FR2893517A1 - Mixing and distributing cup, e.g. for processing granular or fibrous animal feed, comprises cavity containing rotatable distributor screw and mixing blades supported on the same shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

In a mixing and distributing cup (1) comprising a cavity containing a rotatable distributor screw (12) and rotatable mixing blades (13), where the screw conveys products towards an outlet opening closed by a sliding door (8) formed in the side wall, the screw and the blades are supported on the same shaft (14), rotatably mounted on and parallel to the side-walls. A mixing and distributing cup (1) comprises a rotatable distributor screw (12) and rotatable mixing blades (13), in an internal cavity defined by two longitudinal walls (2, 3), a rounded bottom wall (4) and two side walls (5, 6). The screw is rotatably mounted close and parallel to the bottom wall, and conveys products towards an outlet opening, closed by a sliding door (8) formed in the side wall(s). The novel feature is that the screw and the blades are supported on the same shaft (14), rotatably mounted on and parallel to the side-walls.

Description

The present invention relates to a bucket for mixing and

  distribute granular or fibrous products in bulk, for example for cattle feed.

  This type of equipment is usually associated with a handling machine to which it is removably linked by a hitch, including three points or front loaders, and allows the loading, mixing, transport and distribution of products in silage and bulk used in the agricultural field for livestock feed. The mixer and dispenser bucket devices currently known are in the form of a bucket comprising a mixing and driving means housed in the bucket which comprises a lateral opening closable by a shutter which can be controlled at its open position for ensure the distribution of products. This mixing and driving means generally consists of an endless screw mixing the products contained in the cup and causing mixing towards the open side opening from which the products escape in a controlled manner according to the size of the opening. and the speed of rotation of the worm. This known device, however, has the disadvantage of favoring the entrainment of products in the bucket at the expense of mixing. To overcome this drawback, it has already been proposed to associate with the worm drive at least one rotary shaft with mixing blades mounted in the bucket parallel to the drive screw and positioned above it . This known arrangement, however, has the drawbacks of not ensuring a homogeneous product mixture, of imposing several drive means to electric or hydraulic motors and sets of chain gears specific to the distributor screw and the blade support shaft. mixing, and limit the capacity of the bucket to a value of 2.5 m3 maximum.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages of the known mixer and dispenser cups by providing a mixing bucket and dispenser of an extremely simple design while ensuring efficient mixing and dispensing of the products contained in the cup.

  For this purpose, according to the invention, the bucket for mixing and dispensing bulk granular or fibrous products intended for example for feeding livestock, and comprising two longitudinal walls connected by a rounded bottom wall and two side walls defining the inner space of the bucket, a dispensing screw rotatably mounted in the internal space of the bucket near the rounded bottom wall parallel thereto and for transporting the products to a closable discharge opening by a hatch made in at least one of the side walls, and a set of blades rotatably mounted in the internal space of the bucket so as to allow mixing of the products, is characterized in that the dispensing screw and the mixing blades products are carried by the same shaft rotatably mounted between the two side walls of the bucket perpendicular thereto. The dispensing screw comprises two strips wound helically around the rotary shaft in the same direction and in the same pitch, being offset longitudinally from each other by half a step and of identical external diameters slightly less than the diameter of the internal space in the form of a half cylinder of the bucket.

  The mixing blades are secured radially to the rotary shaft and arranged in pairs spaced along this shaft, two blades of the same pair being diametrically opposed and forming a reversible propeller so as to bring the products in the opposite direction of the screw. distribution. Two pairs of successive blades are angularly offset from one another, preferably 90. The blades have a length less than the external diameter of the dispensing screw so as to be housed in an internal space defined by the two helical strips of the dispensing screw.

  Two pairs of mixing blades are attached to the rotary shaft at two locations corresponding respectively to 1/3 and 2/3 of the length of this shaft. The two helical strips each forming a turn are secured to the rotary shaft by the diametrically opposed bars and spaced along the shaft transverse thereto and angularly offset from each other. The ends of the same side of the two turns of the helical strips are in the form of fins located opposite the corresponding side wall of the bucket and which are inclined relative to the rotating shaft while diverging from one another towards the side wall and being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft, so as to guide the products to the central portion of the bucket to prevent the compaction of the products against the side wall of the bucket. One of the ends of the rotary shaft is secured to the corresponding side wall by a support bearing and the two fins of the two turns are fixed in the vicinity of this end of the shaft respectively by two inclined bars diverging towards the side wall. symmetrically to the rotary shaft, while the other end of this shaft is coupled to a geared motor unit housed in a housing integral with the other side wall perpendicularly thereto and the other two fins are attached to the ends respectively two longitudinal bars integral with the rotary shaft parallel to the latter being diametrically opposed and disposed on either side of the housing.

  The motor of the geared motor unit is preferably of the hydraulic type. The hatch for closing the product discharge opening is constituted by a semicircular plate rotatably mounted around the center of its diametrical edge on the external face of the corresponding side wall between a closed position by overlapping the semicircular opening of the products and a release position of this semicircular opening.

  The rotary drive control means of the semicircular plate comprise a pinion meshing with teeth of the circular peripheral edge of the plate and a motor, hydraulic or electric, integral with the side wall of the bucket and whose shaft output drives the pinion. The pivoting of the hatch in the direction of closing or disengagement of the discharge opening of the products is limited by an abutment integral with the external face of the side wall.

  The other side wall also comprises an opening for evacuating products of semi-circular shape closable by a hatch constituted by a semicircular plate pivotally mounted around the center of its diametrical edge to the external face of the side wall, under the control of a pinion gear assembly meshing with teeth of the circular peripheral edge of the plate and hydraulic or electric motor secured to this wall, between its two positions for closing and disengaging the discharge opening defined by an integral stop the outer face of the side wall.

  The pivoting of the hatch is guided by a hoop to receive the circular peripheral edge of the hatch, the hoop being removably attached to the outer face of the corresponding side wall.

  The surface of the discharge opening of the products is substantially equal to half the surface of the associated side wall. The opening or closing of one or the other of the two hatches is selectively controlled according to the direction of rotation of the dispensing screw. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent from the following explanatory description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a embodiment of the invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mixing bucket and dispenser of the invention; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bucket of FIG. 1 along arrow II; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the unitary unit with distribution screw and mixing blades of the invention; FIG. 4 is a front view along the arrow IV of FIG. 1; - Figure 5 is a side view along the arrow V of Figure 1; FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 and showing the hatch at its position of disengagement from the lateral evacuation port of the bucket; FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the circled portion VII of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a perspective view along the arrow VIII of FIG. 1. Referring to the figures, the reference numeral 1 denotes the bucket of the invention for mixing and dispensing products, in particular for feeding the product. livestock. This bucket comprises two longitudinal walls 2, 3 connected to each other by a rounded bottom wall 4 and two side walls 5, 6 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal walls 2, 3, at least one of the two walls 5, 6, preferably both, having an opening 7 for discharging the products, the opening 7 can be closed by a hatch 8 as will be seen later. The bucket 1 comprises, secured to the outer portion of the bottom wall 4, a system 9, known per se, for detachably coupling the bucket to a handling machine. This coupling system may be of the three-point type. The longitudinal walls 2, 3 and the rounded bottom wall 4 have approximately the shape of a half-cylinder which can occupy, by the connecting system of the bucket 1 to the handling machine, a position such that the opening of the half -cylinder is substantially horizontal so that the food products are mixed in the semi-cylindrical internal space of the bucket 1. The upper wall 2 of the bucket 1 extends the rounded bottom wall 4 of the latter being itself arcuate and ends with an upper edge 10 constituted by a transverse reinforcement cylindrical bar forming the upper side of the opening of the half-cylinder of the bucket 1. The lower wall 3 of the bucket 1 extends the rounded bottom wall part 4 of the half cylinder of this bucket and ends with a flat wall portion having an edge edge 11 constituting the underside of the opening of the half-cylinder, the flat wall portion of the bottom wall 3 forming the excavator bucket 1 allowing, when the bucket 1 is brought by its coupling system to the handling machine to a low loading position, to take products.

  A dispensing screw 12 is rotatably mounted in the internal space of the cup 1 close to its bottom wall 4 and the arcuate portions of the longitudinal walls 2, 3 defining the half-cylinder extending parallel to the walls 2, 3 and 4. The dispensing screw 12 makes it possible to transport the products in the semi-cylindrical internal space towards the discharge opening 7 of the corresponding lateral wall 5, 6 when the hatch 8 occupies its position of disengagement from the opening. 7. The bucket 1 also comprises a set of blades 13 rotatably mounted in the semicylindrical internal space of the bucket 1 and make it possible to homogenize the mixture of products contained in this space and to ensure regular emptying of this mixture towards the one of the discharge openings 7 by moving the products in the opposite direction of their distribution by the screw 12. The dispensing screw 12 and the mixing blades 13 of the products contained in the bucket 1 are carried by a m a shaft 14 rotatably mounted between the two side walls 5, 6 of the bucket 1 perpendicular thereto. More specifically, one end of the rotary shaft 14 is engaged in a bearing 15 integral with the side wall 5 and its opposite end is coupled to the drive shaft of a geared motor unit MR housed in a housing 16 integral with the inner face of the side wall 6 extending into the bucket 1 coaxially with the rotary shaft 14. The motor, preferably hydraulic, of this assembly is driven by a suitable transmission housed in a housing 17 integral with the internal face of the side wall 6 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the geared motor assembly and the rotary shaft 4. The distribution screw 12 comprises two strips 18 wound helically around the rotary shaft in the same direction and following the same step in the manner of screw threads being offset longitudinally along the shaft 14 by a half step. The two helical strips 18 extend longitudinally relative to the shaft 14 each defining a turn and have the same external diameters and slightly less than the diameter of the semi-cylindrical internal space of the bucket 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the two helical strips 18 are similar, in front view, to two sinusoidal waves in phase opposition. Each of the two helical strips 18 has a height h determined by being perpendicular relative to the generatrices defining the half-cylinder of the bucket 1, so that one or the other of the two lateral faces of each band exerts the thrust distribution movement. products in the internal semi-cylindrical space from one end to the other of the bucket 1 in the direction of rotation imparted to the screw 12. The two helical strips 18 are secured to the rotary shaft 14 by a series of two diametrically opposite bars 19 spaced along this shaft transverse thereto and angularly offset from each other. Each bar 19 thus has one of its ends integral with the shaft 14 by any appropriate means, for example by welding, and its opposite end secured to the corresponding strip 18, for example by welding. As shown, three pairs of diametrically opposed bars 19 are provided, one of the pairs of bars 19 being secured to the end of the shaft 14 coupled to the geared motor unit for rotation of this shaft.

  The ends of the same side of the two turns of the helical strips 18 are in the form of fins 20 facing the corresponding side wall 5, 6 and which are inclined relative to the rotary shaft 14 by diverging one of the other towards this side wall being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft so as to guide the products towards the central part of the bucket 1 to prevent the products from settling against the side wall 5, 6 of this bucket . The two fins 20 opposite the side wall 5 to which is mounted to rotate the corresponding end of the shaft 14 are fixed to this shaft respectively by two inclined bars 21 diverging towards the side wall 5 symmetrically to the rotary shaft each bar being integral with the shaft 14 for example by welding. The two other end fins 20 respectively of the two turns of the two helical strips 18 are fixed respectively at the ends of two longitudinal bars 22 parallel to the shaft 14 while being diametrically opposite one another, the opposite ends of the bars 22 being secured to the end of the shaft 14, near the two diametrically opposed arms 19 for supporting the strips 18, by two integral rigid branches, for example by welding the shaft 14 perpendicularly thereto. In addition, the two bars 22 connecting the strips 18 to the shaft 14 extend on either side of the casing of the housing 16 of the geared motor unit. Where appropriate, the two bars 22 may be stiffened relative to one another in the vicinity of their ends of connection to the fins 20 by an annular piece 23 fixed by welding to the bars 22 on the outside thereof and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft 14, the annular piece surrounding coaxially without contacting the housing 16 of the geared motor assembly.

  Although each of the fins 20 of the helical strips 18 make it possible to avoid jamming or compacting products between the end of each of the turns and the corresponding lateral wall of the half-cylinder of the cup 1 during the operation of mixing the products, it is possible to completely prevent any packing of these products by providing in addition at least one plate 24 secured to the inner face of at least one of the side walls 5, 6 of the bucket 1 which project into the space internal semicylindrical several fins 24a perpendicular to the plate 24 and opposite which are facing successively the two end fins 20 of the helical strips 18 during the rotation of the distribution screw 12. As a non-limiting example, the bucket 1 comprises two pairs of mixing blades 13 radially integral with the rotary shaft 14 being spaced along it. Two blades 13 of the same pair are diametrically opposed to form a reversible propeller for bringing the products in the opposite direction of the dispensing screw 12 in the direction of rotation of the latter. In addition, the two pairs of successive blades are angularly offset from one another, preferably 90, the blades having an identical length and less than the outer diameter D of the distribution screw 12. Thus, the blades 13 are housed in the internal space defined by the two helical strips 18 of the screw 12. The two pairs of mixing blades 13 are fixed to the rotary shaft, for example by welding, at two locations respectively corresponding to 1/3 and 2 / 3 of the length of this shaft starting from its end coupled to the drive motor gearbox assembly of the shaft. The hatch 8 closing each of the discharge openings 7 made through the corresponding side wall 5, 6 is constituted by a semicircular plate rotatably mounted controlled along an axis X1-X2 perpendicular to the wall 5, 6 and passing through the center O of its diametrical edge between a closed position by covering the semicircular opening 7 as shown in particular in Figures 1 and 5 and a position of partial or total release of this opening, as shown Figure 6. The hatch 8 therefore extends parallel to the corresponding wall 5, 6 Preferably, the area of each discharge opening 7 of the products is substantially equal to half the area of the associated side wall 5 , 6. The rotational drive means of each semicircular plate 8 comprises a pinion 25 rotatably mounted to the outer face of the corresponding side wall 5, 6 or r of an axis X3-X4 perpendicular to this wall and which meshes with teeth 26 formed on the circular outer peripheral edge of the plate 8. These drive means further comprise a motor 27, hydraulic or electric, solidary of the side plate 5, 6 opposite the pinion 25 and the drive shaft is coupled directly to the pinion. The pinion 25 is protected from the outside by a cover 28 fixed to the outer face of the corresponding lateral wall 5, 6. The drive motor 27 of the pinion 25 is remotely controlled from the driving station of the machine Handling.

  The pivoting of each hatch 8 in the direction of complete closure of the discharge opening 7 or in the full release direction of this opening is limited by an abutment 29 secured to the external face of the side wall 5, 6 to 10. opposite the pinion 25.

  The pivoting of each hatch 8 is guided by a substantially semi-cricable arch 30 removably attached to the outer face of the corresponding lateral wall 5, 6, for example by fastening screws 30a, being disposed at the semi-peripheral peripheral edge. 7. The arch 30 has an internal receiving trough of the circular peripheral edge with teeth 26 of the hatch 8. When the bucket 1 has two hatches 8 closing two openings 7 of evacuation products, the opening and closing of one or the other of the two hatches 8 is selectively remotely controlled according to the direction of rotation of the dispensing screw 12. In the fully open position of each hatch 8, that it is opposed to the opening 7 to register together in the same circle. As is known per se, the bucket 1 may comprise a controlled claw device 31 pivotally mounted relative to the bucket 1 by two arms 32 articulated in the upper part of the bucket for taking the various components of the food products and load them into the bucket 1 The two arms 32 are connected at their opposite ends to those articulated to the bucket 1 by a transverse support 33 carrying teeth 34 and the tilting of this claw device is provided by two lateral cylinders, hydraulic or pneumatic 35, articulated each between the upper part of the bucket 1 and the lower end of the corresponding arm 32. The operation of the device of the invention is already apparent from the foregoing description and will now be explained. When the products to be mixed are loaded into the cup 1 and the opening of its semi-cylindrical part defined by the upper edges of the side walls 5, 6 and the edges 10, 11 respectively of the longitudinal walls 2, 3 is brought by the coupling system to its substantially horizontal position, the geared motor assembly of the shaft 14 is controlled in a specific direction, for example that indicated by the arrow Fl to drive in unison in this direction the distribution screw 12 and the blades 13 so as to propel the products located in the half-cylinder of the bucket 1 to the side wall 5 in the direction of the arrow F2 and the blades 13 are arranged to move the products in the opposite direction along the arrow F3 to homogenize the mixture. The end fins 20 of the dispensing screw 12 make it possible, during the mixing, to guide the products towards the center and to avoid the jamming of these products against the side walls of the cup 1, so that these products are not propelled to the outside of this bucket. When the hatch 8 closing the opening 7 of the side wall 5 is controlled to pivot to its full release position of these openings, the products are driven through the drain opening 16 by the screw 12 and the fins end 20 are shaped to increase the lift of the products on the periphery of the half-cylinder of the bucket 1 and thus obtain a good regularized evacuation of these during emptying. This produces a regular evacuation of the mixed products when the corresponding lateral evacuation port is open. The drive motor 27 of the pinion 25 can be protected at the end of travel of the hatch 8 on the stop 29 by a pressure limiter if the engine is hydraulic or a thermal breaker with automatic reset if the engine is electric. The hatch opening device 8 of the semicircular discharge orifice 7 of the products is of simple design, can be bulky and requires a minimum of mechanical elements, unlike the known drain hatches slide or rectilinear slide displacement controlled by a jack. In addition, this device makes it possible to obtain a large opening discharge orifice and thus to ensure a large emptying flow.

Claims (9)

  1. bucket (1) for mixing and dispensing bulk granular or fibrous products for example for livestock feed, comprising two longitudinal walls (2,3) connected by a rounded bottom wall (4) and two side walls (5, 6) delimiting the internal space of the cup (1), a dispensing screw (12) rotatably mounted in the internal space of the cup (1) close to the rounded bottom wall (4) in parallel to it and for transporting the products to an evacuation opening (7) closable by a hatch (8) made in at least one of the side walls (5,6), and a set of blades (13) rotatably mounted in the internal space of the cup (1) so as to allow mixing of the products, characterized in that the dispensing screw (12) and the mixing blades (13) of the products are carried by the same shaft ( 14) rotatably mounted between the two side walls (5, 6) of the bucket (1) perpendicular to them.   2. Bucket according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing screw (12) comprises two strips (18) wound helically around the rotary shaft (14) in the same direction and in a same pitch being longitudinally offset. one of the other half-steps and identical external diameters slightly smaller than the diameter of the half-cylinder-shaped internal space of the bucket (1).   3. Bucket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mixing blades (13) are integral radially with the rotary shaft (14) and arranged in pairs spaced along the shaft, two blades (13) of a same pair being diametrically opposed and forming a reversible propeller so as to bring the products in the opposite direction of the dispensing screw (12).   4. Bucket according to claim 3, characterized in that two pairs of successive blades (13) are angularly offset from each other, preferably 900.   5. Bucket according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the blades (13) have a length less than the outer diameter of the dispensing screw (12) so as to be housed in an internal space defined by the two helical strips ( 18) of the dispensing screw (12).   6. Bucket according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of mixing blades (13) attached to the rotary shaft (14) at two locations respectively corresponding to 1/3 and 2/3 the length of this tree.   7. Bucket according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the two helical strips (18) each forming a turn are secured to the rotary shaft (14) by diametrically opposed bars (19) spaced along the this shaft transverse to it and angularly offset from each other.   8. Bucket according to claim 7, characterized in that the ends of one side of the two turns of the helical strips (18) are in the form of fins (20) located opposite the corresponding side wall (5,6) of the bucket (1) and which are inclined relative to the rotating shaft (14) diverging from each other towards the side wall (5,6) and being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft rotating (14) so as to guide the products towards the central part of the cup (1) to prevent the compaction of the products against the side wall (5, 6) of the cup (1).   9. Bucket according to claim 8, characterized in that one end of the rotary shaft (14) is secured to the corresponding side wall (5,6) by a support bearing (15) and the two fins ( 20) of the two turns are fixed in the vicinity of this end of the shaft respectively by two inclined bars (21) diverging towards the side wall (5) symmetrically to the rotary shaft (14), while the other end of this shaft is coupled to a geared motor unit housed in a housing (16) integral with the other side wall (6) perpendicular thereto and the two other fins (20) are fixed to the ends respectively of two longitudinal bars (22). ) integral with the rotary shaft (14) parallel to the latter being diametrically opposed and disposed on either side of the housing (16). 1O.Godet according to claim 9, characterized in that the motor of the geared motor assembly is of the hydraulic type. 11.Godet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hatch (8) for closing the product discharge opening is constituted by a semicircular plate rotatably mounted around the center of its diametrical edge. on the outer face of the corresponding lateral wall (5, 6) between a closed position by covering the semicircular opening (7) for evacuation of the products and a release position of this semicircular opening. 12.Godet according to claim 11, characterized in that the rotational drive control means of the semicircular plate comprises a pinion (25) meshing with teeth (26) of the circular peripheral edge of the plate (8). ) and a motor (27), hydraulic or electric, integral with the side wall (5,6) of the bucket (1) and whose output shaft drives the pinion (25). 13.Godet according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the pivoting of the hatch (8) in the closing direction or clearance of the discharge opening (7) of the products is limited by a stop (29) secured to the outer face of the side wall (5, 6) .14.Bagger according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the other side wall also comprises an outlet opening (7) for the products of semi-circular shape closable by a hatch (8) constituted by a semi-circular plate pivotally mounted around the center of its diametrical edge to the outer face of the side wall, under the control of a gear assembly (25) in meshing with teeth (26) of the circular peripheral edge of the plate (8) and hydraulic or electric motor (27) integral with this wall, between its two respectively closed and disengaged positions of the discharge opening (7) delimited by a stop (29) secured to the outer face do not of the side wall. 15.Godet according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the pivoting of the hatch (8) is guided by a hoop (30) to receive the circular peripheral edge of the hatch (8), the arch (30) being removably attached to the outer face of the corresponding side wall (5, 6). 16. Bucket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the discharge opening (7) of the products is substantially equal to half the surface of the associated side wall (5,6). 17.Godet according to claim 14, characterized in that the opening and closing of one or the other of the two traps (8) is selectively controlled according to the direction of rotation of the dispensing screw (12).