GB2074881A

GB2074881A - Mixing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2074881A
Application number: GB8107740A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: VEB Kombinat Fortschritt Landmaschinen Neustadt (Bestand)
Current assignee: VEB Kombinat Fortschritt Landmaschinen Neustadt (Bestand)
Priority date: 1980-04-30
Filing date: 1981-03-12
Publication date: 1981-11-11
Also published as: DK175681A; DE3104133A1

Abstract

A gravity paddle mixer for mixing fibrous materials for the production of a dry fodder comprises a horizontally mounted rotatable drum. The machine is used for mixing fibrous materials and is so constructed that the mixing drum comprises a plurality of cylinders (2, 3, 4) on which mixing elements (5) are arranged, and that centrally mounted in the drum is a rotatable paddle screw (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mixing machine The present invention relates to a mixing machine for producing mixtures from fibrous and granular materials.

Various mixing machines are known for the production of mixtures. The known mixers may be classified as continuous or intermittent mixers according to their mode of operation. With regard to construction, they are divided into two groups according to mixing principle. Whereas in the one group an entire container together with mixing elements revolves, in the other group the container is rigidly fixed to a frame and the mixing elements are mounted on one or more revolving shafts or attached to the inner face of the stationary container. Mixing elements are known in widely varied geometrical forms and are so disposed that the material is conveyed in a specific direction.

In all the known mixers, only pourable components can be mixed, and the mixing quality and energy consumption varies very considerably according to the individual designs. Mixers with revolving containers have a lower energy consumption than mixers with revolving mixer shafts. The quality of mixing is usually satisfactory in mixers with revolving mixer shafts, whereas in mixers with revolving containers it is inadequate, the form of the mixing elements also playing an important role.

The known mixers are, with limitations, unsuitable for fibrous materials. A paddle mixer can indeed be used for mixing fibrous materials with pourable and liquid components, but a specific buffering effect cannot be achieved even with the known designs. There is, moreover, no mixer which discharges the material in a controlled manner, metered by a reference magnitude.

In the known mixers, buffering, mixing and metered discharging of fibrous materials cannot be realized, so that complication in plant, considerable spaces demand and associated constructional costs, are necessary.

Information sources in this respect are the foliowing technical journals: "Die Muhle und Mischfuttertechnik" (The Mill and mixed fodder technology), years 1 975-1979; "agrar-Technik" (agricultural technology), years 1970-1979; "Getreidewirtschaft" (Grain economy), years 1972-1979; "F6rdertechnik" (conveying technology), years 1 972-1 979; "Kraftfutter" (animal foods), years 1 974-1979; and "Grundlagen der Landtechnik" (basics of agricultural technology), years 1 972-1 979.

There is thus a need for a machine which can serve for buffering, mixing and metering of fibrous materials. In the production of fodder and other mixtures, predominantly from fibrous materials, the cost and complication of the machine construction is to be reduced, productive capacity increased, and process costs and specific energy consumption lowered.

According to the present invention there is provided a mixing machine for gravity mixing of fibrous materials to produce dry fodder, the machine comprising a mixing drum which is mounted to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and which comprises a plurality of cylinders provided with mixing elements, and a paddle mixing screw rotatably mounted in the drum to extend along the central axis thereof.

A machine embodying the present invention may be able to be used for buffering, mixing and metering of fodder or feeds from fibrous substances, may have a lower energy consumption than known machines, and may be less susceptible to being clogged or jammed.

Expeditiously, the drum is journalled at its end faces and the mixing elements are mounted on its inner face. At one end of the drum, material can be fed in by means of a worm, while at the other end removal of the material can be carried out by means of a worm in conjunction with a scoop wheel. Centrally arranged in the drum is the paddle mixing screw, which serves for mixing and backward conveying.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic sectional elevation of a mixing machine according to the said embodiment.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a machine for buffering, mixing and metering of fibrous materials, the machine comprising a mixing drum or vessel which consists of a charging cylinder 2, two intermediate cylinders 3 and a discharge cylinder 4, and which is mounted in a frame 1 by means of bearing rings 9 at the end faces of the drum to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. The bearing rings 9 are centrally disposed at the drum end faces. A casing 11 of a feed worm 10 and a casing 14 of a discharge worm 1 7 project through the two bearing rings, respectively, the casings being fixed to the frame 1. Mounted in the drum are mixing elements 5 and extraction or discharge elements 6.

A paddle screw 1 3 is mounted on the casings 11 and 14 of the feed and discharge worms and is drivably coupled to the feed worm 10. On the casing 14 of the discharge worm 17 is an upwardly open, funnel-shaped opening formed as an inlet, the opening serving as an accumulation chamber 20 and being closed at its end face by a baffle disc 1 6. A suction pipe 1 9 is mounted on the casing 14 and projects into the mixing drum.

The machine operates on the principle of mixing by gravity. Materials to be processed are introduced and removed by the feed worm 10 and discharge worm 17, respectively, through the bearing rings 9 at the centre of the end faces of the drum. The drum is driven through a chain coupling 8 by a geared motor 7 mounted on the frame 1. During rotation of the drum, the mixing elements 5 fulfil the function of mixing and conveying. In the discharge cylinder 4 the discharge elements 6 are so arranged that they throw the material into the collecting hopper of the casing 14. The feed worm 10 is driven by a geared motor 12, which also drives the paddle screw 13 connected to the feed worm. The paddles 15 of the screw 13 are so mounted that the mixing process is promoted and the material is conveyed backwards. The baffle disc 1 6 prevents clogging of the discharge cylinder 4. The discharge worm 1 7 is driven by a directed current geared motor 18. The mixing vessel is subjected to suction through the suction pipe 19 and in this way dust is prevented from escaping from sealing points.

The machine hereinbefore described not only produces a mixture, but also serves for buffering and providing a metered discharge of the material.

The machine may be incorporated in installations for the production of mixtures, predominantly fodder or feed mixtures, containing proportions of fibrous materials, and contributes to simplification of technological requirements and to carrying out of more rational processes. As a result, an increase in throughput may be achieved, accompanied by a reduction in process costs.

Claims

1. A mixing machine for gravity mixing of fibrous materials to produce dry fodder, the machine comprising a mixing drum which is mounted to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and which comprises a plurality of cylinders provided with mixing elements, and a paddle mixing screw rotatably mounted in the drum to extend along the central axis thereof.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of mixture extraction devices arranged around the periphery of an end one of the cylinders at a discharge end of the drum.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, comprising a baffle element arranged in the drum between said one cylinder and the adjacent cylinder.

4. A machine as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3, comprising a mixture accumulation chamber provided in said one cylinder.

5. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising duct means communicating with the interior of the drum and being connectible to suction means.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, the duct means comprising a pipe mounted on the casing of a mixture discharge worm.

7. A mixing machine for gravity mixing of fibrous materials to produce dry fodder, the machine being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.