EP1252922B1 - Commercial scale device for mixing and dispensing of in particular viscous or pasty materials - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of the claim 1.

Under a device for large-scale mixing and a large-scale Expelling of materials is understood to mean a device which in the Usually not in a laboratory, where quantities of a few kilograms are processed be used. In terms of technology, quantities of material or understood weights which are above those of a conventional laboratory operation; so starting at a few tens of liters or kilograms and in tons or hectoliters walk.

State of the art

EP 0 196 291 discloses a mixing and squeezing device for mixing thick or pasty masses described, which is a large-scale application could find. In the known mixing device was in a mixing vessel a rotatably mounted mixer shaft arranged with a mixing tool, which also was axially movable. The vertically arranged mixer shaft pierced centrally Press plate, which also axially movable on this shaft to expel the mix was. The press plate was opposite the mixer shaft and opposite the circular cylindrical inner wall of the mixing vessel provided with seals. An outlet for the mash to be squeezed out with the press plate was in the bottom of the mixing vessel arranged.

The known mixing and squeezing was extremely susceptible to interference during operation and generally tended to leak, especially when squeezing.

In WO 93/23156 is a device for mixing viscous or pasty materials described. With the device, small amounts of ointments, Pastes, creams, gels and emulsions are mixed. The mixing vessel was unheated and had a screw cap with a single central opening through which a shaft with a paddle stirrer grabbed. The shaft was rotatable in the central opening and slidably held in the direction of the vertical vessel longitudinal axis. The wave could be removed from the central opening after unscrewing the screw cap be used and in the opening a so-called applicator. The vessel bottom could push out the blended material through the applicator be designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal axis direction of the vessel.

In EP-A 1 020 167 a device for mixing small quantities of viscous or pasty materials [bone cement] described. The mix was subjected to a vacuum. The mixing vessel stood vertically. Was mixed by manually moving a slider up and down with a mixing element. To the Exhausting the mixture, the soil could move upwards against the Lid to be moved. The air in the mixing vessel could through openings in the Cover part to be drained; the vacuum was also applied via the Cover part.

From DE-A 197 35 539 is to be used for laboratory operation unheated Stirring vessel as a device for mixing small quantities of viscous or pasty materials. It should be here while avoiding air access for mixing ointments, mixtures, suspensions or emulsions for medical or cosmetic applications. The mixing vessel was vertical and had a bottom and a lid part, with the shaft of the stirring tool could be guided centrally through the bottom or the lid part. The wave was hollow educated; through the inner bore of the sprouted material, in which the Bottom was pressed as a piston into the vessel. Material could through an opening be placed in the bottom, in the jacket or in the lid in the vertical mixing vessel.

In EP-A 0 796 653 is another mixing device for the production of small Bone cement quantities for direct treatment use described. The Device had a cross through the vessel lid part mixing tool. Here too was, as in DE 197 35 539, EP 1 020 167 and WO93 / 23156, the soil formed like a piston for expelling the mix. Over the cover could a Vacuum pump to be connected.

Presentation of the invention Object of the invention

The object of the invention is a device for large-scale mixing especially thick and pasty materials in a mixing vessel and for large-scale expulsion of the mixture produced from this vessel to create which works in contrast to that of EP 0 196 291 trouble-free.

Solution of the task

The object is achieved in that here in contrast to EP 0 196 291 the unit for mixing the materials and the unit for expelling Although the mixed material arranged in one and the same mixing vessel, but clearly from each other are formed separately. In fact, according to the invention, only one linear guide engages with mixing tool arranged thereon through the lid part. The expulsion of the mix is independent of the mixing arrangement by a piston acting bottom part made. The units used for the mixture and are the units used for expelling, except for an outlet in the Cover part, completely mechanically separated from each other.

As a mix there are e.g. Sealant, PVC plastisols, reactive adhesives the basis of PUR, epoxies and acrylates, structural adhesives, emulsion paints and varnishes in question.

The inventive device is used for large-scale mixing of particularly viscous and pasty materials in a mixing vessel as well for large-scale expulsion of the mixture produced from this vessel. in the Contrary to the known, above-appreciated devices of EP-A 0 196 291, the WO 93/23156, EP-A 1 020 167, DE-A 197 35 539 and EP 0 796 653 the mixing vessel axis and with it the "mixing shaft" no longer vertical, but approximate horizontal. An approximately horizontal position is as opposed to a vertical one Location thought. Under approximately horizontal and layers are still understood, which from the horizontal, e.g. with up to 30 ° deviate. Everything but an angle bigger than 45 ° from the horizontal, here is no longer considered to be approximately horizontal.

A vertical position may well be copied from well-known mixing vessels have been. However, the horizontal position is foreign to the skilled person, but gives in large-scale mixing devices and systems a great service friendliness, since the components, as shown for example in Figure 3 of the application, on a horizontal plane can be driven apart. Big lifting cranes are therefore no longer required for service work.

The horizontal construction also allows a rational process in the Production of medium- to high-viscosity, also reactive products. With a minimal Energy consumption, in a closed system and a gentle process, creates a homogeneous mixture. Only a solid floor is sufficient as a stand space for the device.

By this arrangement, an extremely stable storage of the axially displaceable Mixer shaft and a relatively simple design, clear and thus clean-acting seal against the outside are made. Also the bottom part used for pressing can now be very stable and tamper-proof be designed.

The device with its mixing vessel and the associated drive elements for the extrusion, the axial displacement of the mixer shaft and the movements of the mixing tool can in a linear structure, although in any position, be arranged standing or lying; but preferably is a horizontal Listing selected. Through a horizontal position - the geometric axis of the Mixing vessel is approximately horizontal; the axial displacements also take place almost horizontal - maintenance of the device is significantly easier to perform as in a vertical standing device, which need scaffold-like structures would. All elements and units are thus possibly without scaffolding from the ground reachable with a small easel.

Since now a pressing of the mix by a movement of the bottom part in Direction is carried on the lid part, the lid part is fixed with an outlet opening provided for the mix. Preferably, one becomes the fixed lid part also provided with the inlets for the materials to be mixed; also you will all other connections, for example, for a vacuum or pressurization on Attach cover part. You then have only one place to which all lines too lead. For cleaning and service purposes, it is preferable to use the lid part Removable from the mixing vessel, preferably removable (due to the large weight) form.

The bottom part is for pressing the mixture in the manner of a piston in the interior the mixing vessel, which then represents the cylinder wall for the piston, movable. Although the bottom part has a seal in the edge area, so too is the cylinder wall sufficiently smooth; but it can always happen that Mischgutreste sticking when moving the piston in the direction of the lid part and through slip the seal through. So that the minimal residues do not interact with the ambient air, may react under curing, a cover is present. This cover seals during the expulsion of the mix through the moving Floor part vacant interior of the vessel from the outside. It is in the field of Cover further comprises an inlet for preferably a neutral gas present to the To be able to flood the space between the hood and the bottom part.

The lateral vessel wall is designed such that it can be pre-set with a Temperature can be acted upon. Depending on the mix or materials to be mixed can thus be a temperature above or below the ambient temperature be specified. The temperature is preferably with a in Make the heat transfer medium circulating the vessel wall. The agent can in this case flow in laid in the wall pipelines; also you can have a double wall provide with a gap.

Although it can be chosen any cross-section of the interior of the mixing vessel become; For the sake of simplicity, however, one will choose a circular cylindrical. In a circular cylindrical cross-section, there are no corners where not mixed media could stop.

Preferably, both the piston acting as the bottom part as well as the mixing tool formed protected against rotation and tilting. Such a fuse is further eccentrically arranged by at least one axially acting shaft Wave reachable. Preferably, one will not only be an off-center additional Wave, but two opposing waves or three or more in the same Arrange angular distance.

As little as possible, i. no mix when pressing on the interior walls the mixing vessel and not on the axially movable mixer shaft sticks, rinsed seals are used there.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die in Figur 1 dargestellte Vorrichtung, wobei das Mischgefäß geschnitten dargestellt ist,

Fig. 3

eine zu Figur 1 analoge Darstellung, wobei sich jedoch der Deckelteil der Vorrichtung in einer Service- bzw. Reinigungsstellung, entfernt vom Mischgefäß, befindet,

Fig. 4

eine zu Figur 2 analoge Darstellung der Vorrichtung mit analog zu Figur 3 verfahrenem Deckelteil,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Deckelteil der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 dargestellten Vorrichtung, wobei hier die Ein- und Auslässe mit abgenommenen Verbindungselementen dargestellt sind,

Fig. 6

einen Querschnitt durch eine Dichteinheit, wie sie zum Abdichten einer in das Mischgefäß eingeführten Welle mit einem Mischwerkzeug, verwendet wird,

Fig. 7

ein Prinzipschema der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit beispielsweisen Anschlüssen und

Fig. 8

eine zu Figur 2 analoge Draufsicht mit geschnittenem Mischgefäß, wobei hier der Bodenteil zum Auspressen des Mischguts horizontal unter Bildung eines mit einem Neutralgas beaufschlagbaren Innenraumteil teilweise eingeschoben ist.

In the following, examples of the device according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description. Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

1 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 , the mixing vessel being shown in section, FIG .

Fig. 3

a representation analogous to Figure 1 , but with the cover part of the device in a service or cleaning position, away from the mixing vessel is located,

Fig. 4

2 shows a representation of the device analogous to FIG. 3 with the cover part,

Fig. 5

a top view of the lid part of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3 , in which case the inlets and outlets are shown with removed fasteners,

Fig. 6

a cross section through a sealing unit, as used for sealing a shaft inserted into the mixing vessel with a mixing tool,

Fig. 7

a schematic diagram of the device according to the invention with exemplary connections and

Fig. 8

a similar to Figure 2 top view with cut mixing vessel, in which case the bottom part for pressing the mixture is pushed horizontally partially to form an acted upon with a neutral gas interior part.

Ways to carry out the invention

The illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 large-scale device for mixing in particular viscous or pasty materials or mix has a mixing vessel 1, which is closed with a bottom and a lid opposite this part 3 and 5 respectively. Through the cover part 5 , a shaft 7 engages as a linear guide for a mixing tool 9. The shaft 7 is arranged in an approximately horizontal geometric axis 10 of the mixing vessel 1 . The inner wall 11 of the interior 12 of the mixing vessel 1 is formed circular-cylindrical and has, for example, a volume between 500 and 2'200 liters. The shaft 7 is guided by a sealing shaft seal 13 as a sealing unit in the cover part 5 . The shaft 7 and thus the mixing tool 9 are axially displaceable by means of a horizontally acting displacement device 15 in the interior 12 , as indicated by the double arrow 14 . Dispersing and blending is completed in two to six minutes for all products.

The displacement device 15 is fastened on the foundation 19 via four supports 17a to 17d and by means of two guide shafts 20a and 20b on the outside with flanges 21a and 21b on the cover part 5 . Furthermore, the displacement device 15 has a so-called hydraulic motor 23 for the displacement movement of the shaft 7. The guide shafts 20a and 20b give the guide device 15 stability against buckling and twisting.

With a manually operable further displacement device 16 , the cover part 5 can be removed from the mixing vessel 1 for service and cleaning purposes with the fastening brackets 25 detached. Here, the lid part 5 rolls on two provided with wheels 24a and 24b supports 26a and 26b. This position is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 .

The bottom part 3 is horizontally displaceable via a displacement device 27 in the axial direction of the mixing vessel 1 (axially). The displacement device 27 is connected to the mixing vessel 1 via lateral supports 29a and 29b on the outside. The two supports 29a and 29b also rest on four supports 19a to 30d connected to the foundation 19 . The cylindrical bottom part 3 is also sealed at its edge sides by a sealing unit 31 analogous to the shaft seal 13 of the shafts 7 against the inner wall 11 .

The displacement device 27 has in the geometric axis 10, a shaft 33 for displacing the bottom part 3 for the Auspressvorgang the mixed material. With a discharge pressure of, for example, up to 12 bar, a rapid emptying is achieved without the use of pump systems. As a result, a small residual amount is achieved. To prevent tilting of the bottom plate 3 during pressing, a further off-center shaft 35 is present. The bottom part 3 is covered with a cover 37 . The cover 37 covers a vacant when pressing interior part 39 . This released interior 39 can, as shown in FIG. 8 , be filled (flooded) with a neutral gas as a gas supply via a connection 69 indicated in FIG. 7 so that no curing of the mixture adhering to the inner wall 11 can occur.

In contrast to EP 0 196 291, all inlets relating to the introduction of the materials for the mixed material to be produced and for leading out the finished mixture to the cover part 5 are arranged here. The cover part 5 shown in Figure 5 has in its center a passage 41 for lying in the geometric axis 10 of the mixing vessel coming shaft 7. Left and right of the bushing 41 are each a flange 21a and 21b for the guide shafts 20a and 20b arranged. Above the passage 41 there is a connection 43 for a pressure or vacuum admission of the mixing space (interior space 12 ). During the mixing process and / or for the elimination of unwanted gases, for example, it is possible to vacuum up to -1.0 bar. On the other hand, the mixing pressure can also be adapted to the product: atmospheric pressure, vacuum and a pressure of up to, for example, 8 bar.

Through the connections 45, 47 and 49 materials for the production of the mixed material can be introduced. For example, a pipe conveyor for introducing powdery material can be connected to the connection 51 . Below the central passage 41 , the outlet 53 is arranged for the mix mixed with the mixing tool 9 . Left and right next to the outlet 53 there is a reserve connection 54 and a connection 55 for sampling. The cylinders 43a, 45a, 47a, 49a, 51a, 53a, 54a and 55a located outside in FIG. 5 are pneumatic drives belonging to the inlets and outlets 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 54 and 55 .

The bearing packing 63a-d arranged in the feedthrough 41 for the mixer shaft 7 has been chosen to be so large in its axial dimension that it can absorb tilting moments occurring during mixing. The shaft seal 13 has the seal packings 13a and 13b and has a passage opening 61 for the shaft 7. In the mixing chamber 12 adjacent end of the seal pack 13a , a first bearing strip 63b is arranged, which at a distance corresponding to about half of the package length , three follow further storage belts 63a to 63c . Between the seal packings 13a and 13b , a scavenging groove 65 is provided. This scavenging groove 65 is connected to a liquid inlet and an outlet 67a and 67b , respectively. The rinsing liquid used is a medium compatible with the mix.

Since the seal packings 13a and 13b wear faster with respect to the bearing bands 63a to 63c , the seal packs 13a and 13b are disposed in a replaceable seal pack carrier 70 of the shaft seal 13 . The seal pack carrier 70 has, as can be seen in Figure 6 , an outer contour with two disc-shaped straight circular cylindrical outer contours 76a and 76b , which stuck in a corresponding inner contour of the base part 78 of the shaft seal 13 . The two outer contours 76a and 76b are connected via a perpendicular to the geometric axis 10 extending wall 82 . In this wall, two sealing rings 84a and 84b are arranged in corresponding grooves for sealing.

Of course, other contours can be used instead of a circular cylindrical outer contour of the carrier 70 ; also those which prevent twisting by their outer contour.

The carrier 70 can now be fixed to the base part 78 of the shaft seal 13 by screws (not shown); but it can also be formed by means of a (not shown) thread on the outer contour 76a and 76b and the corresponding inner wall of the base member 78 screwed.

Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the entire device with the necessary connections for operation. In order to present the plurality of connections at least reasonably clear, the cover part 5 - although only once present - shown twice. The previously described connections in the lid part 5 for a pressure or vacuum application 43, the Mischgutauslass 53, the sampling outlet 55, the reserve connection 54, the "powder inlet" 51, the material inlets 45, 47 and 49 will not be discussed further. The cover 37 above the bottom part 3 has a connection 69, here for example for nitrogen. The nitrogen serves, as stated above, that in the smallest amounts in the space 39 between cover 37 and bottom part 3 reaching mix z. B. can not harden. A removal or recycling of nitrogen is not provided here; he escapes into the environment. If desired, of course, a routing can be done via a pipe system.

For heating (if necessary, cooling) of the mixing vessel 1 or of the mixed material there is an inlet 71 for a heating fluid at the bottom of the mixing vessel 1. Through the port 72 of this heating fluid is removed from the jacket of the mixing vessel 1 . The leadership of the process temperature in a wide range is easily possible. For example, products with a maximum permissible mixing temperature of 30 ° C can be produced flawlessly.

The rinsing liquid for the shaft seal 13 is provided with the system 73 and supplied through the flexible lines 74a and 74b of the shaft seal. 13 An analogous system 75 is provided for the Spülfüssigkeit the sealing unit 31 of the bottom part 3 ; the supply line via flexible lines 77a and 77b. The pressing of the mix is carried out by means of a hydraulic system 79 which is controlled adjustable by a computer 80 . An analogous system 81 serves to drive the mixer shaft 7 with the mixing tool 9 .

Thanks to a closed system, the device is for a batch-in batch Production system optimally suited. If a product change is necessary, the Downtime due to the high degree of self-cleaning and simple residual cleaning low.

The mixing and ejecting device described above is particularly suitable for producing (mixing) thick or pasty materials (masses); it but you can also mix low-viscosity materials and then expelled in containers become. Since the device for different mix with different Viscosity and different filling capacity for the mixing vessel can be produced, The dimensions and overall weight ratios of the device also change. If, for example, silicone-like sealants are produced, then such Device already a length of ten meters and a height of almost three meters at a total weight of about twenty tons.

In the above embodiments, curing is cited as a chemical process with the ambient air. This term stands for all possible chemical processes that can take place with the ambient air, the ambient temperature or other events. As the protective gas in the space 39 nitrogen is given above. Of course, other shielding gases can be used. The gas to be used depends on the properties of the mix.

In summary, the device described above with its variants a wide range of applications, an ultra-short mixing time, a safe Temperature control, a high mixing efficiency under pressure, a fast Emptying without additional units and efficiency thanks to a high degree of self-cleaning and little residual cleaning effort.

Claims (10)

1. An industrial device for bulk mixing of, in particular, viscous or pasty materials in a mixing vessel (1), and for the bulk expulsion of the mixed product from this vessel (1), wherein the quantities of material vary from a few decalitres or a few tens of kilograms to the metric-ton or hectolitre range, the mixing vessel (1) is closed by a base part (3) and a lid part (5) positioned opposite thereto, and a displaceably movable mixing tool (9) is present in the mixing vessel (1), characterised in that the mixing-vessel axis (10) of the mixing vessel (1) is approximately horizontally arranged, and a bed (19) having a first, horizontally-acting displacing device (15) is present, the first displacing device (15) co-operating with the lid part (5) and with a linear guide (7); and engaging the linear guide via the lid part (5) for displacing motion of the mixing tool (9), the base part (3) is designed so as to be horizontally displaceable against the lid part (5) with a second displacing device (27) resting on the bed (19), wherein the horizontal position of the mixing-vessel axis (10) and the horizontally-acting displacing devices (15, 27) greatly facilitate servicing of the industrial mixing device, since device components can be driven apart on a horizontal plane [bed (19)], due to which large lifting cranes and/or scaffold-like superstructures are as a rule no longer necessary.
2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised by valve-closable inlets (45, 47, 49, 51) in the lid part (5), through which inlets materials for the mixed products may be introduced.
3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by a connector (43) for pressurisation or depressurisation, which is arranged in the lid part (5).
4. A device according any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised by an outlet (53) arranged in the lid part (5), via which outlet (53) the mixed material may be expelled from the mixing vessel (1) into drums.
5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised by a covering hood (37), which seals the vessel inner-chamber part (39) freed during expulsion of the mixed material by the displaced base part (3) from the outside, allowing impingement of a gas in opposition to the environment, and an inlet (69) for a neutral gas into this freed vessel inner-chamber part (39), so that no reaction of mixed material adhering to the internal wall (11) can occur due to environmental conditions.
6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the lateral vessel wall (11) may be acted upon with a pre-determined temperature.
7. A device according to any one of Claim 1 to 6, characterised in that the mixing-vessel inner chamber (12) is shaped like a circular cylinder, the base part (3) is secured against twisting and/or against tilting and is displaceably designed as a part of the second displacing device (27) via an axially acting shaft (33).
8. A device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the securing of the base part (3) from twisting and/or tilting is provided by at least one further eccentrically arranged coaxial shaft (35).
9. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the linear guide engaging through the lid part (5) has a rinsed sealing unit (13) which has a sealing gasket-bearing member (70) exchangeably arranged in the lid part (5) for accommodating the sealing gaskets (13a, 13b).
10. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the base part (3) has a rinsed sealing unit (31) and/or the lid part (5) is designed so as to be removable from the mixing vessel (1) for cleaning and servicing operations.

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