EP1424136A2 - Agitating apparatus for treating objects in bulk, in particular cork stoppers - Google Patents

Abstract

The mixer for bulk portion of cork buttons has a powered feed conveyor (24) which circulates on a path defining an exterior wall which forms a container (26) to collect the buttons (M) and mix them. The container is open at the top to allow visual inspection of the buttons. The conveyor path can be U-shaped with an upper feed branch (30) and a lower return branch (32).

Description

The present invention relates to a mixing device for the treatment of loose objects according to the preamble to the claim 1.

The apparatus according to the invention was developed in its application to the treatment of cork stoppers, but it is likely to apply in the treatment of several other small objects.

The preamble of claim 1 is based on the document FR-A-2 685 315.

This document describes and shows an apparatus for treatment cork stoppers, particularly for application by spraying a lubricant, and in particular a binder of the silicone type, to the plugs while these are brewed in a container whose outer wall is constituted by a blutoir or drum driven in rotation in one direction and in the other around a horizontal axis.

Drums or bluishers for such treatment have been known for many, many years.

For example, from document FR-A-515 108 there is known a process and an apparatus in which a spray is applied metallic deposit on objects kept in a state stirring in a rotating block around an axis horizontal.

Document FR-A-1,591,077 discloses an apparatus in which, in a rotating block around an axis tilted, a lacquer is applied to small objects, such as sliders for closures slides, also kept in a state of agitation.

Document US-A-4 831 959 discloses an apparatus in which, in a rotating block around an axis horizontal, a resin or wax on wood particles to coat them with binder layer for the production of articles agglomerates.

Document DE-A-100 08 512 discloses an apparatus in which in a rotating blocker, in the form of a mixer concrete, cork stoppers are dried and sterilized by irradiating with microwaves and rays ultraviolet light emitted by sources carried by a cover which closes the mouth of the mixer.

All these known devices, in which the plugs or other objects are treated in a blutoir or drum, do not not allow an operator to keep under surveillance visual processing of objects and, in the case of applying a substance to these objects during their do not allow the operator to dose these products based on experience: it can happen thus, especially in the case of a quality material inconsistent, such as cork, that applying a lubricating, impregnating or other substance turns out to be excessive or insufficient after a treatment cycle in the blutoir. So even a simple drying treatment may be excessive or insufficient.

The object of the invention is to realize an apparatus of the considered genre that allows an operator to keep under visual control processing of objects in said device and adjust the parameters of this treatment for the entire its duration.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a device as claimed.

In a device according to the invention, the operator can not only monitor the progress of the cycle throughout its duration, but it can also correct it at any time: as an example, in the case of the lubrication of cork stoppers, if at some point the operator, who with the apparatus according to the invention has the possibility of a continuous monitoring and inspection, realizes that the product sprayed or poured into the cap load is insufficient, it can add to the load more lubricant.

Throughout this description and in claims, the term "treatment" means any type of processing operation and / or conditioning (physical, chemical, coating, irradiation, lubrication, impregnation etc.).

Thanks to the fact that the trough is open above on all its extension, the operator is able to access any time to the treated objects and to any zone their mass, before, during and after the brewing phase, to inspect objects, control the process, assess its progress, take samples and possibly intervene to modify the parameters of the process.

The invention will be better clarified by reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to attached drawings, which show an embodiment thereof preferred, given by way of nonlimiting example.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'appareil de brassage,
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté schématique et partiellement arrachée de ce même appareil en condition de fonctionnement normal,
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté analogue avec l'appareil en condition de déchargement des produits traités,
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues de détail des zones indiquées par les flèches IV et V, respectivement, sur la figure 1, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective de détail qui montre un plateau de réception de poussières et fragments, situé dans la partie inférieure de l'appareil.

In the drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mixing device,
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic and partially cutaway side view of this same device in normal operating conditions,
• FIG. 3 is a similar side view with the apparatus in the condition of discharging the treated products,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are detailed views of the zones indicated by the arrows IV and V, respectively, in FIG. 1, and
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of detail showing a tray for receiving dust and fragments, located in the lower part of the device.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus comprises a robust frame indicated as a whole by 10, which is essentially consists of front 12 and rear 14 uprights, front 16 and rear 18 cross members, and side members lower side 20 and upper side 22.

In the frame there is a motorized conveying member continuous strip shape, indicated as a whole by 24 and whose preferred structure will be specified later.

The conveyor member 24 travels along a route which defines a trough-shaped enclosure 26 (Figures 2 and 3) constituting a container to receive the objects to treat, such as cork stoppers, whose load or mass is indicated by M in Figures 2 and 3.

The gauge 26 is open at the top to allow a operator to visually inspect objects at all times subject to processing and possible distribution of a treatment substance on these objects.

In Figures 1 to 3 has been shown by way of example a spray dispenser 28 of a substance of treatment (a lubricant for cork stoppers, by example), which the operator can move according to his judgment along the load M according to the double arrow F1 of the Figure 1 to evenly dose the substance in the charge.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the path of the conveying member 24 has a shape substantially double U, with an upper branch aisle 30, which defines the trough or container 26, and a lower leg back 32.

Advantageously, the course of the upper branch 30 of the conveying member 24 has an arcuate shape with a magnitude greater than 180 °.

This arc shape is defined by a pair of rotary side closing discs 34 which delimit the container 26 on both sides, are located laterally at inside the side edges of the upper branch of the conveying member 24 and are engaged by this branch upper, which causes them to rotate.

The two discs 34 are carried by a central pin 36 mounted in bearings 38 fixed to the upper beams 22.

The distance between the discs 34 can be adjusted by sliding along the axis so as to allow the adjustment of the width of the container 26 according to the volume of the load of M objects to be processed.

For example, in Figure 1 the two discs of fence 34 are shown in mixed lines in close positions to obtain a wide container scaled down.

In relation to the normal direction of circulation of the organ conveyor 24, indicated by the arrows F2 in the figure 2, the upper branch 30 comprises an initial section descending 40 which constitutes a ledge before containment of the load of objects M, an intermediate bottom section 42 with an extent of substantially 180 °, and a section final ascending 44 which ends cantilevered above of the bottom section 42 and along which the objects are trained before falling back to the bottom section 42 according to arrow F3 in FIG. 2.

Preferably, as shown in all the figures, the conveying member has a structure similar to that a roller shutter, with a series of slats 46 arranged transversely to the direction of traffic.

As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the slats 46 are fixed, by means of plates 48 of preferably at least one chain and preferably three parallel chains 50, including two end chains and one central chain.

The chains 50 run on respective sprockets which, with the discs 34, define said course substantially double U of the conveying member 24. In particular, a group of three driven sprockets 52 (Figures 2, 3 and 4), wedged on a shaft 54 carried by arm 54 which is part of the frame 10, returns the organ conveyor 24 between the lower branch 32 and the descending section 40 of the upper branch 30; a another group of three driven pinions 56 (Figures 2, 3 and 5), wedged on a shaft 58 carried by arms 60 which make also part of the frame 10, returns the conveying member 24 between the final ascending section 44 of the branch upper 30 and the return branch 32; two others groups of three idler gears 62 and 64 return lower the return branch 32 of the organ carrier 24.

The section of the return branch 32 returned between the two idler gears 62, 64, indicated by 66 in Figures 1 at 3 and 6, in the preferred embodiment takes a festoon-shaped and acts as a chain tensioner under the effect of the weight of the slats 46.

On one of the rear uprights 14 (the one which is not visible in Figure 1) is fixed a motor-reduction unit 68 with a reversible electric motor 70 and on an output shaft from which is wedged a driving pinion 74 which, through a transmission chain 75 and a driven pinion (not shown), rotates the shaft 58.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, on the trees 54 and 58 are fixed respective gears 76 and 78 in the same way diameter, which are interconnected by a chain of transmission 80, whereby the two groups of three pinions 52 and 56 are driven in synchronism.

The purpose of the chain drive, which in operation normal flows according to arrow F4 in Figure 2, is to not allow the upper branch 30 of the organ conveyor 24 lowers under the weight of the mass M, moving away from the discs 34 and increasing its length to costs of the lower branch back, which would produce a deformation of the trough and compromise its holding capacity.

To subject a batch of cork stoppers to treatment or other objects loaded in container 26 (the load M), the motor 70 is started, the movement of which is transmitted to the conveying member 24 and circulates it in the direction of the arrows F2 in FIG. 2.

In this way, the objects of charge M are shuffled in continuously and during their brewing the operator performs the treatment or treatments required, which he may wish to at all times under his visual surveillance, since the container is not covered.

The constant radius shape, completely regular and uniform, given by the discs 34 to the container or trough 26, ensures uniform and homogeneous mixing of the objects in any part of their mass.

Advantageously, but not necessarily, the edge initial containment 40 of container 26 has a height as if the conveying member 24 is circulated in the direction F5 opposite to that of normal circulation, the treated objects are dragged up along this edge 40 and project outside, according to arrow F7 of Figure 3, to be collected in a container (not represented).

With this arrangement, to discharge from container 26 the batch of objects at the end of the processing, the operator reverses the movement of the motor 70 and the conveying member 24 and the chain 80 travel in reverse, as indicated by respective arrows F5 and F6 in FIG. 3.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, in the mode preferred embodiment, in which the conveying member 24 is formed by slats 46, the apparatus is preferably provided with a concave plate 82 to collect any dust and fragments descended through slots which are preferably provided for this purpose between the slats 46.

The plate 82, which is constituted for example by a simple curved sheet of metal or plastic, is located between the bottom section 42 of the upper branch 30 and the bottom section 42 of the lower branch 32 of the conveying member 24.

The lower beams 20 of the frame 10 are provided with consoles 84 on which tray 82 is all simply placed, which allows it to slide according to arrow F8 in Figure 6 to extract it and rid of discharged R materials.

Claims (9)

Brewing apparatus for the treatment of loose objects, particularly cork stoppers, of the type comprising a container (26) for receiving the objects (M) and any treatment substance, and for brewing this container (26) being delimited by an enclosure (24) animated with a continuous movement to drive the objects (M) upwards from a bottom zone (42) and then let them fall,
characterized in that it comprises a conveyor member in the form of a motorized continuous strip (24) which circulates along a path defining an enclosure in the form of a trough which constitutes the container for accommodating the objects (M) and is open at the top to allow visual inspection and treatment of objects. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the path of the conveyor member (24) has a substantially double U shape, with an upper aisle branch (30) which delimits the container (26) and a lower branch of back (32). Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the path of the upper branch (30) of the conveyor member has an arcuate shape with an extent greater than 180 ° and comprises, with respect to its normal direction of circulation ( F2), an initial descending section (40) which constitutes a ledge before damming the objects, an intermediate bottom section (42) with a width substantially of 180 °, and a final ascending section (44) which ends at the door -overhang above the bottom section (42) and along which the objects are driven before falling back to the bottom section. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a reversible motor (70) for selectively driving the conveyor member (24) in the two directions of flow (F2, F5), and in that the flange d 'initial containment (40) has a height such that, when the conveyor member (24) is circulated in the direction (F5) contrary to that of normal circulation, the treated objects are driven up along said edge of containment (40) and extend outside to be collected. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a pair of rotating lateral closing discs (34) which delimit the container (26) on both sides, are located laterally inside the lateral edges of the branch upper (30) of the conveyor member and are engaged by this upper branch to define said shape in an arc of magnitude greater than 180 °. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the two discs (34) are supported by a central axis (36) so as to allow the width of the container (26) to be adjusted by adjusting their distance by sliding along of the axis (36). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor member (24) has a structure similar to that of a rolling shutter, with a series of slats (46) arranged transversely to its direction of movement. . Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one motorized endless chain (50) which circulates along the path of the conveyor member (24) and to which the slats (46) are fixed. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises a sliding and removable plate (82), situated between the bottom sections (42, 66) of the upper (30) and lower (32) branches of the member conveyor (24) to collect any dust and fragments fallen through the slots between the slats (46).

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