GB1193776A - Apparatus for Briquetting Particulate Material - Google Patents

Abstract

1,193,776. Compression moulding pulverulent materials. SCHLOEMANN A.G. 14 May, 1968 [26 May, 1967], No. 22801/68. Heading B5A. In the compression moulding of pulverulent materials either wetted or not wetted with a liquid, e.g. to form anode material for the production of aluminium, air is extracted from the material within the mould cavity immediately prior to the moulding operation, by the application of vacuum to a sealed enclosure defined between the upper surface of the moulding die and an advancing press ram by a sealing ring arrangement which is slidably mounted on the press ram. In a vertical press, wherein the material is compressed in a die 1 between advancing upper and lower plungers 2, 3, the upper plunger 2 is removable from the die 1 and displaceable transversely with respect thereto to permit charging of the cavity from a horizontally reciprocable hopper (C), Fig. 1, not shown, whereafter the upper surface of the die is cleaned by a stripper (D). The moulded article is ejected by the lower plunger 3 and displaced from the upper surface of the die 1 on to a roller table (F) by a pusher (E), the necessary clearance being obtained by sufficiently raising the upper ram 2 or by lowering of the die 1. Sealing between the upper plunger 2 and the upper die face is effected by a sealing ring 4 comprising an inner part 4a which is sealingly and slidably engageable with the ram 2, and is supported thereon by a collar 2a against which it may be spring urged, and an outer part 46 sealingly engageable with the die; the inner and outer parts 4a, 4b being engaged at a universal joint permitting axial misalignment of the ram 2 and die 1. Sealing between the lower ram 3 and the lower face of the die 1 is effected by a seal 5, comprising outer part 5b which is secured to the die 1, and inner part 5a with respect to which the ram 3 is slidable, the inner and outer parts 5a, 5b being separable by power cylinders 5c. After sealing the mould enclosure and applying vacuum thereto from a source connected to the lower outer ring 5b and via orifices 4c in upper inner ring 4a, the material is compressed by the advancing rams 2 and 3 whilst maintaining the vacuum, and material drawn between the lower inner and outer seals 5a, 5b subsequently falls therefrom upon their separation by the cylinders 5c. In a horizontal press, both rams are sealed by seals similar to the seal 5. A filtering ring may be provided which is of slightly larger inner bore than the diameter of the ram and connected to the inner sealing ring whereby blocking of suction apertures provided in the outer seal is avoided; material on the ring being displaced therefrom into the die 1 by the advancing ram.