EP3476486B1 - Method and device for crushing bulk material particles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for comminuting bulk material grains and in particular grain grains and kernels. The invention further relates to a method for comminuting bulk material grains with a device according to the invention.

So-called. Groats cutting machines are for example from the US 1,744,169 and EP 1 151 797 A1 known. These devices comprise a perforated hollow drum which is horizontally rotatably mounted. The grain to be cut is conveyed into the interior of the rotating hollow drum and falls through the openings of the hollow drum. The cereal grains protruding from the openings are then stripped and cut on knives.

From the document PL 176 538 B1 a generic device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

A disadvantage of such devices is that not all cereal grains are cut in the first pass. The device for crushing is therefore always followed by at least one separating device (e.g. sifter or trimmer), which does not sort out or cut insufficiently cut grain, which is then returned to the device. In addition, the size distribution of the cut cereal grains is very wide and unsatisfactory.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for comminuting bulk material grains which avoids the disadvantages of the known and in particular a more efficient one and enables uniform comminution of bulk material grains and requires no downstream separating device.

The object is achieved with a device according to the independent claim.

• Verarbeitung von Getreide, Getreidevermahlungsprodukten und Getreideendprodukte der Müllerei oder Spezialmüllerei;
• Verarbeitung von Hülsenfrüchten;
• Herstellung von Futter für Nutz- und Haustiere, Fische und Krustentiere;
• Verarbeitung von Ölsaaten;
• Verarbeitung von Biomasse und Herstellung von Energiepellets;
• industrielle Mälzerei- und Schroterei-Anlagen;
• Verarbeitung von Kakaobohnen, Nüssen und Kaffeebohnen.

The device according to the invention can be used in the following areas:

• Processing of grain, grain milling products and grain end products of milling or special milling;
• Processing of legumes;
• Manufacture of feed for farm and domestic animals, fish and crustaceans;
• Oilseed processing;
• Processing of biomass and production of energy pellets;
• industrial malting and scraping plants;
• Processing of cocoa beans, nuts and coffee beans.

For the purposes of the present invention, cereal grains include both fruits from plants of the sweet grass genus and from so-called pseudo-cereal plants, such as Quinoa and buckwheat meant. Grain kernels are grains of grain that have been peeled / skinned.

The device according to the invention for comminuting bulk material grains comprises a first element with a first surface and a first receiving section, a second element with a second surface and a second receiving section and a feed device.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for the comminution of cereal grains and kernels.

The first surface and the second surface are arranged parallel and facing each other. The first surface and the second surface preferably touch.

The first element and the second element can also be moved back and forth relative to one another between a first position and a second position. The direction of movement, i.e. the motion vector of the first element and the second element lies in the plane of the first surface and the second surface.

When the first element and the second element are in the first position, the first receiving section and the second receiving section are connected to one another via a passage and thereby form a receptacle in which a bulk material grain can be positioned via the feed device.

When the first element and the second element are moved from the first position to the second position, a cross section of the passage is narrowed, so that a bulk material grain located in the receptacle is subjected to a shear force and broken or crushed.

The cross section of the passage lies in a plane parallel to the first surface and the second surface. The virtual area of the passage (since it is not a physical area) is reduced when the first element and the second element are moved.

In the simplest case, the feed device can be a simple opening which allows the bulk material grain to be positioned in the receptacle.

The first receiving section and the second receiving section are designed as a depression, in particular as a groove.

In such a case, the receiving section is defined by the depression or groove and an enveloping surface of the first or second element. In particular, the enveloping surface comprises the imaginary continuation of the first or second surface in the region of the depression or groove.

Alternatively, the first receiving section and / or the second receiving section can be designed as a through hole.

In this very simple embodiment, the openings of the receiving sections on the first surface and the second surface are arranged one above the other in the first position, so that a passage is formed between the first receiving section and the second receiving section. The openings of the receiving sections on the first surface and the second surface are preferably of identical design, so that these are aligned. In this case, a cross section of the passage corresponds to a cross section of the opening of the receiving portion on the first and second surfaces.

It goes without saying that the first element and the second element can also comprise a plurality of first receiving sections and second receiving sections, each of which forms a corresponding plurality of receptacles.

It is also possible that only one receiving section is designed as a through hole and the other receiving section is designed as a depression or groove.

The first element is designed as a rotor rotatably mounted about a rotor axis with a cylindrical circumferential surface, the first receiving section being an at least partially formed circumferential groove.

The rotor has an axial groove that crosses the circumferential groove. The first surface is designed as a side wall of the axial groove.

The second element is designed as a shear bar, arranged in the axial groove and movably mounted to and fro along the axial groove, the second receiving section being a recess in the shear bar.

The cutout of the shear bar is preferably designed as a continuation of the circumferential groove of the rotor when the shear bar and rotor are in the first position.

By "partially formed circumferential groove" it is meant that the circumferential groove does not necessarily have to extend over the entire circumference of the rotor, but can only be formed in sections on the circumferential surface.

The circumferential groove can have an annular or a helical shape.

By "axial groove" it is meant that the groove is parallel to the rotor axis.

The axial groove can be formed by a material recess in the rotor surface. It is also conceivable that strips on a rotor surface are spaced apart and aligned parallel to the rotor axis, so that a groove is formed between the strips.

When the device is operated, the rotor is rotated about the rotor axis. Bulk grains are fed to the circulation groove and the recess via the feed device.

The device preferably further comprises a housing with a housing wall which coaxially surrounds the rotor at least in sections and has at least one feed opening and at least one outlet opening for the bulk material grains.

It is understood that in such an embodiment the feed device comprises the feed opening.

The feed is preferably carried out through a feed opening in the housing wall, which extends along an axial direction, preferably over the entire height, of the rotor.

The housing wall preferably has at least one movable housing wall section. The movable housing wall section is arranged such that, viewed radially with respect to the rotor axis, the movable housing wall section overlaps the first receiving section and the second receiving section.

If the rotor has a plurality of first and second receiving sections, a corresponding number of movable housing wall sections is preferably provided, which are arranged adjacent in the axial direction. If the rotor has a plurality of shear bars, are preferably in the circumferential direction of the rotor also several housing wall sections arranged side by side.

It is thereby achieved that foreign bodies, which are harder than the bulk material grains to be comminuted and can damage the rotor, are pressed radially outward from the circumferential groove and / or the recess through the profile thereof. The movable housing wall section thus enables the foreign body to be displaced radially outward.

The movable housing wall section can be designed, for example, as a hinged flap. However, the housing wall section is preferably designed and mounted in such a way that an essentially translatory movement in the radial direction is made possible.

The movable housing wall section is preferably biased in the direction of the rotor, in particular biased in the radial direction of the rotor. The prestressing can take place using an elastic element and is preferably implemented with a spring element, the spring prestressing force of which is preferably adjustable. By adjusting the spring prestressing force, the movable housing wall section can be adapted to the bulk material grains to be comminuted, so that only foreign bodies cause a displacement of the housing wall section.

The at least one movable housing wall section preferably interacts with a motion sensor for determining a movement of the movable housing wall section.

The movement sensor can thus determine the movement of the movable housing wall section and consequently the presence of a foreign body can be recognized. Thereupon can be provided, for example be that the device for protecting the rotor is stopped or that the bulk material grains are sorted out due to the foreign matter contained.

The motion sensor preferably comprises a flexible line and a process sensor, in particular a pressure or level sensor. The flexible line is filled with a fluid, preferably with a liquid, and is arranged radially further from the rotor axis with respect to the rotor axis than the movable housing wall section. The flexible line is arranged in the housing in such a way that a movement of the movable housing wall section causes an elastic deformation of the line, which in turn causes a change in pressure or level in the flexible line. The process sensor enables the determination of a change in pressure or level in the line, which is attributable to the movement of the movable housing wall section.

The line is particularly preferably arranged essentially parallel to the rotor axis and is filled with a liquid, wherein a change in the liquid level in the line can be determined by means of a capacitive sensor.

The change in the liquid level can take place by directly determining the liquid level or by determining the displacement of a floating body in the line.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed opening is provided with a braking device which slows down the bulk material grain supply and supports the inclusion of the bulk material grains in the receptacle.

This braking device is preferably designed as a grid which is attached to the feed opening. A storage chamber on the side facing away from the rotor is also provided. The bulk grains accumulate in the storage chamber and thus reach the rotor through the grid with a correspondingly large perforation, line up in the circumferential groove and are carried along by the rotation of the rotor.

The rotor axis is preferably arranged vertically.

Due to the relative movement of the shear bar relative to the rotor, the cross section of the passage at the transition between the circumferential groove and the recess in the shear bar is reduced and the bulk material grains are thus comminuted. The crushed bulk grains then leave the device through the outlet opening.

The circumferential groove is preferably designed such that the comminuted bulk material grains can leave the circumferential groove, e.g. by gravity.

Additionally or alternatively, a finger attached to the housing can be formed, which protrudes into the circumferential groove and supports the leaving of the circumferential groove. It goes without saying that in the case of a rotor with a plurality of circumferential grooves, a type of comb with a corresponding number of fingers can be arranged on the housing.

The circumferential groove is preferably a circumferential groove. This means that with the shear bar in the first position, a circumferential groove is formed from the circumferential groove and the recess. The axial groove preferably extends over the entire height of the rotor.

The circumferential groove and the recess preferably have a trapezoidal profile in the radial section through the rotor. The profile of an isosceles trapezoid is preferred. The base of the trapezoid is open and matches the circumferential surface of the rotor. The other, shorter base side thus extends essentially parallel to the peripheral surface of the rotor.

This preferred embodiment of the circumferential groove ensures that the bulk material grains can leave the circumferential groove independently. In addition, damage to the rotor and / or the shear bar is largely avoided if solid objects such as Stones are present.

The profile of the circumferential groove ensures that solids, which due to their hardness cannot be crushed and could damage the device, are pushed outwards by the legs of the circumferential groove and the recess with respect to a rotor axis, without the rotor and / or damage the shear bar, especially if a movable housing wall section is provided.

Openings are then preferably formed in the housing, which enable foreign bodies to be removed from the device.

This is preferably achieved with the movable housing wall section. The movable housing wall section is preferably spring-biased in the direction of the rotor. The spring force of the preload is selected such that when foreign bodies are moved out of the circumferential groove and / or the recess through the profile thereof, the foreign body against the movable housing wall section is pressed and displaced, so that an opening is released through which the foreign body can leave the device.

Of course, it is desirable that the bulk grains be fed to the device without foreign bodies, e.g. through an upstream cleaning, which can be done mechanically, optically, magnetically etc.

Alternatively, a torque determination of a drive of the rotor can also be used in order to identify an increased load. A shear pin can also be provided in order to be able to separate the rotor from the drive if foreign bodies which cannot be comminuted get into the circulation groove. The load on the shear bar can also be monitored or the shear bar can be secured with a shear pin / predetermined breaking point, which separates the shear bar from a shear bar drive when overloaded.

The bulk grains can also be analyzed at the feed opening to identify foreign bodies and to take the necessary steps.

The rotor preferably has a plurality of circumferential grooves, which are in particular equally spaced from one another.

The shaving strip comprises a plurality of cutouts, each cutout being assigned to a first circumferential groove in the first position.

This means in particular that in the first position the circumferential groove and the recess assigned to the circumferential groove each have one form a continuous channel in which the bulk grains can be reduced.

The bulk material grains, which are located in the circumferential grooves, can thus be comminuted at the same time with a single shear bar. It is also advantageous that only one actuator has to be present for the shear bar.

In the case of a shear bar with a plurality of recesses, a recess assigned in the first position to a first circumferential groove is preferably assigned to a second circumferential groove in the second position, the second circumferential groove preferably being arranged adjacent to the first circumferential groove.

This means in particular that in the second position the recess, which in the first position has formed a continuous channel with the first circulation groove assigned to it, forms a continuous channel with another, second circulation groove, in which the bulk material grains can be reduced. When viewed in the axial direction of the rotor, the second circumferential groove is preferably arranged adjacent to the first circumferential groove.
Bulk material grains can thus be crushed when moving the shear bar from the first position to the second position and removed from the circulation groove or recess, whereby bulk material grains can also be comminuted during the movement from the second position to the first position, in particular if the device has several Inlet and outlet openings, which are arranged circumferentially of the rotor, is equipped.

Thus, the shear bar does not necessarily have to be moved from the first position to the second position and then back to the first position per comminution cycle. With a movement from the first position to the second position (and analog from the second position to the first position), several comminution cycles can thus be carried out, depending on the number of circulation grooves arranged between the first and the second circulation groove.

The rotor preferably comprises a plurality of shear strips, which are each arranged in an axial groove.

The shear bars are in particular arranged at the same distance from one another on the peripheral surface of the rotor.

The shear bars are preferably spaced from 1 to 10 mm apart.

The shaving strips are preferably also between 1 and 10 mm wide. In particular, the width of the shaving bars is equal to the distance between the adjacent shaving bars, so that a uniform size reduction - i.e. a narrow particle size distribution - is achieved.

The circumferential groove preferably has a width between 1 and 10 mm and / or a depth between 1 and 10 mm.

The rotor preferably has an outside diameter between 200 and 600 mm.

The housing wall, which at least partially surrounds the rotor, is preferably arranged at a distance of between 0 and 5 mm from the peripheral surface of the rotor.

The housing wall thus serves as a termination of the circumferential groove, so that the bulk material grains arranged in the circumferential groove remain in the circumferential groove when the shear bar is moved. As above The housing wall or parts thereof can be described with openings for the removal of foreign bodies and / or with movable and possibly spring-biased housing wall sections for.

The rotor can preferably be driven at a speed of between 5 and 100 revolutions / min.

The shear bar is preferably displaceable by means of a cam mechanism.

A cam mechanism is a very simple variant for forming an actuator for the shear bar.

However, it goes without saying that the shear bar can also be driven differently, e.g. by means of mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

The cam mechanism comprises at least one control cam, which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor at an axial end of the rotor. The control curve is preferably a control wheel which is rotatably mounted about an axis. The control curve is arranged in such a way that an axial end of the shear strip (s) touches the control curve and is moved axially when the rotor rotates.

The axial end of the shaving bar, which cooperates with the control cam, preferably comprises a plunger which is axially guided in a guide bore of the rotor.

The stamp preferably interacts with an elastic element, in particular a spring element, or is already pretensioned in the axial direction. This ensures that the movement between the first position and the second position is effected in one direction only by the control curve, the shear strip being moved back in the opposite direction by the elastic element. Alternatively, control disks can be provided on both axial ends of the rotor, which control the movement of the shear bar between the first position and the second position.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of adjacent shaving strips are assigned to a stamp, so that the cutting strips can be moved in groups between the first position and the second position.

This preferred drive arrangement allows large forces to be exerted on the shaving strips, which are necessary for crushing the bulk material grains. In addition, such a drive arrangement is very robust, simple in construction and low in wear.

The cam mechanism preferably comprises a circumferential groove in which a projection of the shear bar is arranged. The circumferential groove serves as a guide for the projection of the shear bar and is designed such that the shear bar is moved back and forth between the first position and the second position when the rotor is rotated.

The invention further relates to a method for comminuting bulk material grains with a device according to the invention, in which method the product is not returned. The product is thus fed to a subsequent process step or stored. In contrast to methods according to the prior art, where the particle size distribution of the devices is unsatisfactory and the product after crushing sieved and / or separated according to shape (e.g. by a trimmer) and the not or insufficiently comminuted bulk material grains are returned to the device, it is possible with a device as described above to process the comminuted bulk material grains directly, i.e. without a separation step, without that a product return takes place on the same device or on an analog device.

In particular, it is possible, by selecting the dimensions of the first receiving section and the second receiving section, to define the maximum particle size of the comminuted bulk material grains. The distance perpendicular to the first or second surface between the plane of the passage and a delimitation of the first or second receiving section determines the maximum grain size that can be achieved with the device.

In the case of a device with shear bars which are equally spaced from one another and are as wide as the distance between the adjacent shear bars, the maximum grain size corresponds exactly to the width of the shear bar.

Fig. 1

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer ersten, nicht erfindungsgemässen Ausführungsform;

Fig. 2

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten, nicht erfindungsgemässen Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit geschlossenem Gehäuse;

Fig. 4

die Vorrichtung der Fig. 3 mit offenem Gehäuse;

Fig. 5A

eine schematische Darstellung des Rotors der Figur 4 in der ersten Position;

Fig. 5B

eine schematische Darstellung des Rotors der Figur 4 beim Bewegen von der ersten Position in die zweite Position;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Ansicht der Zufuhröffnung und der Auslassöffnung der Vorrichtung der Figur 4;

Fig. 7A

eine Prinzipskizze der Funktionsweise der Scherleiste in der ersten Position;

Fig. 7B

eine Prinzipskizze der Funktionsweise der Scherleiste beim Bewegen von der ersten Position in die zweite Position;

Fig. 8A

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Steuerkurve mit Stempeln zur axialen Bewegung der Scherleisten;

Fig. 8B

eine teilweise Schnittansicht der Steuerkurve mit Stempeln;

Fig. 9

eine Schnittansicht durch die Gehäusewand mit beweglichen Gehäusewandabschnitten; und

Fig. 10

eine Schnittansicht durch die Gehäusewand mit beweglichen Gehäusewandabschnitten und Bewegungssensor.

The invention is better described below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic, perspective view of a first embodiment not according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a schematic, perspective view of a second embodiment not according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of an inventive device with a closed housing;

Fig. 4

the device of the Fig. 3 with open housing;

Figure 5A

a schematic representation of the rotor of the Figure 4 in the first position;

Figure 5B

a schematic representation of the rotor of the Figure 4 when moving from the first position to the second position;

Fig. 6

is a schematic view of the supply opening and the outlet opening of the device of Figure 4 ;

Figure 7A

a schematic diagram of the operation of the shaving bar in the first position;

Figure 7B

a schematic diagram of the operation of the shaving bar when moving from the first position to the second position;

Figure 8A

a perspective view of a control cam with stamps for axial movement of the shear bars;

Figure 8B

a partial sectional view of the control cam with stamps;

Fig. 9

a sectional view through the housing wall with movable housing wall sections; and

Fig. 10

a sectional view through the housing wall with movable housing wall sections and motion sensor.

In the Figure 1 an embodiment of a device not according to the invention is shown schematically.

The device 1 comprises a first element 2 and a second element 5, each with a through hole, which form a first and a second receiving section 4 or 7 for a bulk material K. The receiving sections 4 and 7 thus form a receptacle for the bulk grain K. The through hole 7 is shown in dashed lines since it is covered by the first element 2. The first and second elements 2 and 5 also each have a flat surface 3 or 6, which are arranged parallel to one another. The through holes 4 and 7 are aligned. A passage 9 connects the first through hole 4 and the second through hole 7.

When moving the first element 2 and / or the second element 5 along the direction of movement M from that in FIG Figure 1 shown first position P1, a cross section of the passage 9 is reduced and the bulk material is crushed by shear. The crushed bulk grain K can then be removed from the device 1 through the through hole 4 and / or 7.

According to the invention, the first element 2 and the second element 5 are moved back and forth between the first position P1 and a second position P2, not shown, by means of a drive. The direction of movement M lies in the plane of the first surface 3 or second surface 6.

In the Figure 2 An alternative embodiment of the device 1, not according to the invention, is shown in the first position P1.

In contrast to device 1 Figure 1 however, the receiving sections 4 and 7 are formed as a depression of the respective element 2 and 5, respectively.

In this case too, by moving the first element 2 and / or the second element 5 along the direction of movement M from that in FIG Figure 2 shown first position P1, a cross section of the passage 9 is reduced and the bulk material grain is crushed by shear.

In the Figure 3 A device 1 according to the invention for comminuting bulk material grains is shown. The device 1 comprises a housing 11 which has a feed opening 8 and an outlet opening 12 for the bulk material grains K.

In the Figure 4 the housing 11 is opened so that the internal structure of the device 1 can be seen. The device 1 comprises a rotor 21 with a cylindrical peripheral surface, which in the Figures 5A and 5B is shown schematically. The rotor 21 is rotatably supported about a rotor axis A by means of bearings 13. A motor unit 14 comprising a motor and a gear serves as a rotor drive.

In the Figures 5A and 5B the rotor 21 is shown schematically. The rotor 21 has on its circumferential surface a plurality of circumferential circumferential grooves 41, 41 ', only two of which are shown, which are designed to receive the bulk material grains K. Each circumferential groove 41, 41 'has a width B and a depth T extending in the radial direction of the rotor 21 (which in FIG Figure 7A will be shown).

The rotor 21 also has a plurality of shear bars 51, 51 ', of which only the shear bar 51 in the Figures 5A and 5B is shown. The shear bar 51 is arranged in an axial groove 10 of the rotor 21 and can be displaced along a direction of movement M. The axial groove 10 crosses the circumferential groove 41 (and 41 '). The rotor thus has a plurality of axial grooves, in which Figures 5A and 5B only one axial groove 10 is shown for the sake of simplicity.

It can be seen that the operation of the device of the Figure 2 corresponds. The first receiving section is designed as a circumferential groove 41, and the first surface 3 corresponds to a side wall 31 of the axial groove 10.

The shear bar 51 thus corresponds to the second element 5, the second receiving section 7 being designed as a recess 71 in the shear bar 51. A side surface 61 of the shear bar 51, which borders on the side wall 31 of the axial groove 10, accordingly corresponds to the second surface 6 of the second element 5. The circumferential groove 41 and recess 71 have an identical cross section in radial section through the rotor 21 and are in the first Position P1 of the Figure 5A aligned.

When the device 1 is operated, the bulk material grains K are fed via the feed opening 8 to the rotating rotor 21, where they enter the circumferential grooves 41, 41 'and are carried along by the rotation of the rotor 21.

One end of the shear bars 51, 51 'cooperates with a cam 15, which is arranged at an end face of the rotor 21. When the rotor 21 is rotated, the shear bars 51, 51 'are thus between a first position P1 (which in the Figure 5A is shown) and a second, not shown position P2 moved back and forth. The associated reduction in the cross section of a transition 9 between the respective Circumferential groove 41, 41 'and the recess 71, 71' of the shear bar 51 in the region of the intersection between the circumferential grooves 41, 41 'and axial grooves 10, 10' has the consequence that the bulk material grains K are crushed.

The shredding is in the Figure 5B shown. If the width B of the circumferential groove 41, 41 'corresponds to the width of the shear bar 51, it can thus be ensured that the size distribution of the comminuted bulk material grains K corresponds to a maximum of B.

After the bulk material grains have been cut, they are removed from the circulation groove 41, 41 ′ and leave the device 1 through the outlet opening 12.

In the Figure 6 a detail of the feed and discharge device of the device 1 is shown separately. The inlet 8 and outlet opening 12 are connected via a line to corresponding inlet openings 80 and outlet openings 120 of a housing wall 16. In a preferred embodiment, between 4 and 8 inlet openings 80 or outlet openings 120 are arranged circumferentially of the rotor 21, wherein in the Figure 6 only one entrance opening 80 and one exit opening 120 are shown. The entrance opening 80 is provided with a grid 17. Arranged on the side facing away from the rotor 21 is a storage container 18 which is filled with bulk material grains when the device 1 is operated, so that it can be ensured that bulk material grains can be fed to the rotor 21 over the entire height. The grid 17 supports the formation of a bulk material column in the storage container 18 and ensures that not too many bulk materials reach the rotor 21, which could lead to faults in the device 1.

When viewed in the direction of rotation R of the rotor 21, which is shown schematically by the arrow, an outlet opening 120 is arranged downstream of the inlet opening 80. A comb device 19 is attached to the housing wall 16. The comb device 19 has a plurality of fingers 20, which are each assigned to a circumferential groove 41, 41 'of the device. The fingers 20 protrude into the respective circumferential groove 41, 41 'and have the effect that the comminuted bulk material grains are removed from the circumferential groove 41, 41' and can leave the device 1 through the outlet opening 120 for further processing.

In the Figures 7A and 7B the function of the cam plate 15 as a possible drive of the shear bars 51, 51 'is shown schematically. The shear bar 51 is shown in simplified form with only one recess 71. The cam disc 15 comprises a circumferential groove 22 which is formed facing the rotor axis A. At the lower end of the shear bar 51, a projection 23 is formed, which is received in the circumferential groove 22. When the rotor 21 is rotated, the shear bar 51 is also rotated, while the cam plate 15, however, is firmly connected to the device 1. The circumferential groove 22 is designed such that the shear bar 51 axially rotates between the first position P1 of the Figure 7A and a second position P2 is moved. In the Figure 7B is an intermediate position between the first position P1 of the Figure 7A and the second position P2, the circumferential groove 41 of the rotor 21 being shown in dashed lines. It should be noted that the cross section of the passage 9 of the shear bar 51 of the Figure 7A and 7B is trapezoidal with a depth T.

In the Figures 8A and 8B Another embodiment of the drive of the shear bars 51, 51 'is shown. The scraper bars 51, 51 'etc. are connected to a holder 29 in a tensile and compressive manner. The holder 29 is in turn connected to a stamp 27 in a tensile and compressive manner. The punches 27 and 27 'etc. (of which only two are provided with a reference symbol for the sake of clarity) are guided axially in an associated guide bore 30 or 30' of the rotor 21 with respect to the axis of rotation A of the rotor 21. A spiral spring 28 surrounds the respective stamp 27, 27 'etc. and is supported at one end on the rotor 21 and at the other end on the respective stamp 27.

In the area of the axial end S of the rotor 21, a plurality of control cams 26 are arranged, of which only one is in the Figures 8A and 8B are visible. The control cam 26 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor 21, so that it does not remain stationary when the rotor 21 is rotating, is designed as a circular control wheel and is freely rotatable about the axis Z — ie without a drive.

When the rotor 21 rotates, an upper, lenticular head 32 of the plunger 27 comes into contact with the outer surface 33 of the control cam 26. The plunger 27 is first pressed down until the top of the outer surface 33 is reached, the direction of movement of the plunger 27 in Is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation A of the rotor 21. The control cam 26 is simultaneously rotated about the Z axis by friction.

The movement of the plunger 27 moves the shear bars 51, 51 'etc. from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The punch 27 is moved against a spring force of the spiral spring 28. The coil spring 28 is thus compressed.

The stamp 27 is pressed upward by the spring force of the spiral spring 28. By further rotation of the rotor 21 and The ram 27 is moved upward again in the course of the lateral surface 33 until the holder 29 experiences a stop against a stop surface of the rotor 21. The shear bars 51, 51 'etc. thus return from the second position P2 to the starting position, which corresponds to the first position P1.

In order to increase the throughput of the device 1, in accordance with the examples described above, a plurality of control cams 26 are provided which drive the shear bars 51, 51 'etc. between the respective input opening 80 and output opening 120.

In the Figure 9 an axial sectional view of the rotor 21 is partially shown. The housing wall 16 comprises a plurality of housing wall segments 24, which are each assigned to a circumferential groove 41 of the rotor 21 and are arranged next to one another in the axial direction of the rotor 21. For the sake of clarity, only one housing wall section 24 is provided with a reference symbol.

Each housing wall section 24 is biased in the direction of the rotor 21 by a spiral spring 34.

As already explained above, the trapezoidal profile of the circumferential groove 41 and the recess 71 causes the bulk material grains K to be pressed against the housing wall 16 when the shear bar 51 is moved.

The biasing force of the spiral spring 34 is selected such that the housing wall sections 24 are not displaced when the shear bar 51 is moved. However, if a foreign body, which is hard and therefore cannot be shredded by the device 1, gets into the circumferential groove 41 and the recess 71, the trapezoidal profile causes the foreign body against the associated one Housing wall section 24 is pressed and moves it in the radial direction of the rotor 21 to the outside. This largely prevents damage to the rotor 21 and in particular the circumferential groove 41 or the recess 71 in the shear bar 51.

In the Figure 10 a preferred development of the housing wall 16 is shown. The housing wall 16 comprises a plurality of movable housing wall sections 24, which are analogous to the housing wall sections 24 Figure 9 are trained. The device 1 additionally comprises a motion sensor 25. The motion sensor 25 comprises a flexible line 35, which is arranged radially with respect to the axis of rotation A outside the housing wall 16, immediately behind the housing wall sections 24. The flexible line 35 runs parallel to the axis of rotation A of the rotor 21 and is filled to a desired level with a liquid.

A level sensor, not shown, monitors the liquid level. The flexible line 35 is arranged in such a way that it is squeezed when a housing wall section 24 is displaced outwards, thus causing an increase in the liquid level. The level sensor determines the deviation of the liquid level from the target level. It can thus be recognized whether one or more housing wall sections 24 have been displaced and thus that the device 1 contains objects which cannot be comminuted.

Claims (15)

1. Device (1) for comminuting grains of bulk material, in particular cereal grains and kernels, comprising:

   - a first element (2) with a first surface (3) and a first receiving section (4),

   - a second element (5) with a second surface (6) and a second receiving section (7),

   - a feed device (8), wherein

   the first surface (3) and the second surface (6) are arranged parallel to one another and facing each other, preferably are in contact with one another,
   the first element (2) and the second element (5) are movable back and forth relative to one another between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2), wherein the direction of movement is located in the plane of the first and second surfaces (3, 6),
   in the first position (P1), the first receiving section (4) and the second receiving section (7) communicate with each other via a passage (9) and form a receiving area, in which a grain of bulk material can be positioned via the feed device (8),
   when the first element (2) and the second element (5) are moved from the first position (P1) into the second position (P2), a cross section of the through-passage (9) is narrowed,
   characterized in that

   - the first element (2) is formed as a rotor (21) rotatably mounted about a rotor axis (A) and having a cylindrical circumferential surface, wherein the first receiving section (4) is an at least partially formed circumferential groove (41), and the rotor has at least one axial groove (10) crossing the circumferential groove (41), wherein the first surface (3) is a side wall (31) of the axial groove (10), and

   - the second element (5) is designed in the form of a shear bar (51) and is arranged in the axial groove (10) so as to be movable back and forth along the axial groove (10), wherein the second receiving section (7) is a recess (71) of the shear bar (51).
2. Device (1) according to Claim 1, also comprising a housing (11) with a housing wall (16), which surrounds the rotor (21) coaxially at least in sections and has at least one feed opening (8) and at least one outlet opening (12) for the grains of bulk material.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the housing wall (16) has at least one movable housing-wall section (24), which overlaps the first receiving section (4) radially in relation to the rotor axis (A), wherein the movable housing-wall section (24) is preferably preloaded in the direction of the rotor (21), in particular in the radial direction of the rotor (21).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least one movable housing-wall section (24) interacts with a movement sensor (25) for detecting a movement of the movable housing-wall section (24).
5. Device (1) according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotor axis (A) is arranged vertically.
6. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the circumferential groove (41) is a groove extending circumenferentially.
7. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the axial groove (10) extends over the entire height of the rotor (21).
8. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, as seen in a radial section through the rotor (21), the circumferential groove (41) and the recess (71) have a trapezoidal profile.
9. Device (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the circumferential groove (4) and the recess (71) have the profile of an isosceles trapezoid, wherein the shorter base of the trapezoid is arranged parallel to the rotor axis (A).
10. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rotor (21) has a plurality of circumferential grooves (41, 41').
11. Device (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the shear bar (51) comprises a plurality of recesses (71, 71'), wherein, in the first position (P1), each recess (71, 71') is associated with one of said circumferential grooves (41, 41').
12. Device (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that, in the second position (P2), a recess (71, 71'), which in the first position (P1) is associated with a first circumferential groove (41, 41'), is associated with a second circumferential groove (41', 41") in the second position, wherein the second circumferential groove (41', 41") is preferably arranged adjacent to the first circumferential groove (41, 41').
13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (21) comprises a plurality of shear bars (51, 51'), which are each arranged in an axial groove (10, 10').
14. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shear bar (51) is movable from the first position (P1) into the second position (P2), and/or from the second position (P2) into the first position (P1), by means of a cam gear, wherein the cam gear comprises at least one control cam (26), which is arranged at an axial end (S) of the rotor (21) in a rotationally fixed manner, with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor (21), wherein, when the rotor (21) rotates, the control cam (26) moves an axial end of the shear bar (51) axially, wherein preferably the device (1) further comprises at least one punch (27), which is guided axially into a guide bore (30) of the rotor, wherein the punch (27) is connected to at least one shear bar (51) and, when the rotor (21) rotates, is moved axially by the control cam (26).
15. Method for processing grains of bulk material, comprising the following steps:

    - comminuting grains of bulk material using a device according to one of the preceding claims;

    - further processing the comminuted grains of bulk material or storing the comminuted grains of bulk material;

    characterized in that there is no separating step carried out between the comminuting step and the further-processing/storage step and, in particular, in that there is no feeding back of the comminuted grains of bulk material to a device for comminuting bulk material.

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