) in the area of its material outlet opening (22). - 16 - 3. Extrusion machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier element (34') is designed in a part-circular shape and is pivotally mounted in a changer housing (35') attached eccentrically to the extrusion press (2) in the region of its material outlet opening (22). 4. Extrusion machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the forming tools (30, 31) and/or the cutting tools (32, 33) have the same radial distance from the rotation or pivot axis (36, 36') of the carrier element (34, 34'). 5. Extrusion machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier element (34'') is accommodated in a changer housing (35'') attached to the extrusion press (2) in the region of its material outlet opening (22) in a substantially translationally displaceable manner and wherein the respective arrangements (30', 31') of forming tool and/or cutting tool are arranged next to one another in the displacement direction (Z). 6. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that more than two interchangeable forming tools (30, 31) and/or cutting tools (32, 33) are provided. 7. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive for the movement of the carrier element (34; 34'; 34'') is formed by an electric motor (38). 8. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive for the movement of the carrier element (34; 34'; 34'') is formed by a hydraulic element. 9. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a drive chain (38') is provided between the motor (38) and the carrier element (34; 34'; 34''). 10. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a worm gear drive is provided between the motor (38) and the carrier element (34; 34'; 34''). 11. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a gear drive is provided between the motor (38) and the carrier element (34; 34'). 12. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that a rack drive is provided between the motor (38) and the carrier element (34''). 13. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting tool (32, 33) is formed by a rotatably mounted knife arrangement arranged on the side of the molding tool (30, 31) facing away from the extruder press (2), which is acted upon by a cutting drive (37). 14. Extrusion machine according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one deflection gear (37') is provided in the drive train between the cutting drive (37) and the cutting tool (32,33). 15. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting drive (37) is formed by an electric motor. - 19 - 16. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cutting drive (37) is formed by a hydraulic motor. 17. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the cutting drive (37) is formed by a pneumatic motor. 18. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one balancing shaft is provided in the drive train between the cutting drive (37) and the cutting tool (32, 33). 19. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the changer arrangement (3) is hingedly mounted on the extrusion press (2). 20. Extrusion machine according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the changer arrangement (3) is firmly screwed to the extrusion press (2). - 20 - 21. Extrusion machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that heating and/or cooling arrangements are provided in the changer system (3).