EP2922672B1 - Fall duct arrangement, device, and method for cleaning a fall duct, in particular a device for gluing particles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device according to claim 1 and a method for cleaning a chute, in particular a chute of a device for gluing particles according to the preamble of claim 10.

The production of material plates from, for example, chips or medium-density fibers or other free-flowing materials are now automated processes and have already been used in many countries for many years. As is known, the compression of processed chips or fibers takes place either clock-bound or continuously. In addition to the many plant components before and after the press, the production of a spreading material mat by means of spreading machines plays an outstanding role, since the quality of the produced spreading material mat is an important factor in addition to the quality of the raw materials. The urge to produce cost-effective material plates from natural raw materials and artificially produced binders forces producers to develop more and more efficient processes. Special emphasis is on low downtime and low wear.

The present development relates to the field of gluing the particles with a binder. Basically, the term binder is understood to mean a so-called adhesive liquor which consists of an adhesive in its main component. Depending on requirements, in addition emulsion, hardener, formaldehyde scavengers, dyes, insect repellent and antifungal agents and other additives are added. It is also common to use the adhesive without additives.

The following are suitable as binders without any claim to completeness: isocyanates, MDI, melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), urea formaldehyde (UF), MUPF or PF.

The gluing is typically carried out such that the grit or the particles are introduced by means of a metering device in a chute and by means of nozzles which are arranged in the chute or this upstream, is acted upon or become the binder. The glued spreading material is usually in a downstream of the chute drum with rotating conveying tools (mechanical mixer) treated and / or glued on and then sprinkled to a grit mat and then pressed in real time, before curing a glue. Alternatively, the grit may be introduced directly into a spreader without passing through a mechanical mixer to sprinkle the grit mat and then crimp.

Such a device is for example off DE 10 2010 064 339 A1 , which discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1, or the WO 2011 134844 A1 known. In these devices, it usually happens that bind binder and particles glued with the binder on the inner wall of the chute, so that the chute tends to pollute with time. This makes it necessary to clean the chute regularly.
For the purpose of cleaning accesses or hatches are often provided in such devices, which are usually large industrial plants, can enter through the operator in the chute to clean the chute. The cleaning is usually done by means of high-pressure cleaner and / or steam, water or solvents or other additives offset cleaning agents can be used. As a rule, it is also necessary to mechanically remove the necessary caking of glue lumps or material-glue coagulations.
Here, there is the disadvantage that the chute is difficult to access and in many cases usually offers little room for the operator, which makes cleaning difficult, time-consuming and not very ergonomic.
In addition, the water or cleaning agent, along with the dissolved residual particles, passes through the outlet to the downstream mixer or other downstream equipment. It is therefore necessary to clean the mixer or these parts of the system after cleaning the chute; a simultaneous cleaning is usually not possible or useful.
A simple insertion of a closure piece as a collecting means for the Although cleaning agent and / or the cleaning residues can provide some relief here, but not facilitate the cleaning activities in the narrow chute itself.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a chute assembly and a method for cleaning a chute, which allow easier cleaning.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chute assembly that can be easily integrated into already built facilities.

It is also desirable to minimize downtime during cleaning as far as possible or to avoid altogether if possible, in particular preferably with low system complexity.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a method for cleaning a chute according to claim 10. Further preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

As a solution, a chute arrangement is specified, in particular for a device for gluing particles which at least partially consist of fibers and / or chips suitable for the production of material plates, the chute arrangement comprising a chute and a device for moving the chute and / or a chute element between a working position and a cleaning position.

In the cleaning position, the access to the chute or the chute element is not obstructed or impeded by other units of the gluing device, in particular a mixer or a dispensing and / or metering device. The chute or the chute element is therefore easily accessible, which greatly facilitates cleaning. In this cleaning position, there is also no danger that during cleaning a cleaning fluid, removed from the interior of the chute deposits or other waste enter the mixer and pollute it.

The means for moving may be arranged to perform a pivoting of the chute and / or the chute element about a pivot axis. In particular, the pivot axis may be a substantially vertical or horizontal axis.

Alternatively, the means for moving may be arranged to perform a displacement of the chute and / or the chute element along a track axis. In particular, the travel axis may be a substantially horizontal axis.

Preferably, a collecting device for collecting a cleaning agent is provided, wherein the collecting device is arranged below the chute or the chute element in the cleaning position. Alternatively, this collecting device can also be designed as a closure piece of the chute or of the subsequent system parts, in order to prevent the penetration of the cleaning agent, dirty water or detached foreign parts in these parts of the system.

Furthermore, a replacement chute or at least one replacement chute element is preferably provided, which is or is suitable for taking over the function of the first chute or the chute element and is preferably movable from a waiting position to the working position, while the first chute or the chute element moves in the cleaning position for cleaning is. Advantageously, the chute to be cleaned can now be exchanged for a replacement chute, or a chute element against a replacement chute element during a change of business or other short interruption. This makes it possible to perform the production undisturbed by the cleaning and largely eliminate the interruption of operations by cleaning the chute.

In this context, it can be provided that the replacement chute or the replacement chute element is designed as a full substitute, that is additionally arranged in a high-quality fully replaceable version or that one "Dummy" is provided, which is suitable only for short-term use and it lacks essential features, but on the other hand requires no large investment technical investment. Also, such a replacement chute can be made lighter overall and accordingly, the necessary suspensions or traversing devices can be made smaller, which reduces the investment costs.

A device for gluing particles, which at least partially consist of fibers and / or chips suitable for producing material plates, may have a corresponding chute arrangement.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a supply means for feeding the particles and a plurality of nozzles for discharging a binder, wherein the nozzles are arranged in an area within the chute and / or above an inlet opening of the chute.

The device preferably also has a mixing device downstream of the chute arrangement.

The device may further comprise a replacement chute or replacement chute element adapted to replace the chute or the chute element in the short or long term.
As a further solution, a method for cleaning a chute, in particular a chute of a device for gluing of particles, which at least partially consist of suitable for the production of material plates fibers and / or chips, comprising the steps: moving the chute or a chute member from a working position in a cleaning position and cleaning the chute or the chute element in the cleaning position.

The method may further include the step of collecting cleaning agent exiting the chute or chute element in the cleaning position with a catcher.

Preferably, in the step of moving, a pivoting of the chute and / or the chute element about a pivot axis or a displacement of the chute and / or the chute element along a track axis can be performed.

In a further aspect, the inventive features described above can also be realized, in which a partial opening is performed by moving or moving a part of the chute. Preferably, in this case, the outlet of the chute is decoupled from the downstream system parts or at least sealed by means of a suitable means.

It can preferably be provided that a replacement chute or a replacement chute element can be moved from a waiting position into the working position, while the chute or a chute element is being cleaned in the cleaning position. This makes it possible to perform the production undisturbed by the cleaning and largely eliminate the interruption of operations by cleaning the chute. When using an inferior replacement chute (element) this will serve as a replacement for the chute (-elements) only during cleaning, in a fully equivalent design can be dispensed with a quick return and at scheduled intervals, preferably in case of other production disturbances or interruptions an exchange or change take place.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch eine Vorrichtung zur Beleimung von Partikeln;

Fig. 2

zeigt in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Fallschachtanordnung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 3

zeigt in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Fallschachtanordnung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 4

zeigt in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Fallschachtanordnung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung; und

Fig. 5a bis 5c

zeigen in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Fallschachtanordnung gemäß einer nochmals weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated below with reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1

shows schematically a device for the gluing of particles;

Fig. 2

shows in a schematic plan view of a chute arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic plan view of a chute arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic plan view of a chute arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5a to 5c

show in a schematic plan view of a chute arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device for the gluing of particles beginning with the metering device 2 and ending with a mixing device 7 in a general representation. In between, a chute 10 is arranged. The particles are introduced as a particle stream 1 into the metering device 2, usually from a particle bunker by means of discharge devices, weighed there and introduced via a standard belt control (not shown) for metering into a first or upper chute section of the chute 10. There, the particle stream 1 or the particles impinges on an optional dissolving device 3 and is there dissolved and / or split into a particle curtain 5.

The opening device 3 can in particular rake and / or baffles, spoke rollers (consisting of at least two discs having a radial distance to the axis of rotation (with or without a continuous shaft) rods, tubes or the like arranged parallel to the axis of rotation) and / or opening rollers, preferably designed as spiked rollers have.

The dissolved particle curtain 5 is then sprayed by means of suitable nozzles 6 with a binder and glued.

In the further course of the particle curtain 5 falls through a second or lower chute section 12 of the chute 10 and then passes into the downstream mixing device 7, in which by means of a rotating shaft 9 by a mixing tool 8 mixing the glued particles again mechanically and finally as a mixed particle flow ( Output arrow).

The glued particle stream is then stored in a dosing hopper or directly into a spreader to form a grit mat in the further course can be pressed in a press to a material plate and / or cured, introduced.

Like in the FIG. 1 illustrated, the chute 10 may consist of several sections or segments or elements, such as the chute element 11 and the chute element 12, each forming a segment of the chute 10. However, this is not restrictive and it is also possible, depending on the application, that the chute 10 has only one chute segment, such as the chute element 12, as the chute 10, for example.

The FIG. 1 represents the device in an operating position or working position, are glued in the particles of fibers or chips.

To clean the chute 10, it is provided that the chute 10, or a chute element 11, 12, is moved from the working position into a cleaning position, as described below with reference to FIGS FIG. 2 is described.

The FIG. 2 schematically illustrates with solid lines a chute or a chute element 12, which is in a working position, wherein, the outlet of the chute segment is in communication with the inlet of the mixing device 7.

To clean the chute or the chute element 12, this or this is moved to a cleaning position, which in the FIG. 2 shown drawn with dashed lines. In the cleaning position of the chute or the chute element 12 is laterally offset relative to the working position, so that the chute or the chute element 12 is easily accessible from above and / or from below, which greatly facilitates cleaning.

In this cleaning position, there is no danger that during cleaning a cleaning fluid, removed from the interior of the chute deposits or other waste into the mixing device 7 and pollute it. In this context, it is interesting to note that usually the Mixing devices 7 are self-cleaning due to the high friction occurring therein.

Preferably, the cleaning fluid and / or the wastes may be collected with a catcher 15, such as a catch basin, for example, to be fed to an orderly disposal and / or reprocessing.

In order to enable the movement of the chute or the chute element 12, a corresponding device for moving is provided, which forms a chute arrangement 20 together with the chute or the chute element 12.
In the example of FIG. 2 the means for moving is designed as a slide rail 14 of high load on which a carriage 13 is slidably mounted. The chute or the chute element 12 is supported supported on the carriage 13. By means of a drive device (not shown), the carriage 13, and thus the chute or the chute element 12, can be moved from the working position into the cleaning position and back again along a substantially horizontal axis.

Preferably, two slide rails 14 are provided, which are arranged on both sides of the chute or the chute element 12.

It is likewise possible to move the chute or the chute element 12 by means of a portal construction arranged on one or both sides.

As before with reference to the FIG. 1 set forth, the chute element 12 may form an element of a composite chute 10. Likewise, the chute element 12 itself can constitute a chute.

Also partial solutions are conceivable in which the chute can be opened along a preferably vertical parting line.

The FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another example of a chute assembly 20.

In the FIG. 3 the chute 12 is composed of two chute elements 12a, 12b. Similar to the example of FIG. 2 may be provided for moving in the form of a slide rail 14, on which a carriage 13 is slidably mounted. The chute element 12b is supported on the carriage 13. By means of a drive device (not shown), the carriage 13, and thus the chute element 12b (represented by dashed lines), can be moved from the working position into the cleaning position and back again along a substantially horizontal axis.

In this way, the chute can be opened and both chute elements 12a, 12b are easily accessible from the side and can be easily cleaned.

It can also be provided that initially one of the chute elements 12a, 12b in the in the FIG. 3 cleaning position is shown, is cleaned there and then moved back again. Then, the chute can be rotated by a corresponding angle, so that next the chute element 12a can be moved by means for moving to the cleaning position. In the cleaning position, therefore, the chute element 12a can now be cleaned in order finally to return the chute element 12a back to the operating position of the chute in order to resume operation of the gluing device.

Thus, individual elements of the chute can successively be cleaned successively in the cleaning position.

This can be particularly advantageous in devices and in fall wells, in which further devices are provided within the chute, such as scraper devices, which are attached, for example, to a centrally disposed axis of rotation and rotate about this. By a chute, as in the example of the FIG. 3 is moved element by element in a cleaning position and cleaned there, it is not necessary to separate the axis of rotation of the scraper device, and yet to clean the chute in a staggered location, or at the cleaning position, so as to avoid contamination of the mixer.

The FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another example of a chute assembly 20.

In the FIG. 4 the chute element 12 is rotatably supported on a receptacle 16 about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The chute element 12 can therefore be positioned between a substantially vertical orientation corresponding to the operating position in which FIG. 4 shown in phantom, and an inclined thereto at an angle orientation as the cleaning position, in the FIG. 4 shown with solid lines, be adjusted.

In the inclined orientation corresponding to the cleaning position, the inlet and the outlet of the chute element 12 are again not obstructed or impeded by other units of the gluing device, in particular a mixer or a dispensing and / or metering device. The chute element 12 is therefore easily accessible, which greatly facilitates cleaning.

The FIGS. 5a to 5c schematically illustrate yet another example of a chute assembly 20. In this embodiment, the alternative use of a chute 10 instead of a chute member 12 is not lifted, but may be provided alternatively or in combination.

In the FIG. 5a is the chute element 12 shown in the working position A. Along the travel rail already described in detail cleaning position B (right) for cleaning the chute element 12 and additionally a waiting position C (left) for a replacement chute 18 for the case packer element 12 can be seen. The present embodiment assumes in the drawing that the replacement chute 18 does not have all possible features and / or high-quality materials and is used only during the cleaning of the chute element. Now, if a cleaning cycle is started, the chute element 12 moves from the working position A along the slide rail 14 by means of the carriage 13 in the cleaning position B, in which a collecting device 15 may be arranged to be cleaned automatically or manually. To minimize production stoppages, the spare chute 18 is moved separately or simultaneously from a waiting position C to the working position A, preferably also along the slide rail 14 and by means of a carriage. The Drive problem is as previously not shown, since it is commercially available embodiments of the expert.

Is the replacement chute 18 in working position A and the chute element 12 in the cleaning position B (see. FIG. 5b ), the operation during the cleaning of the chute element 12 can be resumed. In the present example as soon as possible after cleaning, preferably during a production interruption that occurs for other reasons (failure, product change) of the replacement chute 18 again moved to the waiting position C, while the chute element 12 changes from the cleaning position B to the working position A. In FIG. 5c Then the preferred operating state would be reached again when the high-quality chute element 12 in working position A takes up its work, while in waiting position C the replacement chute 18 is waiting for its next use.

Alternatively, in waiting position C, a collecting device 15 may also be provided or the waiting position C may be equipped as a cleaning position B. This would correspond to a positional arrangement B-A-B instead of a positional arrangement C-A-B. This is particularly preferably implemented if the replacement chute corresponds in its properties and essential features to the chute element 12, and thus continuous interoperable operation is possible. This may be necessary in particular in extreme operating conditions (highly adhesive binder), which make a weekly or even daily cleaning necessary.

While various embodiments and examples have been described above, these are not limitative.

Thus, a chute can have more than two elements, such as annular segments of a chute or, for example, each as one of a plurality of side elements, such as wall elements of a polygonal chute.

Further, various of the described concepts may also be combined or applied side by side.

Thus, for example, a chute element can be moved linearly into a cleaning position, while another chute element is pivoted about an axis.

Likewise, a chute or chute member may be both linearly displaced and pivoted about a pivot axis to be moved to a cleaning position.

Preferably, the chute is tapered in the direction of the particle from top to bottom in cross section.

The chute can be cylindrical, conical, cube-shaped, regular or irregular polygon, or wedge-shaped.
The chute in the region of the inlet and in the region of the outlet have cross-sections of different shapes.

The outlet may also be assigned a closure piece 4 (cf. Figure. 1 ). This serves to seal divisible chute elements with respect to the subsequent system parts or to prevent altogether during the cleaning that foreign materials in the subsequent system parts, in particular a mixing device 7, advised.

The cross sections of different shapes may be selected from circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, a shape of a regular or irregular polygon, and a shape consisting of composite arc segments.

The chute can be designed in several parts, with a plurality of walls, each forming an inner wall of the chute. In particular, in this aspect, a cooling device can be realized.

The present invention is also conceivable for the wetting of other dissolvable or free-flowing particles, such as, for example, flour with water or starch, or the like. (1446)

List of Reference P1446:

1

particle stream

2

metering

3

dissolver

4

closing piece

5

particle curtain

6

jet

7

mixing device

8th

mixing tool

9

wave

10

Chute arrangement

11

Chute element

12

Chute element

12a, 12b

Chute element

13

carriage

14

slide

15

catcher

16

admission

18

Spare chute

20

Chute arrangement

A

working position

B

cleaning position

C

waiting position

Claims (13)

1. Device for gluing particles which consist at least partially of fibres and/or chips suitable for producing material boards, further comprising
   a feeding means for feeding the particles (1); and
   a plurality of nozzles (6) for dispensing a binder, the nozzles being arranged in a region inside a fall duct (10) and/or above an inlet opening of a fall duct (10),
   characterized in that the device comprises a fall duct arrangement (20) with a fall duct (10),
   wherein the fall duct arrangement (20) further comprises a means for moving the fall duct (10) and/or a fall duct element (11, 12) between a working position and a cleaning position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for moving the fall duct (10) and/or a fall duct element (11, 12) is designed to pivot the fall duct (10) and/or the fall duct element (11, 12) about a pivot axis.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (13, 14) for moving the fall duct (10) and/or a fall duct element (11, 12) is designed to displace the fall duct (10) and/or the fall duct element (11, 12) along a displacement axis.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for moving the fall duct (10) or at least one fall duct element (11, 12) comprises a carriage (13), a sliding rail (14) and/or a mount (16).
5. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a collecting means (15) for collecting purposes, the collecting means (15) being arranged below the fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) in the cleaning position.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a replacement fall duct (18) or at least one replacement fall duct element is provided which is suitable for taking over the function of the first fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) and can preferably be moved from a waiting position (C) to the working position (A) while the first fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) is moved to the cleaning position (B) for cleaning purposes.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the replacement fall duct (18) or the replacement fall duct element is suitable as a full replacement or only for temporary use.
8. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing device (7) which is arranged downstream of the fall duct (10) or the fall duct arrangement (20).
9. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement fall duct (18) or replacement fall duct element which is suitable for replacing the fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) on a temporary or long-term basis.
10. Method for cleaning a fall duct (10) of a device for gluing particles (1) which consist at least partially of fibres and/or chips suitable for producing material boards, comprising a feeding means for feeding the particles (1); and
    a plurality of nozzles (6) for dispensing a binder, the nozzles being arranged in a region inside the fall duct (10) and/or above an inlet opening of the fall duct (10), comprising the steps:

    moving the fall duct (10) or a fall duct element (11, 12) from a working position to a cleaning position; and

    cleaning the fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) in the cleaning position.
11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the step:

    collecting, by way of a collecting means (15), cleaning agent that comes out of the fall duct (10) or the fall duct element (11, 12) in the cleaning position.
12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, in the movement step, the fall duct (10) and/or the fall duct element (11, 12) is pivoted about a pivot axis or the fall duct (10) and/or the fall duct element (11, 12) is displaced along a displacement axis.
13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that a replacement fall duct (18) or a replacement fall duct element can be moved from a waiting position (C) to the working position (A) while the fall duct (10) or a fall duct element (11, 12) is being cleaned in the cleaning position (B).

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