JP2013046911A - Granulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a granulator capable of improving the uniformity of particle diameters.SOLUTION: According to the granulator 100, a powder is recirculated within a granulation vessel 61 by entrainment on a recirculation gas stream which recirculates from the center of the granulation vessel 61 through its ceiling, its side and its bottom to the center. During this course, the powder diameter gradually grows as the result of adhesion among powder particles by being heated with a plasma flame F2. Next, large-diameter particles grown to a certain particle diameter separates from the recirculation gas stream by their own weights. Here, the large-diameter particles separated from the recirculation gas stream are immediately discharged into the outside of the granulation vessel 61, i.e., a recovery vessel 10 through an annular hole 82 penetrating the bottom of the granulation vessel 61, so that the large-diameter powder particles grown to the certain particle diameter are prevented from being adhered by the recirculating powder or powder particles. Thereby, it is possible to improve the uniformity of particle diameters by suppressing the overgrowth of the large-diameter particles.

Description

  The present invention relates to a granulating apparatus for producing a large-diameter granule by growing a powder to a predetermined particle size or more.

  Conventionally, as this type of granulating apparatus, a so-called “Worster type” fluidized bed apparatus is known. Specifically, by placing a cylinder open at both ends in the center of the granulation container and generating an upward air flow inside the cylinder, the center, ceiling, and side of the granulation container In addition, a circulating gas flow that circulates in the order of the bottom part and the central part is generated, the powder is put on the circulating gas stream and circulated, and the medicine is sprayed onto the powder in the cylinder so that the powders are agglomerated or powdered. The surface of the body is coated (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

JPO, “Standard Technology Collection”, Agrochemical formulation technology (B-1- (4) coating technology), [online], [Searched on December 7, 2007], Internet [URL: http: //www.jpo .go.jp / shiryou / index.htm]

  By the way, in the conventional granulator described above, the bottom of the granulation vessel is closed, and large-diameter particles that have grown beyond a predetermined particle size and separated from the circulating gas flow accumulate at the bottom of the granulation vessel. For this reason, the powder that is circulating in the granulation vessel further adheres to the large-diameter particles accumulated at the bottom, and some of the large-diameter particles become excessively large. This could happen.

  As a means for solving this problem, it is conceivable to provide a discharge port for discharging large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more at the bottom of the processing vessel, but simply providing a discharge port open to the atmosphere. Then, the gas in the granulation vessel escapes, and the circulating gas flow may become unstable or the circulating gas flow itself may not be generated.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and aims at provision of the granulation apparatus which can improve the uniformity of a particle size.

  The granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 made to achieve the above object comprises a gas supply cylinder extending in the vertical direction and capable of supplying gas from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion. A circulating gas flow that circulates to the center, ceiling, side, bottom, and center of the granulation vessel, and circulates the powder on the circulating gas flow and circulates the circulating gas. In the middle of the flow path, heat, ions, or mist-like adsorbents are applied to the powder to adhere them together, or a layer of adsorbent is grown on the surface of the powder to a predetermined particle size or more. In the granulation apparatus for producing the grown large-diameter particles, a recovery hole that is formed through the bottom of the granulation vessel and allows passage of the large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow by its own weight, and below the granulation vessel Arranged and communicated with the inside of the granulation container through the collection hole, and the whole except the particle collection hole is closed. A collecting container, is provided to be opened and closed collection container, to have the feature was a takeout granules for taking out a larger diameter body housed in the collection container. As a reminder, “granulation” includes the production of large particles by agglomerating powders, and the coating of the powder surface with an adsorbent. Those that produce large diameter granules by growing layers are included.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of ejection holes provided at the bottom of the granulation container and opened toward the inside of the granulation container, and gas is supplied to the ejection holes. And a separation gas supply device for supplying gas to the internal flow passage of the screen portion, and a granular material having a particle size less than a predetermined particle size by the jet gas jetted from the jet hole And the gas supply pressure from the fractionated gas supply device to the internal flow path of the screen unit to allow the large-diameter particles to approach the recovery hole while moving the powder away from the recovery hole and toward the circulating gas flow. It has features where it is set.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the second aspect, a lower end taper portion having a lower end opening is provided on the bottom side of the side portion of the granulation container. The bottom of the granulation vessel has a conical or pyramid shape that tapers upward, the apex is abutted against the lower end opening of the gas supply cylinder, and the middle part of the slope is the opening edge of the lower end opening of the lower end tapered portion A conical screen wall serving as a screen portion disposed in a state where an annular hole serving as a recovery hole is interposed therebetween, and a plurality of ejection holes are formed on the inclined surface of the conical screen wall. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the second aspect, the bottom side of the side portion of the granulation container is tapered downward and has a gradually inclined angle with respect to the horizontal direction as it goes downward. A rounded rolling guide part is provided so that the bottom part of the granulation vessel is inclined toward the center part with the same or gentler slope as the lower end part of the rolling guide part, and at the center. A characteristic is that a dish-shaped screen wall is provided as a screen part having a recovery hole in the part, and a plurality of ejection holes are formed on the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an auxiliary recovery container connected to the recovery container via the granule outlet is provided, and the auxiliary recovery container can be opened and closed. A granular auxiliary outlet provided, the granular auxiliary outlet can be opened with the granular outlet closed, and the granular auxiliary outlet can be closed with the granular outlet open. It has the characteristics in that place.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the granulating apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the recovery container is formed into a hopper structure that is tapered toward the lower side, and a cylindrical discharge pipe is provided at a lower end thereof, A flexible tube as an auxiliary collection container is attached to the outside, and is provided at a relatively upper end position in the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube. A first opening / closing chuck capable of closing the lower end opening of the flexible tube and a flexible tube serving as a granule auxiliary take-out port by being crushed from the outside by being crushed from the outside. It is characterized in that it includes a second opening / closing chuck capable of closing the lower end opening of the tube.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the granulating apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the recovery container is formed into a hopper structure that is tapered toward the lower side, and a cylindrical discharge pipe is provided at a lower end portion thereof. And installing the upper end portion of the cylindrical packing membrane member on the outside of the discharge pipe and crushing the cylindrical packing membrane member from the outside, thereby making it possible to close the lower end opening of the discharge pipe as the particle outlet The cylindrical packing film member is characterized in that the cylindrical packing film member can be closed above the predetermined amount of large-diameter particles every time a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are accumulated above the closed portion of the cylindrical packing film member. .

  The invention according to claim 8 is the granulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the powder can be continuously supplied from the outside of the granulation container to the middle of the circulation gas flow path in the granulation container. It is characterized by the provision of a simple powder supply device.

  The invention of claim 9 is the granulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the ceiling portion of the granulation container has a concave structure when viewed from below and rises at the center of the granulation container. A ceiling concave wall that guides the circulating gas flow to flow downward at the side of the granulation container, and a central portion of the ceiling concave wall that protrudes in a state of being abutted with the upper end opening of the gas feed cylinder, and granulated It is characterized in that it is provided with a ceiling protrusion that disperses the circulating gas flow rising at the center of the container radially along the ceiling concave wall.

  The invention of claim 10 is the granulating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ceiling concave wall has a plurality of ejection holes opened downward and an internal flow path for supplying gas to the ejection holes. It is formed and is characterized in that gas is supplied to the internal flow path of the ceiling concave wall.

  The invention of claim 11 is the granulating apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the ceiling concave wall is arranged in an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the granulation container, and the room above the ceiling concave wall of the granulation container. And the lower room communicate with each other through a gap provided between the ceiling concave wall and the side of the granulation container, and the upper room of the ceiling concave wall is connected to the outside of the granulation container through a filter. It is characterized in that a gas discharge hole that is in communication is provided.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the granulation apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the granulation container extends upward from the bottom of the granulation container, and the upper end of the granulation container has a gap in the lower end opening of the gas feeding cylinder. It is characterized in that it is provided with an ejection nozzle that ejects compressed gas into the gas supply cylinder.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the granulating apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein a plasma flame generating gas is placed inside a plasma generating tube as a gas supply tube at the center of the granulating container. It is characterized in that a plasma torch is provided to generate a plasma flame.

  The granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 14 made to achieve the above object generates a circulating gas flow that circulates inside the granulation vessel, circulates powder on the circulating gas flow, By applying heat, ions, or mist-like adsorbent to the powder in the course of the circulating gas flow, the powder adheres to each other, or a layer of adsorbent is grown on the surface of the powder, and the predetermined particle size In the granulation apparatus for producing the large-diameter particles grown as described above, a recovery hole formed through the bottom of the granulation vessel and through which the large-diameter particles separated from the circulation gas flow by its own weight can pass, A recovery container which is disposed below and communicates with the inside of the granulation container through the recovery hole and which is entirely closed except for the particle recovery hole, and a large diameter which is provided in the recovery container so as to be openable and closable and accommodated in the recovery container. It is characterized in that it is provided with a granule outlet for taking out the granule.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the granulation container is formed in a cylindrical room extending along a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and an upper part of the cylindrical room. An upper communication port extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical room, an upper chamber disposed above the cylindrical room, and communicated with the inside of the cylindrical room via the upper communication port, and provided in the upper room, and a filter A gas exhaust hole that communicates with the outside of the granulation vessel via the gas supply, and a circulating gas that is provided in the cylindrical chamber, supplies gas along the tangential direction of the inner curved surface of the cylindrical chamber and circulates along the inner curved surface of the cylindrical chamber And a gas ejection part for generating a flow, and the recovery hole is arranged at the lower end of the cylindrical room.

  The invention of claim 16 is the granulation apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a powder supply device provided in the upper chamber and capable of continuously supplying powder to the inside of the cylindrical chamber via the upper communication port. It has features.

  The invention of claim 17 comprises a gas jetting part for generating a circulating gas flow circulating inside the granulation vessel, and an ion applying means for applying ions to the powder circulating on the circulating gas flow, It is characterized in that a large-diameter grain that has grown to a predetermined particle size or more is produced by electrically adhering the powders to which no.

  The invention according to claim 18 is a method of injecting a plasma flame toward a gas jetting section for generating a circulating gas flow circulating inside the granulation vessel and a powder circulating on the circulating gas flow, or a circulating gas flow And a plasma generator for generating a plasma flame in the middle of the path, and by attaching the powder to each other by the heat of the plasma flame or forming a coating layer on the surface of the powder by the plasma flame, It is characterized in that large-diameter grains grown in the same manner are produced.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plasma measuring device for measuring plasma in a plasma flame, and a supply amount or supply pressure of plasma flame generating gas to the plasma generating device or a plasma generating power so that the plasma state is constant. It is characterized in that it is equipped with a plasma control device for adjustment.

[Invention of Claim 1]
According to the granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 configured as described above, a gas feeding cylinder capable of feeding gas from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion is arranged at the center portion of the granulating container, and A circulating gas flow is generated that circulates through the grain container to the center, ceiling, side, bottom and center. In the process where the powder circulates in the granulation container by riding on this circulating gas flow, when heat, ions or mist-like adsorbent is applied to the powder, the powders adhere to each other or adhere to the surface of the powder The particle size gradually increases as the layer of adsorbed material grows. The large-diameter particles that have grown to a predetermined particle size or more are separated from the circulating gas flow by their own weight, and are discharged to the collection container through the collection holes formed through the bottom of the granulation container. That is, the large-diameter particles are not accumulated in the granulation container, but are discharged to the outside of the granulation container through the collection hole, so that the circulating powder is separated from the large-diameter particles separated from the circulation gas flow. It is possible to prevent further adherence of the body, granules and adsorbing substances, and improve the uniformity of the particle diameter.

  In addition, the large-diameter particles recovered in the recovery container can be taken out from the particle outlet, while the granule outlet is closed while the circulating gas flow is generated, The gas outflow from the gas is prevented, and the circulating gas flow generated in the granulation vessel can be stabilized.

[Invention of claim 2]
According to the invention of claim 2, among the powders and granules circulating in the granulation container, the powders and granules less than a predetermined particle size are ejected from the bottom ejection hole to the inside of the granulation container. The gas moves away from the recovery hole and heads for the circulating gas flow. On the other hand, large-diameter particles that have grown to a predetermined particle size or more approach the recovery holes against the gas ejected from the ejection holes due to their own weight. In this way, since the large-diameter granules and other powders and granules can be classified (sieved) by the gas ejected from the bottom, powders and granules having a particle diameter less than a predetermined particle size are granulated. It can be kept in the container as much as possible.

[Invention of claim 3]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the powder and particles having a particle diameter less than the predetermined particle size circulating in the granulation vessel are formed into an annular hole by the gas ejected from the inclined surface of the spindle screen wall to the inside of the granulation vessel. It is kept away from and is restricted from passing. On the other hand, large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more roll on the lower end tapered portion of the granulation vessel or the slope of the spindle screen wall and approach the annular hole, and resist the gas ejected from the ejection hole. Pass through.

[Invention of claim 4]
According to invention of Claim 4, the powder and granule less than the predetermined particle diameter which circulate in a granulation container are made into a dish shape with the gas which spouted from the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall to the inner side of the granulation container. Access to the collection hole provided in the center of the screen wall is restricted. On the other hand, large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle diameter or more roll on the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall against the gas ejected from the ejection holes and pass through the recovery holes.

[Inventions of Claims 5 and 6]
According to the invention of claim 5, when the granule auxiliary outlet is closed while the granule outlet is open, the large-diameter particles move from the recovery container to the auxiliary recovery container, and then the granule outlet is closed. When the granule auxiliary outlet is opened in this state, the large-diameter granule is discharged from the auxiliary collection container. And, since either one of the granule outlet and the auxiliary granule outlet is closed and the other is opened, the outflow of gas from the granulation container can always be prevented, and the granulation can be prevented. Large-diameter particles can be taken out from the collection container without disturbing the circulating gas flow in the container. That is, it becomes possible to take out large-diameter particles during granulation.

  Specifically, as in the sixth aspect of the invention, the recovery container has a hopper structure that is tapered toward the lower side, and a cylindrical discharge pipe is provided at the lower end thereof, and auxiliary collection is provided outside the discharge pipe. A flexible tube as a container is mounted, and first and second open / close chucks that can be closed by crushing the flexible tube are provided at two locations above and below the flexible tube. When taking out large-diameter particles from the collection container, first, the upper first opening / closing chuck is closed to dam the large-diameter particles in the flexible tube, and then the lower second opening / closing chuck is attached. In the closed state, the first opening / closing chuck is opened, the large-diameter particles in the flexible tube are moved downward and dammed by the second opening / closing chuck, and finally the second opening / closing chuck is closed with the first opening / closing chuck closed. And the large-diameter particles may be discharged to the outside through the lower end opening (particle auxiliary outlet) of the flexible tube.

[Invention of Claim 7]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the large-diameter particles can be subdivided into a predetermined amount and sealed on the cylindrical packing film member attached to the lower end of the collection container.

  In addition, in the state where the cylindrical packing film member is crushed and the lower end opening of the discharge pipe is closed, the large-diameter particles are stored above the closed portion, so that the outflow of gas can always be prevented, and the granulation container Large-diameter particles can be subdivided into cylindrical packing film members and sealed without disturbing the circulating gas flow inside. That is, granulation and packing of large-diameter particles can be performed simultaneously.

[Invention of Claim 8]
According to invention of Claim 8, a large diameter granule can be manufactured continuously. Here, the powder supply device keeps the amount of powder in the granulation container almost constant without excess or deficiency by replenishing the amount of powder discharged from the granulation container as large-diameter particles. Can be manufactured continuously and stably.

[Invention of claim 9]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the gas and powder released from the upper end opening of the gas supply cylinder are radially dispersed by the ceiling protrusion above the upper end opening of the gas supply cylinder, and along the ceiling concave wall. And move downward on the side of the granulation vessel. This improves the stability of the circulating gas flow.

[Invention of Claim 10]
According to invention of Claim 10, adhesion of the powder to the lower surface of a ceiling concave wall can be prevented.

[Invention of Claim 11]
According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, gas flows into the room above the ceiling concave wall from the gap provided between the ceiling concave wall and the side portion of the granulation vessel, and is exhausted to the outside through the gas discharge hole. At this time, since the powder is collected by the filter, it is not discharged to the outside together with the gas.

[Invention of Claim 12]
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the lower end opening of the gas supply cylinder becomes negative pressure, so that the gas and powder in the vicinity thereof are sucked into the gas supply cylinder.

[Invention of Claim 13]
According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the powder passes through the inside of the plasma generation tube, so that the heat, ions, and ionization products of the plasma flame are imparted to the powder.

[Invention of Claim 14]
According to the granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 14 configured as described above, the powder is heated in the process of circulating the powder in the granulating container on the circulating gas flow circulating in the granulating container. Alternatively, when an ion or mist-like adsorbent is added, the particle size gradually increases due to adhesion of powders or growth of a layer of adsorbent adhering to the surface of the powder. The large-diameter particles that have grown to a predetermined particle size or more are separated from the circulating gas flow by their own weight, and are discharged to the collection container through the collection holes formed through the bottom of the granulation container. That is, the large-diameter particles are not accumulated in the granulation container, but are discharged to the outside of the granulation container through the collection hole, so that the circulating powder is separated from the large-diameter particles separated from the circulation gas flow. It is possible to prevent further adherence of the body, granules and adsorbing substances, and improve the uniformity of the particle diameter.

  In addition, the large-diameter particles recovered in the recovery container can be taken out from the particle outlet, while the granule outlet is closed while the circulating gas flow is generated, The gas outflow from the gas is prevented, and the circulating gas flow generated in the granulation vessel can be stabilized.

[Invention of Claim 15]
According to the invention of claim 15, the powder circulates and flows so as to swirl on the circulating gas flow circulating in the cylindrical room. In the middle of the circulation path, heat, ions or mist-like adsorbents are applied to gradually increase the diameter. And when it becomes a large-diameter particle | grain more than a predetermined particle diameter, it will detach | leave from a circulating gas flow and will be discharged | emitted from the collection | recovery hole arrange | positioned at the lower end part of a cylindrical chamber to the exterior of a granulation container.

[Invention of Claim 16]
According to invention of Claim 16, a large diameter granule can be manufactured continuously. Here, the powder supply device keeps the amount of powder in the granulation container almost constant without excess or deficiency by replenishing the amount of powder discharged from the granulation container as large-diameter particles. Can be manufactured continuously and stably.

[Inventions of Claims 17 and 18]
According to the inventions of claims 17 and 18, when the chemical solution is sprayed and granulated, the necessary drying treatment is not necessary. Moreover, the situation where powder adheres to the wall surface of a granulation container by the chemical | medical solution which hangs down the wall surface of a granulation container can be avoided.

[Invention of Claim 19]
According to the nineteenth aspect of the invention, the plasma flame is stabilized and the quality of the large-diameter particles is stabilized.

The conceptual diagram of the granulation apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. Cross section of powder feeder Expanded cross-sectional view of the powder feeder Perspective view of revolving member in container Scraper perspective view Perspective view of the top bottom wall Cross-sectional perspective view of bottom wall at the bottom Cross section of bottom wall at the bottom Perspective view of the top bottom wall Perspective view of bottom wall at the bottom Cross section of plasma torch (A) Cross section of ceiling member, (B) Partial cross section of ceiling member Cross section of ejector section Cross section of conical screen wall Sectional drawing of a flexible tube in a state where the first opening / closing chuck is closed and large-diameter particles are accumulated Sectional drawing of a flexible tube in a state where a large-diameter granule has moved to a closed portion by a second opening / closing chuck Sectional view of the flexible tube immediately after the first opening / closing chuck is closed Sectional drawing of the flexible tube in a state where the second opening / closing chuck is opened and large-diameter particles are discharged Conceptual diagram of the granulation apparatus according to the second embodiment Expanded sectional view of the lower end of the granulation vessel (A) Perspective view of dish-shaped screen wall, (B) Cross-sectional view of dish-shaped screen wall Conceptual diagram of the granulating apparatus according to the third embodiment Conceptual diagram of composite powder manufacturing equipment Conceptual diagram of the granulating apparatus according to the fourth embodiment Cross section of gas supply cylinder The expanded sectional view of the lower end part of the granulation apparatus concerning a 5th embodiment Expanded sectional view of the lower end of the granulator Side sectional view of the granulation container according to the sixth embodiment Cross-sectional perspective view of granulation container Perspective view of distribution supply device Conceptual diagram of granulating apparatus according to modification (1) Sectional drawing of the granulation container which concerns on modification (2) Sectional drawing of the ceiling member which concerns on a modification (3) Sectional drawing of the ceiling member which concerns on a modification (4) Sectional drawing of the ceiling member which concerns on a modification (5) Sectional drawing of the ejection nozzle which concerns on a modification (6) Sectional drawing of the rotary valve which concerns on a modification (7) Sectional drawing of the tube made from resin film concerning a modification (8) The perspective view of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on a modification (9) Sectional drawing of the granulation apparatus which concerns on a modification (12) Sectional drawing of the granulation apparatus which concerns on a modification (18)

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the granulating apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a granulating apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 60 for granulating large-diameter particles having a predetermined particle diameter or more from raw material powder, and for supplying raw material powder to the apparatus main body 60. It can be divided into a powder supply device 20 and a measuring device 50 (specifically, a platform scale) for measuring the weight of the large-diameter particles discharged from the device main body 60.

  First, the powder supply apparatus 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the powder supply apparatus 20 includes a powder container 21 that contains raw material powder. The powder container 21 includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 22, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, and a powder discharge cylindrical portion 24, and has a structure that is reduced in diameter as it goes downward. The lower end portion of the side wall of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and the upper end portion of the side wall of the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 are connected by a flat horizontal step wall 25, and the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24 is connected to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23. Screwed to the outside. Then, the powder is discharged from the lower surface opening of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24.

  The upper end of the powder container 21 (large diameter cylindrical portion 22) is open, and is closed by an upper end cap 26 that is screwed to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end. A motor 27 that is driven and controlled by a control device (not shown) is fixedly placed at the center of the upper surface of the upper end cap 26. The rotary shaft 27A connected to the motor 27 extends through the upper end cap 26 along the central axis of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and the small diameter cylindrical portion 23. The rotating shaft 27A has a hexagonal columnar shape with a stepped lower side from the intermediate portion, and a container inner disk 28 is attached to the lower end portion of the thick shaft portion so as to be integrally rotatable.

  The in-container disk 28 is disposed so as to overlap the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25, and loosely fits in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 so as to cover the upper surface opening of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23 and the periphery of the horizontal step wall 25. doing. Specifically, the container inner disk 28 is formed of a flat disk having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25. It is mounted horizontally away from the top.

  In order to scrape the powder deposited on the inner disc 28 into an annular gap between the peripheral edge of the inner disc 28 and the side wall of the large diameter cylinder portion 22, an inner surface is placed on the inner surface of the large diameter cylinder portion 22. A guide 29 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface standby guide 29 has a plate shape bent in an L shape. The horizontal plate 29A of the upper surface standby guide 29 is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the in-container disk 28, and a vertical plate 29B extending vertically upward from the base end portion of the horizontal plate 29A is fixed to the upper end cap 26.

  Then, by attaching the flat surface on the front end side of the horizontal plate 29A to the side surface of the rotation shaft 27A, the horizontal plate 29A is inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the inner disc 28, and when the inner disc 28 is rotated, The powder on the container inner disk 28 is blocked by the horizontal plate 29A and guided toward the outer edge of the container inner disk 28. Further, since the base end portion of the horizontal plate 29A extends to a position outside the outer edge portion of the inner disc 28, the powder guided by the horizontal plate 29A is transferred to the outer edge portion of the horizontal step wall 25, that is, the horizontal step wall. It is made to flow down to 25 A of cyclic | annular deposition parts provided along the outer edge part of the disk 28 in a container among the upper surfaces of 25. FIG. Furthermore, since the upper surface standby guide 29 agitates the powder in the powder container 21, it is possible to prevent the powder from solidifying in the large diameter cylindrical portion 22. As a result, the powder on the in-container disk 28 can stably flow down to the annular deposition portion 25A.

  The powder that has flowed down to the annular deposition portion 25A by the upper surface standby guide 29 forms a powder pile having a predetermined angle of repose between the inner disk 28 and the horizontal step wall 25. The angle of repose of the peak of the powder is constant depending on the type of powder, and it is possible to prevent excessive powder from being supplied from the inner disk 28 to the horizontal step wall 25. That is, the powder can be dammed between the inner disk 28 and the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25 so that the powder does not collapse into the small diameter cylindrical portion 23.

  The crest of the powder deposited on the annular depositing portion 25 </ b> A is scraped off by the in-container turning member 30 rotating in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 and sent to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23. The in-container turning member 30 is fixed to the rotating shaft 27A. As shown in FIG. 4, the cantilever-shaped powder collecting blades 32 and the dusting blades 33 are formed laterally from the axial center plate 31 through which the rotating shaft 27A passes. Is extended. These dust collection wings 32 and dust wings 33 rotate in a horizontal plane while being in sliding contact with the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25 (see FIG. 3).

  The powder collection blade 32 has a bent structure in which a plurality of flat plates are connected so as to swell in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the in-container revolving member 30 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4), while the dust distribution blade 33 is in the revolving state in the container. It extends straight from the axial center plate 31 toward the side wall of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 in a state inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the member 30. Although not shown, the dust collection blade 32 extends to a position where the tip thereof is adjacent to the side wall of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22, and the dust collection blade 33 is shorter than that.

  Then, the powder accumulated on the annular accumulation portion 25A is guided to the center side by the powder collection blade 32 and fed to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the powder collected by the powder collection blade 32 by the dust blade 33 is removed to the outside. When the powder collection blade 32 passes next, it is taken into the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 and the pressure applied to the powder in the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 is easily stabilized. In addition, the powder collecting blade 32 and the dust blade 33 cooperate to stir the powder, and the powder lump in the annular deposition portion 25A is also pulverized.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary guide wall 34 that is obliquely cut and raised from the shaft center plate 31 is formed at the base portion of the powder collection blade 32 of the shaft center plate 31 of the in-container turning member 30. The auxiliary guide wall 34 is inclined so as to gradually go down in the powder guiding direction by the powder collection blades 32. Then, the powder guided to the powder collection blade 32 and reaching the base end portion thereof is forcibly dropped to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 by the auxiliary guide wall 34.

  The in-container turning member 30 is integrally provided with a plurality of turning legs 35 and 36 extending downward from the shaft center plate 31. As shown in FIG. 3, these swinging leg portions 35 and 36 are both disposed in the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 and can turn there.

  The first swivel legs 35 are provided in pairs on the root portion of the dust wings 33 and the root portion of the dust collection wings 32 of the shaft plate 31. The first swivel leg 35 has a band plate shape, and is slanted toward the rear of the swivel direction of the swivel member 30 in the container as it goes downward (specifically, about 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction). Inclined and extended.

  The second swivel leg portion 36 hangs down from the base portion of the dust wing 33 of the axial center plate 31, and has a band plate shape having substantially the same width as the first swivel leg portion 35.

  These swivel legs 35 and 36 swirl within the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, so that powder solidification and aggregation within the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23 are prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of bottom walls 37 and 38 are provided in two upper and lower stages below the lower ends of the first and second swivel legs 35 and 36 in the powder container 21. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upper bottom wall 37 has a structure in which a plurality of powder passage holes 37 </ b> A are formed through a thin disk. These powder passage holes 37A are closed by an arch formed by adhering (crosslinking) the powders fed from the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the powder arch collapsed. The size is such that the powder can pass through. Specifically, the arch is destroyed by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 37B attached to the upper bottom wall 37, and the powder falls to the lower bottom wall 38. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 37 in the upper stage is prepared in a plurality of types in which the size, number and arrangement of the powder passage holes 37A are different (for example, see FIG. 9). It is possible to select and attach appropriately according to the particle size and the like.

  On the other hand, the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage is formed with only one powder passage hole 38A at the center. As shown in FIG. 7, the powder passage hole 38A has a mortar shape with a diameter reduced downward, and as shown in FIG. 8, the smallest diameter hole diameter is several times the average particle diameter of the powder P1. It is about. As a result, the powder can be discharged in a very small amount (for example, 1 to 3 particles). Here, the ultrasonic vibrator 38B is attached to the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage. If the powder passage hole 38A is clogged, the powder is forcibly dropped by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 38B. It is possible to eliminate clogging. As shown in FIG. 10, the bottom wall 38 in the lower stage has more powder passage holes 38 </ b> A that are several times the average particle diameter of the powder than the number of powder passage holes 37 </ b> A in the upper bottom wall 37. The thing provided is also prepared and can be appropriately selected and attached.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom walls 37 and 38 can be inserted / removed through slits 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> A opened to the side surface of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24, and the peripheral edge portion of the upper bottom wall 37 has a small diameter. It is sandwiched between the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 23 and the inner peripheral step surface of the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24, and the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24. Is engaged with the groove. In addition, the leakage of powder from the gaps between the slits 24A, 24A and the bottom walls 37, 38 is prevented by a pair of O-rings that are in close contact with the bottom walls 37, 38 from the thickness direction. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a scraper 40 is provided on the upper surface of the lower bottom wall 38. The scraper 40 is detachably fixed to a lower end portion of a rotating shaft 27A (thin shaft portion) that penetrates the upper bottom wall 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the scraper 40 includes a cylindrical portion 41 that fits outside the rotating shaft 27 </ b> A, and a strip plate portion 42 that protrudes in a cantilevered manner from the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 41. The plate portion 42 is curved so as to swell toward the rear in the rotational direction. The scraper 40 turns while being in sliding contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage, scrapes the powder that has passed through the upper screen 37 and dropped onto the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage, and gathers it to the center thereof, thereby passing through the powder passage hole. It is configured to drop from 38 </ b> A downward to the powder supply device 20. The above is the description of the powder supply apparatus 20. It should be noted that “powders” are “aggregates of solid particles”, and “solid particles” include primary particles, secondary particles, and aggregated particles. . Further, the size of the solid particles includes a so-called “nanoparticle” level.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the above-described powder supply device 20 is suspended from the platform balance 48 via a suspension member 49, and the amount of powder discharged from the powder supply device 20 is the powder amount. It is measured as the total weight reduction amount of the body supply device 20 and is output to a control device (not shown).

  Further, the powder discharged from the powder supply apparatus 20 is described below by a straight tubular powder supply pipe 47 extending downward from directly below the lower end portion (powder discharge cylinder portion 24) of the powder supply apparatus 20. Is supplied to the apparatus main body 60. The upper end portion of the powder supply pipe 47 has a funnel shape so that the powder falling from the powder supply device 20 does not spill. The powder supply device 20 is housed in a sealed device case 45, and carrier gas is supplied into the device case 45. The carrier gas feeds the powder in the powder supply pipe 47 to the apparatus main body 60. The pressure control may be performed so that the internal pressure of the device case 45 is the same as the internal pressure of the granulation container 61 of the device main body 60.

  Next, the apparatus main body 60 will be described. The apparatus main body 60 is provided below the granulation container 61 for granulation by circulating and flowing the powder supplied from the powder supply apparatus 20, and grows beyond a predetermined particle diameter. And a collection container 10 for storing the large-diameter particles discharged from the granulation container 61.

  The granulation container 61 has a conical cylinder structure with an open lower end that is gradually reduced in diameter downward. The upper end portion of the granulation vessel 61 is closed, and a gas discharge hole 63A is provided on the upper end wall of the granulation container 61, and the exhaust tube 63 stands from the opening edge of the gas discharge hole 63A. Inside the granulation vessel 61, a ceiling member 66 is provided in the middle portion in the vertical direction. An annular gap 64 is formed between the outer edge of the ceiling member 66 and the inner side surface of the granulation container 61, and the room above the ceiling member 66 communicates with the room below the ceiling member 66. . A filter 65 for collecting powder is provided in a room above the ceiling member 66 in the granulating container 61. A gas supply cylinder 71 according to the present invention is provided in a room below the ceiling member 66.

  In the present embodiment, the gas supply cylinder 71 is provided as a plasma generation tube in the plasma torch 70 provided in the granulation vessel 61. That is, the plasma torch 70 is of a so-called “inductive coupling method”, and includes a gas supply cylinder 71 as a plasma generation tube and an induction coil 72 provided outside thereof, and high frequency power is supplied to the induction coil 72. A power supply 73 for applying is connected via a matching circuit 74. The plasma torch 70 is disposed at the center near the lower end of the granulation vessel 61 by a bracket 75 protruding from the inner surface of the granulation vessel 61 and connected to the gas feed cylinder 71.

  The gas supply cylinder 71 has a cylindrical shape whose upper and lower ends are open, and is disposed in the granulation container 61 away from the ceiling member 66 and the conical screen wall 80 disposed at the lower end of the granulation container 61. Yes. As shown in FIG. 11, an annular internal flow path 77 </ b> A is provided inside the wall portion constituting the gas supply cylinder 71 in the lower end portion of the gas supply cylinder 71, and the inner periphery of the gas supply cylinder 71 is provided. A plurality of gas ejection ports 77B are provided on the surface. The internal flow path 77A and each gas outlet 77B are connected to each other through a communication path 77C extending obliquely upward from the internal flow path 77A toward each gas outlet 77B. The gas is discharged from each gas jet outlet 77B through the flow path 77A and each communication path 77C. When high-frequency power is supplied to the induction coil 72, the plasma generating gas supplied into the gas supply cylinder 71 is in a plasma state, and a plasma flame F2 is generated.

  Further, since the plasma generating gas is ejected obliquely upward from the gas ejection port 77 </ b> B in the gas feed cylinder 71, an updraft is generated in the gas feed cylinder 71. Thereby, inside the granulation container 61, as shown by a two-dot chain arrow in FIG. 1, the inside of the gas supply cylinder 71 rises, blows out from the upper end opening 71A, and is folded at the lower surface of the ceiling member 66, A circulating gas flow is generated that descends between the gas supply cylinder 71 and the side wall of the granulation container 61 and flows to the lower end opening 71 </ b> B of the gas supply cylinder 71. Further, since the upward air flow is generated in the gas supply cylinder 71, the lower end opening 71B of the gas supply cylinder 71 becomes negative pressure, and the gas and powder in the vicinity of the lower end opening 71B are sucked. Then, in the process of passing through the gas supply cylinder 71 from the lower end opening 71B to the upper end opening 71A, the powder passes through the plasma flame F2. Although not shown, an auxiliary gas supply port is provided above the gas outlet 77B.

  In the vicinity of the upper end opening 71A of the gas supply cylinder 71, a radical measurement device 51 (corresponding to the “plasma measurement device” of the present invention) that measures the amount of radicals in the plasma flame F2 is disposed. For example, the radical measuring device 51 irradiates the plasma flame F2 with an infrared laser having a specific wavelength, and uses the fact that the laser absorbs the radicals to change the intensity, thereby determining the density of the radicals in the plasma flame F2 and the like. While measuring, the measurement result is output to a control apparatus (not shown). The control device changes the opening of the gas flow valve 52 (see FIG. 1) to be supplied to the auxiliary gas supply port of the gas supply cylinder 71 according to the measured radical amount, so that the radical amount becomes substantially constant. Thus, the flow rate or supply pressure of the plasma generating gas introduced into the gas supply cylinder 71 is adjusted. Thereby, the plasma flame | frame F2 can be hold | maintained to a fixed state, and the dispersion | variation in the heat processing with respect to powder can be suppressed. Note that the amount of radicals may be controlled by pulse-modulating high-frequency power for plasma generation applied to the induction coil 72 at a constant period and changing the duty ratio. Further, instead of the radical measurement device 51, a plasma measurement device using other parameters (for example, temperature, electron density, ion density, etc.) other than the radical amount in the plasma flame F2 as measurement parameters may be used.

  Of the granulation vessel 61, the ceiling member 66 disposed above the plasma torch 70 includes a ceiling concave wall 67 having a concave structure when viewed from below, and a ceiling concave wall 67 as shown in FIG. 1 and a ceiling protrusion 68 that protrudes in a state of being abutted against the upper end opening 71A of the gas supply cylinder 71 (see FIG. 1). The lower surface of the ceiling member 66 has, for example, one end of a substantially semicircular arc that protrudes upward disposed on the central axis of the gas supply cylinder 71, and the substantially semicircular arc extending in the horizontal plane around the central axis. It consists of a curved surface drawn when it is rotated once.

  The ceiling protrusion 68 of the ceiling member 66 disperses the circulating gas flow and the powder discharged upward from the upper end opening 71 </ b> A of the gas supply cylinder 71 radially along the ceiling concave wall 67. On the other hand, the ceiling concave wall 67 guides the circulating gas flow and the powder dispersed by the ceiling protrusion 68 so as to flow downward between the inner surface of the granulation container 61 and the gas supply cylinder 71.

  The ceiling member 66 has a hollow structure, and a plurality of ejection holes 69 opened downward are formed in the ceiling concave wall 67 and the ceiling projection 68 (see FIG. 12B). In addition, a gas supply port (not shown) is formed through the upper surface wall 66A of the ceiling member 66, and a ceiling gas supply device 91 (see FIG. 12A) is connected thereto. Then, gas is supplied from the ceiling gas supply device 91 to the internal channel 66B of the ceiling member 66 at a predetermined supply pressure, and is ejected from the ejection hole 69. Thereby, adhesion of the powder to the lower surface of the ceiling member 66 is prevented. The upper surface wall 66A of the ceiling member 66 has a dome shape that is curved and descends toward the edge of the ceiling member 66, so that it is possible to prevent the accumulation of powder.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end portion of the powder supply pipe 47 passes through the portion near the outer edge of the ceiling member 66, and the lower end opening 47 </ b> A is open to the lower surface of the ceiling member 66. An ejector portion 76 is provided at a portion where the lower end opening 47 </ b> A of the powder supply pipe 47 is formed. The ejector section 76 squeezes and accelerates a part of the circulating gas flow that flows along the lower surface of the ceiling member 66 before the lower end opening 47A of the powder supply pipe 47, so that the powder is supplied from the powder supply pipe 47 to the powder. Is supposed to suck. Thereby, clogging of the powder in the powder supply pipe 47 is prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 14, a conical screen wall 80 is provided at the lower end of the granulation vessel 61. The conical screen wall 80 is arranged inside the lower end opening 61 </ b> B of the granulation container 61 by a plurality of rib walls (not shown) interposed between the lower ends of the side walls of the granulation container 61. ing. The conical screen wall 80 has a conical shape that tapers upward, and the apex is abutted against the lower end opening 71 </ b> B of the gas supply cylinder 71. An annular hole 82 is formed between the middle part of the inclined surface 81 of the conical screen wall 80 and the opening edge of the lower end opening 61 </ b> A of the granulation container 61. Here, a portion near the lower end opening 61A of the granulation vessel 61 is a lower end tapered portion 61B having a slanting angle with respect to the horizontal direction as compared with the upper portion thereof, and the lower end tapered portion 61B and the conical screen. The inclined surface 81 of the wall 80 is substantially perpendicular.

  The conical screen wall 80 has a hollow structure, and the inclined surface 81 is provided with a plurality of ejection holes 83 opened inside the granulation vessel 61. A gas supply port (not shown) is formed through the lower wall of the conical screen wall 80, and a separation gas supply device 90 (see FIG. 1) is connected thereto. Gas is supplied from the fractionation gas supply device 90 to the internal flow path 80B of the conical screen wall 80 at a predetermined supply pressure, and the gas can be ejected from the ejection hole 83 into the granulation vessel 61. .

  Here, the gas supply pressure to the internal flow path 80B is such that the powder or particles having a particle diameter less than a predetermined particle size are moved away from the annular hole 82 by the gas discharged from the discharge hole 83 and directed to the circulating gas flow. It is set so as to allow the large-diameter particles grown to a particle size larger than or equal to the diameter of the annular hole 82. That is, it is possible to classify (sieve) powders and granules having a particle size less than a predetermined particle size and large-diameter particles by the gas ejected from the inclined surface 81 of the conical screen wall 80.

  Now, the collection container 10 is integrally provided at the lower end of the granulation container 61. The collection container 10 communicates with the internal space of the granulation container 61 through the annular hole 82. The collection container 10 has a hopper structure that tapers in a downward direction. Specifically, the upper end large diameter portion 11, the intermediate taper portion 12, and the lower end small diameter portion 13 are formed in this order from the top, and the cylindrical lower end small diameter portion 13 (corresponding to the "discharge pipe" of the present invention). The lower end opening 13A corresponds to the “granule outlet” of the present invention.

  A flexible tube 14 as an “auxiliary collection container” of the present invention is attached to the outside of the lower end small diameter portion 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible tube 14 has a cylindrical shape elongated in the up-down direction, and is located on the side near the lower end small diameter portion 13 of the collection container 10 and on the side near the lower end portion of the flexible tube 14. The first and second open / close chucks 15 and 16 are provided which can be squeezed to close the flexible tube 14. The first and second open / close chucks 15 and 16 are configured such that when one is closed, the other is opened. That is, the lower end opening 14 </ b> A of the flexible tube 14 as the “granular auxiliary outlet” is opened in a state where the lower end opening 13 </ b> A of the lower end small diameter portion 13 as the “granular outlet” is closed by the first opening / closing chuck 15. (The state of FIG. 18), the lower end opening 13A of the lower end small diameter portion 13 is opened in the state where the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 is closed by the second opening / closing chuck 16 (the state of FIGS. 1 and 16). It has become. Thereby, it is possible to take out the large-diameter particles from the collection container 10 while preventing the gas from flowing out from the granulation container 61 (in other words, without making the circulation gas flow unstable). Note that, inside the flexible tube 14, there is a flexible tube between the lower end opening 13 </ b> A of the lower end small diameter portion 13 and the first opening / closing chuck 15 and between the first opening / closing chuck 15 and the second opening / closing chuck 16. Shape holding rings 17 and 17 for holding 14 in a cylindrical shape are fitted inside. The above is the description regarding the apparatus main body 60.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a measuring instrument 50 is installed immediately below the apparatus main body 60 (specifically, the lower end opening 14 </ b> A of the flexible tube 14), and the large-diameter particles discharged from the apparatus main body 60 are removed. In response, the weight can be measured. The measurement result is taken into a control device (not shown), and the control device drives the motor 27 of the powder supply device 20 based on the measurement result, and the powder discharged as a large diameter granule is granulated in the granulating container 61. To replenish. Thereby, the amount of powder in the granulation container 61 can be kept substantially constant without excess or deficiency.

  The above is description regarding the structure of the granulation apparatus 100 of this embodiment, Comprising: Next, the effect | action and effect of this embodiment are demonstrated.

  When the plasma generating gas is supplied into the gas supply cylinder 71 of the plasma torch 70, an upward air flow is generated inside the gas supply cylinder 71. The plasma generating gas released from the upper end opening 71 </ b> A of the gas supply cylinder 71 hits the lower surface of the ceiling member 66 and is dispersed to the side, and is downward between the gas supply cylinder 71 and the inner surface of the granulation container 61. Flowing. The gas that has reached the lower end of the granulation vessel 61 is sucked from the lower end opening 71B of the gas supply cylinder 71 that has become negative pressure, and rises again in the gas supply cylinder 71. In a state where such a circulating gas flow is generated in the granulation vessel 61, the powder is supplied from the powder supply device 20 into the granulation vessel 61, and a high-frequency current is applied to the induction coil 72 to generate plasma. A frame F2 is generated. The powder dropped from the powder supply device 20 passes through the powder supply pipe 47 and is discharged to the lower surface of the ceiling member 66 where it rides on the circulating gas flow. Then, in the process of riding the circulating gas flow and passing through the gas supply cylinder 71 from the lower end opening 71B to the upper end opening 71A, for example, the powder is heated by the plasma flame F2, and the adhesion to other powders and the like is increased. It is done. Specifically, at least the surface of the powder is melted by heating. Then, in the process of circulating and flowing in the granulation vessel 61 on the circulating gas flow, the powders adhere and gradually increase in size.

  Large-diameter particles having a predetermined particle size or more are separated from the circulating gas flow by their own weight. The large-diameter particles separated from the circulation gas flow are opposed to the gas ejected from the ejection holes 83 of the conical screen wall 80 into the granulation vessel 61, and the lower end tapered portion 61B or the cone of the lower end portion of the granulation vessel 61. It rolls on the slope 81 of the shaped screen wall 80 and is discharged downward from the annular hole 82 by its own weight. On the other hand, powders and granules having a particle diameter less than a predetermined particle size are moved away from the annular hole 82 by the gas ejected from the ejection hole 83 of the conical screen wall 80 and returned to the middle of the circulating gas flow (FIG. 14). reference).

  The large-diameter particles that have passed through the annular hole 82 are transferred into the collection container 10 and rolled into the flexible tube 14 as they are. In the initial state, the first opening / closing chuck 15 provided on the upper end side of the flexible tube 14 is closed, and the large-diameter particles are dammed here (state shown in FIG. 15). When a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are accumulated or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the first opening / closing chuck 15 is opened while the second opening / closing chuck 16 on the lower end side is closed. Then, the large-diameter particles that have been dammed move downward and are dammed again by the second opening / closing chuck 16 (state of FIG. 16). Further, the first opening / closing chuck 15 is immediately closed to dam up the large-diameter particles newly transferred into the recovery container 10 (state shown in FIG. 17). By opening the second opening / closing chuck 16 in this state, a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are collectively discharged from the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 (state shown in FIG. 18). These large-diameter particles are received in the tray of the measuring device 50 and weighed. Then, powder having the same weight as the measurement result (the amount discharged as a large-diameter granule) is replenished from the powder supply device 20 into the granulation container 61.

  Thus, according to the granulating apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the powder is granulated on the circulating gas flow that circulates to the center, the ceiling, the side, the bottom, and the center of the granulation container 61. Circulate in 61. In this process, the powder is heated by the plasma flame F2, and the powder adheres to gradually increase the particle size. And the large-diameter particle | grains grown more than a predetermined particle diameter remove | deviate from a circulation gas flow with dead weight. Here, the large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow are immediately discharged to the outside of the granulation vessel 61, that is, to the collection vessel 10 through an annular hole 82 formed through the bottom of the granulation vessel 61. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the circulating powder or particles from further adhering to the large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the excessive increase in size of the large-diameter particles and improve the uniformity of the particle size.

  Further, a flexible tube 14 communicated with the recovery container 10 via the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is provided, and either the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 or the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is blocked. Since the other is opened in the state, the outflow of gas from the granulation vessel 61 is prevented, and the large-diameter particles collected in the collection vessel 10 can be prevented without disturbing the circulating gas flow in the granulation vessel 61. Can be taken out. Thereby, granulation of a powder and taking-out of a large diameter granule can be performed simultaneously.

  Furthermore, since the powder discharged as large-diameter particles is replenished to the granulation container 61 from the powder supply device 20, the amount of powder in the granulation container 61 is kept almost constant without excess or deficiency. The large-diameter particles can be continuously and stably produced.

  In addition, among the powder particles circulating in the granulation vessel 61, the powder and the particles smaller than the predetermined particle size are generated by the gas jetted from the jet hole 83 of the conical screen wall 80 to the inside of the granulation vessel 61. Since it is away from the annular hole 82 and is directed to the circulating gas flow, it is possible to keep the powder and particles having a particle diameter smaller than the predetermined particle size in the granulation vessel 61 as much as possible.

  In addition, when granulation is performed using the plasma frame F2 as in the present embodiment, a drying process that is necessary when granulation is performed by spraying a chemical solution is not necessary. Moreover, the situation where powder adheres to the wall surface of a granulation container by the chemical | medical solution which hangs down the wall surface of a granulation container can be avoided.

[Second Embodiment]
This 2nd Embodiment is shown by FIGS. 19-21, and the structure of the lower end part of the granulation container 61 differs from 1st Embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 19, a rolling guide portion 62 that is rounded and curved is provided on the bottom side of the side wall of the granulation vessel 61 so that the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction becomes gentle toward the lower side. . The rolling guide portion 62 has a double wall structure, and a closed internal flow path 62A is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. As shown in FIG. 20, an ejection hole 62 </ b> B that penetrates the inner flow path 62 </ b> A and opens to the inner surface side of the granulation container 61 is formed through the inner wall of the rolling guide portion 62. Gas is supplied to the internal flow path 62A of the rolling guide part 62 at a predetermined pressure from a gas supply port (not shown) penetrating the outer wall, and rolling is performed by ejecting the gas from the ejection hole 62B. The adhesion of the powder to the inner surface of the guide part 62 is prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the lower end opening 61 </ b> A of the granulation container 61 is closed by a dish-shaped screen wall 85. As shown in FIG. 21, the dish-shaped screen wall 85 has a structure in which a disk-shaped screen wall main body 86 and a screwed tube portion 87 surrounding the periphery thereof are integrally provided, and is suspended from the edge of the lower end opening 61 </ b> A. The screwed tube portion 87 of the dish-shaped screen wall 85 is screwed onto the outside of the screwed tube portion 61D, and is attached to the lower end opening 61A of the granulating container 61 (see FIG. 20).

  At the center of the dish-shaped screen wall 85, a collection hole 89 is provided for communicating between the granulation container 61 and the collection container 10 and discharging large-diameter particles to the collection container 10. Further, the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall 85 is smoothly continuous with the inner surface of the rolling guide portion 62 and is gently inclined so as to descend toward the recovery hole 89. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21 (B), the screen wall body 86 has a hollow structure, and a plurality of ejection holes 88 opened to the inside of the granulation container 61 are provided on the upper surface thereof. A gas supply port (not shown) is formed through the lower surface wall of the dish-shaped screen wall 85, and a separation gas supply device 90 (see FIG. 20) is connected thereto. Then, gas is supplied to the internal flow path 85A of the dish-shaped screen wall 85 from the separation gas supply device 90 at a predetermined supply pressure, and the gas can be ejected from the ejection hole 88 into the granulation vessel 61. .

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of types of dish-shaped screen walls 85 with different upper surface inclination angles are provided, and the dish-shaped screen wall 85 is selected according to the particle diameter of the target large-diameter particle. And can be attached. In order to make the dish-shaped screen wall 85 detachable, in this embodiment, the collection container 10 is detachable from the granulation container 61. That is, the upper end portion (upper end large diameter portion 11) of the collection container 10 is screwed to the outer surface of the lower end cylindrical portion 61E that protrudes from the lower end portion of the granulation vessel 61 and surrounds the side of the dish-shaped screen wall 85. . Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the powder, granules, and large-diameter granules roll on the inner surface of the rolling guide portion 62 of the granulation container 61 and move downward. At this time, the gas ejected from the ejection holes 62 </ b> B of the rolling guide portion 62 prevents adhesion of powder, granules, and large-diameter granules. Of the powder, granules, and large-diameter granules that have reached the dish-shaped screen wall 85, powders and granules having a particle size less than a predetermined particle size are blown toward the circulating gas flow by the gas ejected from the ejection holes 88. It is. On the other hand, the large-diameter particles roll on the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall 85 toward the center against the gas ejected from the ejection holes 88 and flow down from the collection holes 89 to the collection container 10. Also according to this embodiment, the same operations and effects as the first embodiment are achieved.

[Third Embodiment]
This third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a composite powder manufacturing apparatus 200 is provided instead of the powder supply apparatus 20 in the first embodiment. Is different. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the composite powder manufacturing apparatus 200 includes a plurality of powder supply apparatuses 20 and 20 and a cylindrical heating furnace 210 and is accommodated in an apparatus case 45. The device case 45 is partitioned into an upper chamber 45B and a lower chamber 45C by an internal partition wall 45A, the cylindrical heating furnace 210 is accommodated in the lower chamber 45C, and the powder supply devices 20 and 20 are stored in the upper chamber 45B. Is housed.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the cylindrical heating furnace 210 has the same configuration as the plasma torch 70 disposed in the granulation vessel 61. That is, a quartz plasma generating tube 211 hanging from the internal partition wall 45A and an induction coil 212 provided outside thereof are provided.

  The plasma generating tube 211 has a cylindrical shape with both upper and lower ends open. A powder introduction tube 213 is connected to the upper end of the plasma generation tube 211. The powder introduction tube 213 stands upright from the internal partition wall 45A into the upper chamber 45B and opens upward. As shown in FIG. 2, the powder introduction pipe 213 has a funnel shape at the upper end, and the powder supplied from the powder supply devices 20, 20 is transferred from the gas supply port 45 </ b> D of the device case 45 to the upper chamber 45 </ b> B. It can be introduced into the plasma generating tube 211 together with the carrier gas supplied inside.

  When high-frequency power is supplied to the induction coil 212 of the cylindrical heating furnace 210, the plasma generating gas in the plasma generating tube 211 enters a plasma state, and a plasma flame F2 is generated. The powder is subjected to a heat treatment while the powder descends the core of the plasma frame F2. Specifically, the powder is melted by the heat of the plasma flame F2, and ions and ionization products in the plasma are imparted to the powder.

  The cylindrical heating furnace 210 is not limited to the one that uses the heat of the plasma flame F2, and may be one that uses, for example, the heat of a combustible gas combustion flame (gas burner), an electric heater, or hot air. Good. The heat source and temperature of the cylindrical heating furnace 210 may be appropriately set according to the material of the powder and the purpose of the granulation / coating product. Further, when the plasma flame F2 is used, the ions and ionization products in the plasma may be appropriately set according to the material of the powder and the purpose of the granulation / coating product. The above is the description regarding the cylindrical heating furnace 210.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the two powder supply devices 20, 20 are arranged in a position away from the upper surface opening of the powder introduction pipe 213 in the upper chamber of the device case 45. The powder supply device 20 is held above the platform balance 48 by a support base 48B mounted on the platform balance 48, and the amount of powder discharged from the powder supply device 20 is the total amount of the powder supply device 20. Measured as weight loss.

  Ionizers 220 and 220 are provided below the powder supply devices 20 and 20, respectively. The ionizer 220 ionizes gas molecules in the gas by using corona discharge, for example, and generates positive or negative gas ions. The method of generating gas ions may be a method using radiation or thermal ionization in addition to corona discharge, but the principle is well known (see JIS B9929: 2006 “Method for Measuring Ion Density in Air”). The detailed explanation is omitted.

  The ionizer 220 generates a predetermined amount of gas ions and injects a gas (ion wind) containing the gas ions from a nozzle 221 inserted into the apparatus case 45 at a predetermined pressure. As shown in FIG. 13, the nozzle 221 is disposed on the side of the dropping path of the powder falling from the powder supply device 20 and is directed to the dropping path, and from the side of the powder that is being dropped. A gas containing gaseous ions is blown. Thereby, gaseous ions adhere to the powder and are charged positively or negatively.

  In the present embodiment, a gas containing positive gas ions is blown from the ionizer 220 to the powder falling from one (left side in FIG. 23) of the powder supply device 20, and the other (right side in FIG. 23). A gas containing negative gas ions is blown from the ionizer 220 to the powder supplied from the powder supply device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the nozzles 221 and 221 of both the ionizers 220 and 220 are opposed to each other in the direction in which the two powder supply devices 20 and 20 are arranged, and a gas containing ions ejected from both the nozzles 221 and 221. The charged powder is blown off toward the powder of opposite polarity. Then, at the middle position between the two powder supply devices 20, that is, directly above the upper surface opening of the powder introduction pipe 213, the powders charged with opposite polarities merge and are electrically attached ( Electrostatic adsorption). Further, the plurality of powders adsorbed to each other are guided to the cylindrical heating furnace 210 by the carrier gas supplied to the upper chamber 45B of the apparatus case 45, and the powders adsorbed to each other in the process of descending the cylindrical heating furnace 210. They are melted and bonded together. Note that gas may be sprayed so that a plurality of powders draw a parabola and gather inside the upper part of the powder introduction tube 213. Such a configuration of the present embodiment also provides the same operations and effects as the first embodiment.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, heat is applied to the powder in order to adhere the powder to each other. However, in the present embodiment, gas ions are applied to the powder, and this is the first embodiment. Different from form. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the plasma torch 70 in the first embodiment is simply a gas supply cylinder 71. A plurality of ionizers 220 are provided for applying ions to the powder that circulates and flows in the granulation vessel 61. The configuration of the ionizer 220 is the same as that of the third embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 24, a nozzle 221 of an ionizer 220 is arranged at a predetermined position inside the granulation vessel 61 so as to blow an ion wind toward the powder that circulates on the circulating gas flow. It has become. Specifically, for example, ion wind is blown against the powder near the lower surface of the ceiling member 66 and inside the gas supply cylinder 71 (see FIG. 25). The particles and particles are charged by the adhering gaseous ions contained in the ion wind, and the particles and particles charged to opposite polarities are electrically attached (electrostatic adsorption) to gradually form the particles. Diameter increases. An ion amount measurement sensor 230 for measuring the amount of ions in the granulation vessel 61 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end opening 71A of the gas supply cylinder 71. Such a configuration of the present embodiment also provides the same operations and effects as the first embodiment. In addition, as in the present embodiment, when granulation is performed by electrically attaching powders to each other by ions, a drying process that is necessary when granulation is performed by spraying a chemical solution becomes unnecessary. . Further, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the powder adheres to the wall surface of the granulation container 61 by the chemical solution that hangs down the wall surface of the granulation container 61.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the above embodiment, there is rarely a situation in which the large-diameter particles flowing down in the flexible tube 14 are sandwiched between the first opening / closing chucks 15 and the lower end opening 13A of the collection container 10 is not completely closed. Can happen. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment described below, a configuration for reliably avoiding such a situation is added to the granulation apparatus 100 of the second embodiment. In addition, about the same structure as 2nd Embodiment, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  As shown in FIG. 26, below the dish-shaped screen wall 85, there is provided a swing receiving portion 330 that temporarily receives the large-diameter particles that have passed through the recovery hole 89. As shown in FIG. 27, the swing receiving portion 330 has a structure in which the lower end edges of a pair of fan-shaped side plates 332 and 332 facing each other in the horizontal direction are connected by a receiving tray 331 that is curved in an arc shape. , 332 are coupled to a pair of shaft bodies 333, 333 extending in the horizontal direction in the collection container 10. The shaft bodies 333 and 333 are connected to a rotation drive source (not shown), and the swing receiving portion 330 swings below the collection hole 89 by rotating the shaft bodies 333 and 333.

  The swing receiving portion 330 operates as follows. That is, immediately before the first opening / closing chuck 15 is opened, the receiving tray 331 of the swing receiving portion 330 is disposed opposite to the recovery hole 89 so that the large-diameter particles can be temporarily received (state shown in FIG. 26). . Moreover, after the 1st opening-and-closing chuck | zipper 15 closes, it rotates, the receiving tray 331 retreats from right under the collection | recovery hole 89, and the receiving tray 331 inclines and discharge | emits the large diameter granule received temporarily below. . This prevents the large-diameter particles from flowing into the flexible tube 14 while the first opening / closing chuck 15 is shifting from the open state to the closed state, and the large-diameter particles in the first opening / closing chuck 15. Is prevented from being caught. In addition, according to this embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that there exists an effect | action and effect equivalent to the said 2nd Embodiment.

[Sixth Embodiment]
This 6th embodiment is shown in Drawing 28-Drawing 30, and the structure of device main part 400 among granulation devices 100 differs from the above-mentioned embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, the granulation container 410 has a flat box-shaped structure. The bottom 410C of the granulation vessel 410 is curved in an arc shape that bulges downward. From one side surface 410A in the flat direction of the granulation container 410, a guide protruding wall 411 is provided so as to protrude from the upper chamber 420 above the guide protruding wall 411 and the guide protruding wall 411. It is divided into a cylindrical chamber 421 extending in a substantially horizontal direction below. The lower surface 412 of the guide projection wall 411 is an arc surface having the same curvature as the curvature of the bottom portion 410C of the granulation vessel 410, and constitutes the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber 421 smoothly and continuously with the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C. Further, an upper communication port 419 is formed between the tip 411A of the guide protruding wall 411 and the other side surface 410B of the granulation container 410, and the upper chamber 420 and the cylindrical chamber 421 communicate with each other. A slit nozzle 414 for generating a circulating gas flow is provided at the bottom 410C of the granulation vessel 410. As shown in FIG. 29, the slit nozzle 414 extends over the entire length of the granulation vessel 410 and is configured to eject gas toward the tangential direction of the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C. The gas supplied from the slit nozzle 414 into the granulation vessel 410 is along the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C of the granulation vessel 410 and the lower surface 412 of the guide projection wall 411, as indicated by the two-dot chain arrows in FIGS. It flows like drawing a circle and generates a circulating gas flow. Since the upper surface 413 of the guide projection wall 411 is an inclined surface, no powder is deposited.

  The granulation vessel 410 is inclined so that the bottom portion 410C is lowered from the one end portion 415 in the longitudinal direction toward the other end portion 416. And the collection | recovery hole 417 for collect | recovering a large diameter granule is penetrated and formed in the other end part 416 located in the lowest side among the bottom parts 410C of the granulation container 410. As shown in FIG. The other end portion 416 of the granulation container 410 is provided with a collection container (not shown) communicating with the collection hole 417. The recovery container has a hopper structure that is tapered toward the lower side, and includes a cylindrical discharge pipe 418 at the lower end thereof. The “auxiliary collection container” according to the present invention is connected to the discharge pipe 418 (not shown). The “auxiliary collection container” has, for example, the same structure as the flexible tube 14 described in the above embodiment.

  The powder supplied from the powder supply device 20 into the granulation container 410 falls along the other side surface 410B opposite to the one side surface 410A from which the guide protrusion wall 411 of the granulation container 410 protrudes in the upper chamber 420. Then, it passes through the upper communication port 419 and flows into the cylindrical chamber 421. Then, it rides on the circulating gas flow circulating in the cylindrical chamber 421 and circulates and flows so as to turn. In the middle of the circulation path, ions are supplied from the ionizer 220 and are gradually increased in diameter by electrostatic adsorption with each other. And when it becomes a large-diameter particle | grain more than a predetermined particle diameter, it will detach | leave from a circulating gas flow, will go to the collection | recovery hole 417 by the inclination of the bottom part 410C of the granulation container 410, and will be discharged | emitted from the collection | recovery hole 417 to a collection | recovery container. .

Note that the powder may be supplied only from one end portion 415 in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410 or may be supplied all at once from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, for example, like the distribution supply device 450 shown in FIG. 30, the front end discharge portion 453 of the flange portion 452 extending substantially horizontally from the lower end portion of the hopper 451 containing powder is expanded in a fan shape. A plurality of distribution grooves 454 are formed on the bottom surface of the tip discharge portion 453, and the powder rolling on the flange 452 by vibration or the like is divided into distribution grooves 454 at the base end portion of the front end discharge portion 453, and each distribution What is necessary is just to make it powder fall from the groove | channel 454, respectively. Thus, when supplying powder from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410, it is preferable to provide a plurality of ionizers 220 in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410.
[Other Embodiments]

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the embodiments described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various other than the following can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be changed and implemented.

  (1) In the above embodiment, only one of the plasma torch 70 and the ionizer 220 is provided. However, as shown in FIG. 31, both the plasma torch 70 and the ionizer 220 are provided, and the powder is heated. It is also possible to perform granulation by applying both of ions.

  (2) As shown in FIG. 32, a plurality of gas injection ports 300 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall of the granulation vessel 61 so that gas is injected toward the tangential direction. The portion of the circulating gas flow that descends along the inner peripheral surface of the side wall of the granulation vessel 61 may be a spiral swirl flow by the gas injected into the vessel 61.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the lower end opening 47A of the powder supply pipe 47 is arranged on the lower surface near the outer edge of the ceiling member 66. However, as shown in FIG. You may arrange | position to the vertex of the ceiling protrusion 68 in the ceiling member 66. FIG. In the third embodiment, the ion amount measurement sensor 230 may be disposed near the lower surface of the ceiling member 66.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the powder is granulated by applying heat or ions to the powder, but the powder adsorbing power is enhanced by spraying the binder agent on the circulating powder. Granulation may be performed by aggregating powders. Alternatively, the surface of the powder may be coated with the coating agent by spraying the coating agent on the powder, and granulation may be performed by growing the coating layer. At this time, as shown in FIG. 34, the spray nozzle 310 for spraying the binder agent or the coating agent is preferably disposed so as to spray downward from the apex of the ceiling projection 68 in the ceiling member 66. .

  (5) In the above embodiment, it is difficult to drop the powder deposited on the central portion of the upper surface wall 66A of the ceiling member 66 by its own weight. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 35, a deposition prevention cover 311 having a conical shape or a pyramid shape that tapers upward may be provided so as to cover the upper surface wall 66 </ b> A of the ceiling member 66. Further, the deposition preventing cover 311 is provided with an ejection hole (not shown), and gas is supplied to the closed space 312 between the upper surface wall 66A of the ceiling member 66 and the deposition preventing cover 311 so that the gas is ejected from the ejection hole. The powder on the deposition prevention cover 311 may be forcibly dropped by ejecting.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the gas is blown out from the gas outlet 77B opened on the inner surface of the gas feed cylinder 71 to generate the rising airflow inside. However, as shown in FIG. An ejection nozzle 320 that ejects compressed gas from the lower end opening 71B of the cylinder 71 may be provided. The ejection nozzle 320 is configured such that the inner diameter is reduced in the middle to increase the gas pressure. The ejection nozzle 320 stands up from the apex portion of the conical screen wall 80, and the tip thereof enters the lower end opening 71 </ b> B of the gas supply cylinder 71. It is accepted with a gap. Thereby, the lower end opening 71 </ b> B of the gas supply cylinder 71 has a negative pressure, and gas and powder are sucked from the gap between the gas supply cylinder 71 and the ejection nozzle 320.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the internal flow path 320A of the ejection nozzle 320 and the internal flow path 80B of the conical screen wall 80 may be isolated, and gas may be separately supplied to them. The flow paths 80B and 320A may be communicated with each other so that part of the gas supplied to the internal flow path 80B is ejected from the ejection nozzle 320.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the flexible tube 14 are opened and closed by the first and second opening and closing chucks 15 and 16, thereby preventing the gas from flowing out from the granulation vessel 61 and increasing the diameter from the collection vessel 10. Although the granules are discharged, a rotary valve 340 may be used as shown in FIG.

  (8) In the above-described embodiment, the large-diameter particles are collected by a predetermined amount and discharged to the measuring device 50. However, instead of the flexible tube 14, a cylindrical packing film member is used, and the large-diameter particles are A predetermined amount may be subdivided and sealed to the cylindrical packing film member.

  Specifically, for example, a welding sealer 351 that can crush a lower end opening 13A of the collection container 10 by crushing a resin film tube 350 as a cylindrical packing film member from the outside is provided, and the welding sealer 351 is made of resin. It is possible to move up and down along the film tube 350. When sealing large-diameter particles in small portions, first, the resin film tube 350 is closed from the outside with a welding sealer 351 and closed, and the closed portion is heat-welded and recovered above the closed portion. The large-diameter particles dropped from the container 10 are stored (state shown in FIG. 38A). The welding sealer 351 is moved upward until a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are accumulated, and is kept in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 38B). Then, when a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles have accumulated in the closed portion, the welding sealer 351 is closed. Then, a sealed bag is formed in the middle of the resin film tube 350, and a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are sealed in the bag. By repeating such an operation, a plurality of bags connected to the resin film tube 350 are formed, and large-diameter particles can be sealed by a predetermined amount in these bags. Further, since the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is always closed, gas outflow from the granulation container 61 is prevented, and powder granulation and large-diameter particle packing are performed simultaneously. be able to. Note that the welding sealer 351 may melt the resin film tube 350 simultaneously with heat welding.

  (9) The powder supply device is not limited to the structure of the above embodiment, and may be other known powder supply devices. Further, in the powder supply apparatus 20 of the above-described embodiment, an L-shaped pipe 360 shown in FIG. 39 is connected instead of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24, and an L-shape is provided by a vibrator 361 provided in the middle of the L-shaped pipe 360. By oscillating the pipe 360 (low frequency vibration or ultrasonic vibration), the powder may be discharged little by little. Further, by providing a flange portion 362 having a V-shaped cross section at the tip of the L-shaped pipe 360, the powder may be arranged in a line and discharged in a very small amount (one by one).

  (10) In the first embodiment, the conical screen wall 80 has a conical shape that tapers upward, but may have a pyramid shape. Moreover, you may make it a dome shape.

  (11) As in the first embodiment, the powder is passed through the plasma torch 70 (gas feed cylinder 71) and passed through the plasma flame F2, or the circulating powder is irradiated with the plasma flame F2. As a result, irregularities are formed on the surface of the powder, carbides, nitrides, oxides, and fluorides are generated on the surface of the powder, and the surface of the powder is a carbon film, silicon film, silicon nitride film and resin It is possible to coat with a film (for example, a fluororesin film) or to form a carbon nanowall. In addition, an insulating film or a conductive film can be formed on the surface of the powder. Furthermore, it is possible to introduce a hydrophilic functional group or a water repellent (hydrophobic) functional group on the surface of the powder. Here, a plurality of different coating layers may be formed on the surface of the powder by sequentially changing the source gas of the plasma flame F2. Alternatively, a plurality of plasma torches provided in the apparatus main body 60 may be sequentially used to form a powder and form a surface coating layer.

  (12) Nanoparticles may be synthesized using powder as a raw material and supplied to the granulation vessel 61. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 40, the powder dropped from the powder supply device 20 may be passed through a plasma frame F2 generated by a plasma torch 70 to synthesize nanoparticles. Further, a plasma torch 70 may be provided separately from the gas supply cylinder 71. For example, the plasma frame F2 may be ejected from the inner surface of the side wall of the granulation vessel 61 in a substantially horizontal direction so as to hit the powder descending along the inner surface of the side wall.

  (13) Alternatively, nanoparticles may be synthesized by a so-called “gas phase synthesis method” and supplied to the granulation container 61 as “powder” according to the present invention. Specifically, in FIG. 40, instead of the powder supply device 20, a source gas source that is a raw material for nanoparticles is provided, and the source gas is passed through the plasma flame F <b> 2 generated by the plasma torch 70. Nanoparticles can be synthesized. Further, a suspension in which powder is suspended, a slurry or a solution in which a powder raw material is dissolved, or a solution in which an organic raw material and an organic compound raw material are dissolved is supplied to the plasma torch 70 as fine droplets (spray). At the same time, the fine droplets are dried or ionized by the heat of the plasma flame F2 to produce powder (nanoparticles), which is supplied to the granulation vessel 61 as it is and circulated, and generated by the plasma torch 70. The plasma flame F2 may be irradiated.

  (14) In the above-described embodiment, the ceiling member 66 is provided in the granulation vessel 61. However, the ceiling member 66 may not be provided when a good circulation flow is performed due to the characteristics of the powder.

  (15) The weight of the powder supply device 20 is measured by the platform balance 48. However, depending on the material characteristics of the powder and the purpose of the granulation / coating product, the powder supply device 20 is measured using a calibration curve prepared in advance. May be.

  (16) The generation method of the plasma flame F2 is not limited to the above-described inductive coupling method (coil method), and may be a capacitive coupling method. Further, a generation method using microwaves, direct current, or glow discharge may be used. Specifically, the plasma frame F2 is generated by applying a voltage between a pair of parallel plate electrodes arranged in parallel, or between a needle electrode and a plate electrode, or between a line electrode and a plate electrode. May be. Further, the plasma generating tube 71 may be a capillary (capillary, capillary). The plasma generation mechanism and the torch shape may be selected and used according to the use of granulated particles and the equipment configuration.

  (17) The technical scope of the invention according to claims 17 to 19 of the present application includes, in the first to third, fifth, and sixth embodiments, the annular hole 82 or the recovery hole 89 of the granulation vessel 61, 410. , 417 can be opened and closed by a movable cutoff valve that can move up and down. In this granulation apparatus, granulation can be performed with the annular hole 82 or the recovery holes 89, 417 open as in the above embodiment, or the annular hole 82 or the recovery holes 89, 417 are formed with a movable cutoff valve. Granulation can also be performed in a closed state. When granulation is performed with the movable cutoff valve closing the annular hole 82 or the recovery holes 89, 417, a predetermined amount of powder is supplied in advance to the granulation containers 61, 410, and the supply of the powder is stopped. The powder is circulated and flowed in the granulation containers 61 and 410 closed by the above. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the circulation flow is stopped to complete the granulation, the movable shut-off valve is opened, and the large-diameter particles are discharged from the granulation containers 61 and 410. And this is repeatedly performed as needed. Here, a plasma torch (corresponding to the “plasma generator” in claim 18 of the present application) for irradiating the powder flame circulating on the circulating gas flow in the granulating containers 61 and 417 with the plasma flame F2 is provided. Alternatively, an ionizer (corresponding to “ion imparting means” in claim 17 of the present application) for imparting ions to the powder circulating on the circulating gas flow may be provided.

  Here, the powder is passed through the plasma torch 70 (gas feed cylinder 71) to pass through the plasma flame F2, or the powder being circulated is irradiated with the plasma flame F2, thereby forming irregularities on the surface of the powder. Forming carbides, nitrides, oxides and fluorides on the surface of the powder, or forming the surface of the powder with a carbon film, silicon film, silicon nitride film and resin film (for example, a fluororesin film). It is possible to coat or form carbon nanowalls. In addition, an insulating film or a conductive film can be formed on the surface of the powder. Furthermore, it is possible to introduce a hydrophilic functional group or a water repellent (hydrophobic) functional group on the surface of the powder. Here, a plurality of different coating layers may be formed on the surface of the powder by sequentially changing the source gas of the plasma flame F2. Further, a plurality of plasma torches provided in the apparatus main bodies 60 and 410 may be sequentially used to form a powder and form a surface coating layer.

  (18) Although not included in the technical scope of the present invention, the powder is not sent from the circulating gas flow, but from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the granulation container by a powder conveying device such as a coil type conveyor or a screw type conveyor. A granulating device 470 that circulates and flows by pushing up and dropping downward from its upper end with its own weight is also conceivable. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 41, a conveyor tube 461 extending in the vertical direction is disposed in the granulation container 460, and the lower end portion of the conveyor tube 461 protrudes downward from the lower end portion of the granulation container 460. The lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 protruding downward can be opened and closed by an opening / closing valve 462. Further, among the conveyor tubes 461, a powder intake port 463 that opens to the inside of the granulation vessel 460 is formed through the lower end portion of the granulation vessel 460, and obliquely downward at the upper end portion of the conveyor tube 461. A branch pipe 464 extending toward is integrally provided. A coil 466 that is rotationally driven by a motor 465 is provided inside the conveyor tube 461.

  When a predetermined amount of powder is supplied to the granulation container 460 in advance with the lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 closed by the opening / closing valve 462, and the supply of the powder is stopped, the coil 466 is rotated. The powder accumulated at the bottom of 460 flows into the conveyor tube 461 from the powder inlet 463 and is conveyed vertically upward by the coil 466. When the upper end of the conveyor tube 461 is reached, the powder passes through the branch pipe 464 and is discharged obliquely downward. The powder discharged from the branch pipe 464 is irradiated with the plasma flame F <b> 2 generated by the plasma torch 70.

  When such a circulating flow is performed for a predetermined time to generate large-diameter particles, the rotation of the coil 466 is stopped and the on-off valve 462 is opened. Then, the large-diameter granule in the granulation container 461 is discharged from the lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 to the collection container via the powder inlet 463. The coil 466 may be a shafted or non-axial screw. Further, an ionizer 220 may be provided in place of the plasma torch 70.

10 Collection container 13 Lower end small diameter part (discharge pipe)
13A Lower end opening (particle outlet)
14 Flexible tube (auxiliary collection container)
14A Lower end opening (granular auxiliary outlet)
15 First open / close chuck 16 Second open / close chuck 20 Powder supply device 51 Radical measurement device (plasma measurement device)
61 Granulation container 61B Lower end tapered portion 62 Rolling guide portion 63A Gas discharge hole 64 Gap 65 Filter 66 Ceiling member 66B Internal flow path 67 Ceiling concave wall 68 Ceiling projection 69 Ejection hole 70 Plasma torch (plasma generator)
71 Gas supply cylinder 71A Upper end opening 71B Lower end opening 80 Conical screen wall (screen part)
80B internal flow path 81 slope 82 annular hole (collection hole)
83 Ejection hole 85 Dish-shaped screen wall (screen part)
85A Internal flow path 88 Ejection hole 89 Recovery hole 90 Separation gas supply device 91 Ceiling gas supply device 100 Granulation device 220 Ionizer (ion imparting means)
320 Injection nozzle 350 Resin film tube (cylindrical packing membrane member)
410 Granulation container 418 discharge pipe

  The present invention relates to a granulating apparatus for producing a large-diameter granule by growing a powder to a predetermined particle size or more.

Conventionally, as this type of granulating apparatus, a so-called “Worster type” fluidized bed apparatus is known .

In concrete terms, placed in a state floated a cylindrical body open at both ends to the center of the granulation vessel, by generating the ascending air current inside the cylindrical body, the central portion of the granulation vessel, ceiling, side A circulating gas flow that circulates in the order of the top, bottom, and center, and then circulates the powder on the circulating gas flow, and flocculates the powder by spraying the drug on the powder in the cylinder. The surface of powder is coated (for example, refer nonpatent literature 1).

JPO, “Standard Technology Collection”, Agrochemical formulation technology (B-1- (4) coating technology), [online], [Searched on December 7, 2007], Internet [URL: http: //www.jpo .go.jp / shiryou / index.htm]

Incidentally, the conventional granulation apparatus described above is closed the bottom of the granulation vessel, larger diameter body has left the circulating gas stream grown on predetermined particle diameter or the Ri balls on the bottom of the granulation vessel, As a result, a situation in which the variation in the particle size becomes large may occur.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and aims at provision of the granulation apparatus which can improve the uniformity of a particle size.

In order to achieve the above object, the granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is configured such that a plasma flame is sprayed on circulating powder or heat, ions, or a mist-like adsorbent is applied to each other. In a granulating apparatus for producing a large-diameter granule that grows to a predetermined particle diameter by growing an adsorbent material layer on the surface of the powder, the cylinder is erected from the bottom of the container. A coil-type or screw-type conveyor is rotatably provided inside the body, and the powder accumulated at the bottom of the container is received from the powder intake opening opened at the bottom of the cylinder and is raised by the conveyor. It is characterized in that it is allowed to fall freely from the tip of the discharge pipe that protrudes to the side toward the bottom of the container, and a plasma flame is sprayed on the falling powder, or heat, ions, or mist-like adsorbents are applied. Have. " Granulation" includes the production of large-diameter particles by agglomerating powders, and the formation of large-diameter particles by coating the surface of the powder with an adsorbent (coating) and growing the coating layer. Includes those that make the body.

Granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 2 has been made in order to achieve the above object, it produces a circulating gas stream circulating inside the granulation vessel, the circulating put the powder into the circulating gas stream, in granulating apparatus powder by urging wear powder together by ejecting plasma flame to produce the larger diameter body grown on predetermined particle size or less in the middle of the path of the circulating gas stream, granulation vessel A recovery hole that is formed through the bottom of the slab and through which large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow by its own weight can pass, and is disposed below the granulation container and communicates with the granulation container through the recovery hole and the granules. The granulation container is provided with a collection container that is entirely closed except for the body collection hole, and a granule outlet that is provided in the collection container so as to be openable and closable and for taking out large-diameter granules contained in the collection container. A cylindrical portion extending along a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction And an upper communication port formed in the upper part of the cylindrical room and extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical room, and an upper chamber arranged above the cylindrical room and communicated with the inside of the cylindrical room via the upper communication port, A gas exhaust hole that is provided in the upper chamber and communicates with the outside of the granulation vessel through a filter, and is provided in the cylindrical chamber, and supplies gas along the tangential direction of the inner curved surface of the cylindrical chamber, and the inner side of the cylindrical chamber. And a gas ejection portion that generates a circulating gas flow that circulates along the curved surface, and is characterized in that the recovery hole is disposed at the lower end of the cylindrical chamber .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the second aspect , the bottom of the cylindrical chamber is inclined so as to descend from one end in the longitudinal direction toward the other end, and a recovery hole is formed through the other end. It has the characteristics where it was done .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the granulation apparatus according to the second or third aspect , the powder supply device is provided in the upper chamber and can continuously supply the powder into the cylindrical chamber through the upper communication port. It has the feature in having provided .

[Invention of Claim 1]
According to the granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 configured as described above, the powder accumulated at the bottom of the container rises by a coil-type or screw-type conveyor, and reaches the bottom of the container from the tip of the discharge pipe. It circulates in the container by free falling toward it. As described above, since the powder is raised by the coil type or screw type conveyor, even a fluid having a large diameter can be circulated in the container, and the uniformity of the particle diameter can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

[Invention of claim 2 ]
According to the granulating apparatus according to the invention of claim 2 configured as described above, the powder circulates and flows so as to swirl on the circulating gas flow circulating in the cylindrical chamber. In the process, when a plasma flame is sprayed onto the powder, the powder adheres and the particle size gradually increases. The large-diameter particles that have grown to a predetermined particle size or more are separated from the circulating gas flow by their own weight, and are discharged to the collection container through the collection holes arranged at the lower end of the cylindrical chamber . That is, the large-diameter particles are not accumulated in the granulation container, but are discharged to the outside of the granulation container through the collection hole, so that the circulating powder is separated from the large-diameter particles separated from the circulation gas flow. body, is prevented from granules is further deposited can thereby improving the uniformity of the particle size.

  In addition, the large-diameter particles recovered in the recovery container can be taken out from the particle outlet, while the granule outlet is closed while the circulating gas flow is generated, The gas outflow from the gas is prevented, and the circulating gas flow generated in the granulation vessel can be stabilized.

[Invention of claim 3]
According to the invention of claim 3, the large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow are directed to the recovery hole by the inclination of the bottom of the cylindrical chamber.

[Invention of claim 4]
According to invention of Claim 4, a large diameter granule can be manufactured continuously. Here, the powder supply device keeps the amount of powder in the granulation container almost constant without excess or deficiency by replenishing the amount of powder discharged from the granulation container as large-diameter particles. Can be manufactured continuously and stably.

Side sectional view of the granulation container according to the first embodiment of the present invention . Cross section of powder feeder Expanded cross-sectional view of the powder feeder Perspective view of revolving member in container Scraper perspective view Perspective view of the top bottom wall Cross-sectional perspective view of bottom wall at the bottom Cross section of bottom wall at the bottom Perspective view of the top bottom wall Perspective view of bottom wall at the bottom Cross-sectional perspective view of granulation container Perspective view of distribution supply device Sectional drawing of a flexible tube in a state where the first opening / closing chuck is closed and large-diameter particles are accumulated Sectional drawing of a flexible tube in a state where a large-diameter granule has moved to a closed portion by a second opening / closing chuck Sectional view of the flexible tube immediately after the first opening / closing chuck is closed Sectional drawing of the flexible tube in a state where the second opening / closing chuck is opened and large-diameter particles are discharged Sectional drawing of the rotary valve which concerns on a modification (3) Sectional drawing of the tube made from resin film which concerns on a modification (4) The perspective view of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on a modification (5) Sectional drawing of the granulation apparatus which concerns on a modification (7)

[First Embodiment]
DESCRIPTION granulator 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-16. As shown in FIG. 1, a granulating apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 400 for granulating large-diameter particles having a predetermined particle diameter or more from raw material powder, and a raw material powder for supplying the apparatus main body 400 with raw material powder. It can be divided into the powder supply apparatus 20 and a measuring instrument ( specifically, a platform scale ) ( not shown) for measuring the weight of the large-diameter particles discharged from the apparatus main body 400 .

  First, the powder supply apparatus 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the powder supply apparatus 20 includes a powder container 21 that contains raw material powder. The powder container 21 includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 22, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, and a powder discharge cylindrical portion 24, and has a structure that is reduced in diameter as it goes downward. The lower end portion of the side wall of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and the upper end portion of the side wall of the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 are connected by a flat horizontal step wall 25, and the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24 is connected to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23. Screwed to the outside. Then, the powder is discharged from the lower surface opening of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24.

  The upper end of the powder container 21 (large diameter cylindrical portion 22) is open, and is closed by an upper end cap 26 that is screwed to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end. A motor 27 that is driven and controlled by a control device (not shown) is fixedly placed at the center of the upper surface of the upper end cap 26. The rotary shaft 27A connected to the motor 27 extends through the upper end cap 26 along the central axis of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and the small diameter cylindrical portion 23. The rotating shaft 27A has a hexagonal columnar shape with a stepped lower side from the intermediate portion, and a container inner disk 28 is attached to the lower end portion of the thick shaft portion so as to be integrally rotatable.

  The in-container disk 28 is disposed so as to overlap the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25, and loosely fits in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 so as to cover the upper surface opening of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23 and the periphery of the horizontal step wall 25. doing. Specifically, the container inner disk 28 is formed of a flat disk having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 and larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25. It is mounted horizontally away from the top.

  In order to scrape the powder deposited on the inner disc 28 into an annular gap between the peripheral edge of the inner disc 28 and the side wall of the large diameter cylinder portion 22, an inner surface is placed on the inner surface of the large diameter cylinder portion 22. A guide 29 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface standby guide 29 has a plate shape bent in an L shape. The horizontal plate 29A of the upper surface standby guide 29 is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the in-container disk 28, and a vertical plate 29B extending vertically upward from the base end portion of the horizontal plate 29A is fixed to the upper end cap 26.

  Then, by attaching the flat surface on the front end side of the horizontal plate 29A to the side surface of the rotation shaft 27A, the horizontal plate 29A is inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the inner disc 28, and when the inner disc 28 is rotated, The powder on the container inner disk 28 is blocked by the horizontal plate 29A and guided toward the outer edge of the container inner disk 28. Further, since the base end portion of the horizontal plate 29A extends to a position outside the outer edge portion of the inner disc 28, the powder guided by the horizontal plate 29A is transferred to the outer edge portion of the horizontal step wall 25, that is, the horizontal step wall. It is made to flow down to 25 A of cyclic | annular deposition parts provided along the outer edge part of the disk 28 in a container among the upper surfaces of 25. FIG. Furthermore, since the upper surface standby guide 29 agitates the powder in the powder container 21, it is possible to prevent the powder from solidifying in the large diameter cylindrical portion 22. As a result, the powder on the in-container disk 28 can stably flow down to the annular deposition portion 25A.

  The powder that has flowed down to the annular deposition portion 25A by the upper surface standby guide 29 forms a powder pile having a predetermined angle of repose between the inner disk 28 and the horizontal step wall 25. The angle of repose of the peak of the powder is constant depending on the type of powder, and it is possible to prevent excessive powder from being supplied from the inner disk 28 to the horizontal step wall 25. That is, the powder can be dammed between the inner disk 28 and the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25 so that the powder does not collapse into the small diameter cylindrical portion 23.

  The crest of the powder deposited on the annular depositing portion 25 </ b> A is scraped off by the in-container turning member 30 rotating in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 and sent to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23. The in-container turning member 30 is fixed to the rotating shaft 27A. As shown in FIG. 4, the cantilever-shaped powder collecting blades 32 and the dusting blades 33 are formed laterally from the axial center plate 31 through which the rotating shaft 27A passes. Is extended. These dust collection wings 32 and dust wings 33 rotate in a horizontal plane while being in sliding contact with the upper surface of the horizontal step wall 25 (see FIG. 3).

  The powder collection blade 32 has a bent structure in which a plurality of flat plates are connected so as to swell in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the in-container revolving member 30 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4), while the dust distribution blade 33 is in the revolving state in the container. It extends straight from the axial center plate 31 toward the side wall of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 22 in a state inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the member 30. Although not shown, the dust collection blade 32 extends to a position where the tip thereof is adjacent to the side wall of the large diameter cylindrical portion 22, and the dust collection blade 33 is shorter than that.

  Then, the powder accumulated on the annular accumulation portion 25A is guided to the center side by the powder collection blade 32 and fed to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the powder collected by the powder collection blade 32 by the dust blade 33 is removed to the outside. When the powder collection blade 32 passes next, it is taken into the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 and the pressure applied to the powder in the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 is easily stabilized. In addition, the powder collecting blade 32 and the dust blade 33 cooperate to stir the powder, and the powder lump in the annular deposition portion 25A is also pulverized.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary guide wall 34 that is obliquely cut and raised from the shaft center plate 31 is formed at the base portion of the powder collection blade 32 of the shaft center plate 31 of the in-container turning member 30. The auxiliary guide wall 34 is inclined so as to gradually go down in the powder guiding direction by the powder collection blades 32. Then, the powder guided to the powder collection blade 32 and reaching the base end portion thereof is forcibly dropped to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 by the auxiliary guide wall 34.

  The in-container turning member 30 is integrally provided with a plurality of turning legs 35 and 36 extending downward from the shaft center plate 31. As shown in FIG. 3, these swinging leg portions 35 and 36 are both disposed in the small diameter cylindrical portion 23 and can turn there.

  The first swivel legs 35 are provided in pairs on the root portion of the dust wings 33 and the root portion of the dust collection wings 32 of the shaft plate 31. The first swivel leg 35 has a band plate shape, and is slanted toward the rear of the swivel direction of the swivel member 30 in the container as it goes downward (specifically, about 30 degrees with respect to the vertical direction). Inclined and extended.

  The second swivel leg portion 36 hangs down from the base portion of the dust wing 33 of the axial center plate 31, and has a band plate shape having substantially the same width as the first swivel leg portion 35.

  These swivel legs 35 and 36 swirl within the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23, so that powder solidification and aggregation within the small-diameter cylindrical portion 23 are prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of bottom walls 37 and 38 are provided in two upper and lower stages below the lower ends of the first and second swivel legs 35 and 36 in the powder container 21. It has been.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the upper bottom wall 37 has a structure in which a plurality of powder passage holes 37 </ b> A are formed through a thin disk. These powder passage holes 37A are closed by an arch formed by adhering (crosslinking) the powders fed from the large diameter cylindrical portion 22 to the small diameter cylindrical portion 23, and the powder arch collapsed. The size is such that the powder can pass through. Specifically, the arch is destroyed by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 37B attached to the upper bottom wall 37, and the powder falls to the lower bottom wall 38. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 37 in the upper stage is prepared in a plurality of types in which the size, number and arrangement of the powder passage holes 37A are different (for example, see FIG. 9). It is possible to select and attach appropriately according to the particle size and the like.

  On the other hand, the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage is formed with only one powder passage hole 38A at the center. As shown in FIG. 7, the powder passage hole 38A has a mortar shape with a diameter reduced downward, and as shown in FIG. 8, the smallest diameter hole diameter is several times the average particle diameter of the powder P1. It is about. As a result, the powder can be discharged in a very small amount (for example, 1 to 3 particles). Here, the ultrasonic vibrator 38B is attached to the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage. If the powder passage hole 38A is clogged, the powder is forcibly dropped by the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 38B. It is possible to eliminate clogging. As shown in FIG. 10, the bottom wall 38 in the lower stage has more powder passage holes 38 </ b> A that are several times the average particle diameter of the powder than the number of powder passage holes 37 </ b> A in the upper bottom wall 37. The thing provided is also prepared and can be appropriately selected and attached.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom walls 37 and 38 can be inserted / removed through slits 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> A opened to the side surface of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24, and the peripheral edge portion of the upper bottom wall 37 has a small diameter. It is sandwiched between the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 23 and the inner peripheral step surface of the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24, and the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the powder discharge cylindrical portion 24. Is engaged with the groove. In addition, the leakage of powder from the gaps between the slits 24A, 24A and the bottom walls 37, 38 is prevented by a pair of O-rings that are in close contact with the bottom walls 37, 38 from the thickness direction. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a scraper 40 is provided on the upper surface of the lower bottom wall 38. The scraper 40 is detachably fixed to a lower end portion of a rotating shaft 27A (thin shaft portion) that penetrates the upper bottom wall 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the scraper 40 includes a cylindrical portion 41 that fits outside the rotating shaft 27 </ b> A, and a strip plate portion 42 that protrudes in a cantilevered manner from the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 41. The plate portion 42 is curved so as to swell toward the rear in the rotational direction. The scraper 40 turns while being in sliding contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage, scrapes the powder that has passed through the upper screen 37 and dropped onto the bottom wall 38 of the lower stage, and gathers it to the center thereof, thereby passing through the powder passage hole. It is configured to drop from 38 </ b> A downward to the powder supply device 20. The above is the description of the powder supply apparatus 20. It should be noted that “powders” are “aggregates of solid particles”, and “solid particles” include primary particles, secondary particles, and aggregated particles. . Further, the size of the solid particles includes a so-called “nanoparticle” level.

Here, the powder supplying device 20 described above, as shown in FIG. 1, is suspended from platform scale 48 via a suspension member, emissions of the powder from the powder supplying device 20, powder It is measured as the total weight reduction amount of the body supply device 20 and is output to a control device (not shown).

Next, the apparatus main body 400 will be described. Apparatus main body 400, the powder supplied from the powder supplying device 20 by circulating fluidized granulation container 410 for performing granulation, disposed below the granulation container 410, grown on a predetermined particle diameter or more on And a collection container 10 (see FIG. 13) for storing the large-diameter particles discharged from the granulation container 410 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the granulation container 410 has a flat box structure. The upper end of the granulation vessel 410 is closed, and a gas discharge hole 63A is provided on the upper end wall of the granulation container 410 , and the exhaust tube 63 stands up from the opening edge of the gas discharge hole 63A. The bottom 410C of the granulation vessel 410 is curved in an arc shape that bulges downward. From one side surface 410A in the flat direction of the granulation container 410, a guide protruding wall 411 is provided so as to protrude from the upper chamber 420 above the guide protruding wall 411 and the guide protruding wall 411. It is divided into a cylindrical chamber 421 extending in a substantially horizontal direction below. The lower surface 412 of the guide projection wall 411 is an arc surface having the same curvature as the curvature of the bottom portion 410C of the granulation vessel 410, and constitutes the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber 421 smoothly and continuously with the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C. Further, an upper communication port 419 is formed between the tip 411A of the guide protruding wall 411 and the other side surface 410B of the granulation container 410, and the upper chamber 420 and the cylindrical chamber 421 communicate with each other. The upper chamber 420 is provided with a filter 65 for collecting powder. A slit nozzle 414 for generating a circulating gas flow is provided at the bottom 410C of the granulation vessel 410. As shown in FIG. 11, the slit nozzle 414 extends over the entire length of the granulation vessel 410 and is configured to eject gas toward the tangential direction of the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C. The gas supplied from the slit nozzle 414 into the granulation vessel 410 is along the inner surface of the bottom portion 410C of the granulation vessel 410 and the lower surface 412 of the guide projection wall 411 as shown by the two-dot chain arrows in FIGS. It flows like drawing a circle and generates a circulating gas flow. Since the upper surface 413 of the guide projection wall 411 is an inclined surface, no powder is deposited. Further, a nozzle of an ionizer 220 is arranged at a predetermined position inside the cylindrical chamber 421, and ion wind is blown against the powder. The ionizer 220 ionizes gas molecules in the gas by using corona discharge, for example, and generates positive or negative gas ions. The method of generating gas ions may be a method using radiation or thermal ionization in addition to corona discharge, but the principle is well known (see JIS B9929: 2006 “Method for Measuring Ion Density in Air”). Detailed explanation is omitted. The particles and particles are charged by the adhering gaseous ions contained in the ion wind, and the particles and particles charged to opposite polarities are electrically attached (electrostatic adsorption) to gradually form the particles. Diameter increases.
Further, a plasma torch (not shown) for injecting the plasma flame toward the powder is provided at a predetermined position inside the cylindrical chamber 421. The powder sprayed from the plasma flame is heated, for example, by the plasma flame, and adhesion to other powders is enhanced. Specifically, at least the surface of the powder is melted by heating. In the process of circulating and flowing in the granulation vessel 410 on the circulating gas flow, the powders adhere to each other and gradually increase in size. In addition, the powder gradually increases in size when ions or ionization products are applied to the powder. Also, by irradiating the plasma flame, irregularities are formed on the surface of the powder, carbides, nitrides, oxides and fluorides are generated on the surface of the powder, and the surface of the powder is carbon film, silicon It is possible to coat with a film, a silicon nitride film and a resin film (for example, a fluororesin film) or to form a carbon nanowall. In addition, an insulating film or a conductive film can be formed on the surface of the powder. Furthermore, it is possible to introduce a hydrophilic functional group or a water repellent (hydrophobic) functional group on the surface of the powder. Here, the raw material gas of the plasma flame may be sequentially changed to form a plurality of different coating layers on the powder surface. Further, a plurality of plasma torches provided in the apparatus main body 400 may be sequentially used to form a powder and a surface coating layer.

The granulation vessel 410 is inclined so that the bottom portion 410C is lowered from the one end portion 415 in the longitudinal direction toward the other end portion 416. And the collection | recovery hole 417 for collect | recovering a large diameter granule is penetrated and formed in the other end part 416 located in the lowest side among the bottom parts 410C of the granulation container 410. As shown in FIG. The other end portion 416 of the granulation vessel 410 is provided with a collection vessel 10 (see FIG. 13) communicating with the collection hole 417. The collection container 10 has a hopper structure that is tapered toward the lower side, and includes a cylindrical discharge pipe 418 at the lower end thereof. A flexible tube 14 is attached to the discharge pipe 418.

As shown in FIG. 13 , the flexible tube 14 has a cylindrical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, and on the side near the lower end opening 13 </ b> A of the discharge pipe 418 and on the side near the lower end of the flexible tube 14, First and second open / close chucks 15 and 16 that can be closed by crushing the flexible tube 14 are provided. The first and second open / close chucks 15 and 16 are configured such that when one is closed, the other is opened. In other words, in a state where the lower end opening 13A of the discharge pipe 418 as "takeout granules" was closed by the first opening and closing chuck 15, the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 is opened (the state of FIG. 16), the flexible tube The lower end opening 13A of the discharge pipe 418 is opened (the state shown in FIG. 14 ) while the lower end opening 14A of the fourteen is closed by the second opening / closing chuck 16. Thereby, it is possible to take out large-diameter particles from the collection container 10 while preventing the gas from flowing out from the granulation container 410 (in other words, without making the circulation gas flow unstable). Note that, inside the flexible tube 14, the flexible tube 14 is disposed between the lower end opening 13 </ b > A of the discharge pipe 418 and the first opening / closing chuck 15 and between the first opening / closing chuck 15 and the second opening / closing chuck 16. The shape retaining rings 17 and 17 for retaining the tube in a cylindrical shape are fitted inside. The above is the description regarding the apparatus main body 400 .

Instrumentation Okimoto body 400 (specifically, the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14) Directly below the metering device (not shown) is installed, receives the larger diameter body discharged from the apparatus main body 400, the weight Can be weighed. The measurement result is taken into a control device (not shown), and the control device drives the motor 27 of the powder supply device 20 based on the measurement result, and the powder discharged as a large-diameter granule is granulated in the granulating container 410. To replenish. Thereby, the amount of powder in the granulation container 410 can be kept substantially constant without excess or deficiency.

  The above is description regarding the structure of the granulation apparatus 100 of this embodiment, Comprising: Next, the effect | action and effect of this embodiment are demonstrated.

The powder supplied from the powder supply device 20 into the granulation container 410 falls along the other side surface 410B opposite to the one side surface 410A from which the guide protrusion wall 411 of the granulation container 410 protrudes in the upper chamber 420. Then, it passes through the upper communication port 419 and flows into the cylindrical chamber 421. Then, it rides on the circulating gas flow circulating in the cylindrical chamber 421 and circulates and flows so as to turn. In the middle of the circulation path, ions are supplied from the ionizer 220 and are gradually increased in diameter by electrostatic adsorption with each other. In addition, the powder is adhered by being irradiated with the plasma flame, and the particle size gradually increases. And when it becomes a large-diameter particle | grain more than a predetermined particle size, it will detach | leave from a circulation gas flow, will go to the collection | recovery hole 417 by the inclination of the bottom part 410C of the granulation container 410, and will be discharged | emitted from the collection | recovery hole 417 to the collection container 10. The

The large-diameter particles discharged to the collection container 10 roll into the flexible tube 14 as they are. In the initial state, the first opening / closing chuck 15 provided on the upper end side of the flexible tube 14 is closed, and the large-diameter particles are dammed here (state shown in FIG. 12 ). When a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are accumulated or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the first opening / closing chuck 15 is opened while the second opening / closing chuck 16 on the lower end side is closed. Then, the large-diameter particles that have been dammed move downward and are dammed again by the second opening / closing chuck 16 (state shown in FIG. 14 ). Further, the first opening / closing chuck 15 is immediately closed, and the large-diameter particles newly transferred into the collection container 10 are dammed (state shown in FIG. 15 ). By opening the second opening / closing chuck 16 in this state, a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are collectively discharged from the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 (state shown in FIG. 16 ). These large-diameter particles are received in a tray of a measuring instrument ( not shown) and weighed. Then, powder having the same weight as the measurement result (the amount discharged as a large-diameter granule) is replenished from the powder supply device 20 into the granulation container 410 .

Note that the powder may be supplied only from one end portion 415 in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410 or may be supplied all at once from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, for example, as in the distribution supply device 450 shown in FIG. 12, the front end discharge portion 453 of the flange portion 452 extending substantially horizontally from the lower end portion of the hopper 451 containing powder is expanded in a fan shape. A plurality of distribution grooves 454 are formed on the bottom surface of the tip discharge portion 453, and the powder rolling on the flange 452 by vibration or the like is divided into distribution grooves 454 at the base end portion of the front end discharge portion 453, and each distribution What is necessary is just to make it powder fall from the groove | channel 454, respectively. Thus, when supplying powder from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410, it is preferable to provide a plurality of ionizers 220 in the longitudinal direction of the granulation vessel 410.

As described above, according to the granulating apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the powder circulates and flows so as to swirl on the circulating gas flow circulating in the cylindrical chamber 421 . In the process, when ions are added and a plasma flame is ejected, powders adhere to each other and the particle size gradually increases. And the large-diameter particle | grains grown more than a predetermined particle diameter remove | deviate from a circulation gas flow with dead weight. Here, the large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more immediately pass through the recovery hole 417 formed at the lowest position in the bottom of the cylindrical chamber 421, that is, immediately outside the granulation container 410 , that is, the recovery container. Therefore, the circulating powder or particles are prevented from further adhering to the large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the excessive increase in size of the large-diameter particles and improve the uniformity of the particle size.

Further, a flexible tube 14 communicated with the recovery container 10 via the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is provided, and either the lower end opening 14A of the flexible tube 14 or the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is blocked. Since the other is opened in the state, the outflow of gas from the granulation vessel 410 is prevented, and the large-diameter particles collected in the collection vessel 10 can be prevented without disturbing the circulating gas flow in the granulation vessel 410 . Can be taken out. Thereby, granulation of a powder and taking-out of a large diameter granule can be performed simultaneously.

Furthermore, since the powder discharged as large-diameter particles is replenished to the granulation container 410 from the powder supply device 20, the amount of powder in the granulation container 410 is kept almost constant without excess or deficiency. The large-diameter particles can be continuously and stably produced.

Contact name as in the present embodiment, or to electrically attach the powder to each other by an ion, when performing granulation by using plasma flame is, when performing granulation by spraying a chemical Necessary drying treatment becomes unnecessary. Further, the chemical hanging the wall surface of the granulation vessel 410, the powder can be avoided to stick to the wall of the granulation vessel 410.
In addition, although not included in the technical scope of the inventions according to claims 2 to 4, the powder adsorbing power is increased by spraying the binder agent on the powder in the circulating flow, and the powder is aggregated. It is also possible to perform granulation. It is also conceivable to perform granulation by spraying the coating agent onto the powder to coat the surface of the powder with the coating agent and growing the coating layer.
[Other Embodiments]

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the embodiments described below are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and various other than the following can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be changed and implemented.

( 1 ) In the above embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the flexible tube 14 are opened and closed by the first and second open / close chucks 15 and 16, thereby preventing the gas from flowing out from the granulation vessel 410 and preventing the gas from flowing out of the collection vessel 10. had been discharged granules, it may be a rotary valve 340 as shown in FIG. 17.

( 2 ) In the above embodiment, the large-diameter particles are collected in a predetermined amount and discharged to the measuring device . However, instead of the flexible tube 14, a cylindrical packing film member is used, and the large-diameter particles are placed in place. A fixed amount may be divided into small portions and sealed in a cylindrical packing film member.

Specifically, for example, a welding sealer 351 that can crush a lower end opening 13A of the collection container 10 by crushing a resin film tube 350 as a cylindrical packing film member from the outside is provided, and the welding sealer 351 is made of resin. It is possible to move up and down along the film tube 350. When sealing large-diameter particles in small portions, first, the resin film tube 350 is closed from the outside with a welding sealer 351 and closed, and the closed portion is heat-welded and recovered above the closed portion. The large-diameter particles dropped from the container 10 are stored (state shown in FIG. 18A ). Larger diameter body moves the welding sealer 351 upward until accumulated a predetermined amount, to stand still in the open state (FIG. 18 (B)). Then, when a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles have accumulated in the closed portion, the welding sealer 351 is closed. Then, a sealed bag is formed in the middle of the resin film tube 350, and a predetermined amount of large-diameter particles are sealed in the bag. By repeating such an operation, a plurality of bags connected to the resin film tube 350 are formed, and large-diameter particles can be sealed by a predetermined amount in these bags. In addition, since the lower end opening 13A of the recovery container 10 is always closed, gas outflow from the granulation container 410 is prevented, and powder granulation and large-diameter particle packing are performed simultaneously. be able to. Note that the welding sealer 351 may melt the resin film tube 350 simultaneously with heat welding.

( 3 ) The powder supply device is not limited to the structure of the above embodiment, and may be other known powder supply devices. Further, in the powder supply apparatus 20 of the above-described embodiment, an L-shaped pipe 360 shown in FIG. 19 is connected instead of the powder discharge cylinder portion 24, and an L-shape is provided by a vibrator 361 provided in the middle of the L-shaped pipe 360. By oscillating the pipe 360 (low frequency vibration or ultrasonic vibration), the powder may be discharged little by little. Further, by providing a flange portion 362 having a V-shaped cross section at the tip of the L-shaped pipe 360, the powder may be arranged in a line and discharged in a very small amount (one by one).

( 4 ) Nanoparticles may be synthesized using powder as a raw material and supplied to the granulation vessel 410 . Specifically, it may be synthesized nanoparticles powder dropped from the powder supply device 20 is passed through a flop Razumafure arm.

( 5 ) Alternatively, nanoparticles may be synthesized by a so-called “gas phase synthesis method” and supplied to the granulation vessel 410 as “powder” according to the present invention. Specifically, the source of the raw material gas which is a raw material of nano-particles in place of the powder supply device 20 is provided, the raw material gas by passing the flop Razumafure beam may be synthesized nanoparticles. Additionally, suspensions of the powder are suspended, the solution slurry or powder raw material is dissolved, or a solution organic raw material and the organic compound raw material is dissolved, the fine droplets of Teso to fine droplets plasma dried frame heat or by ionized producing a powder (nanoparticles), which is directly may be supplied to the granulating container 410 circulation.

( 6 ) The weight of the powder supply device 20 is measured by the platform balance 48. However, depending on the material characteristics of the powder and the purpose of the granulated / coating product, the powder supply device 20 performs measurement using a calibration curve prepared in advance. May be.

( 7 ) The technical scope of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is that the powder is transferred from the lower end of the granulation container to the upper end by a powder conveying device such as a coil type conveyor or a screw type conveyor instead of a circulating gas flow. A granulating device 470 that circulates and flows by being pushed up to a part and dropping downward by its own weight from the upper end part is included. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20 , a conveyor tube 461 (corresponding to the “cylinder” of the present invention) extending in the vertical direction is disposed in the granulation container 460, and the lower end of the conveyor tube 461 is formed. The lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 protruding downward from the lower end portion of the grain container 460 can be opened and closed by an opening / closing valve 462. Further, among the conveyor tubes 461, a powder intake port 463 that opens to the inside of the granulation vessel 460 is formed through the lower end portion of the granulation vessel 460, and obliquely downward at the upper end portion of the conveyor tube 461. A branch pipe 464 extending toward is integrally provided. A coil 466 that is rotationally driven by a motor 465 is provided inside the conveyor tube 461.

  When a predetermined amount of powder is supplied to the granulation container 460 in advance with the lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 closed by the opening / closing valve 462, and the supply of the powder is stopped, the coil 466 is rotated. The powder accumulated at the bottom of 460 flows into the conveyor tube 461 from the powder inlet 463 and is conveyed vertically upward by the coil 466. When the upper end of the conveyor tube 461 is reached, the powder is discharged obliquely downward through a branch pipe 464 (corresponding to the “discharge pipe” of the present invention). The powder discharged from the branch pipe 464 is irradiated with the plasma flame F <b> 2 generated by the plasma torch 70.

  When such a circulating flow is performed for a predetermined time to generate large-diameter particles, the rotation of the coil 466 is stopped and the on-off valve 462 is opened. Then, the large-diameter granule in the granulation container 461 is discharged from the lower end opening 461A of the conveyor tube 461 to the collection container via the powder inlet 463. The coil 466 may be a shafted or non-axial screw. Further, an ionizer 220 may be provided in place of the plasma torch 70.

10 Collection container 13A Lower end opening (granule outlet)
14 flexible tube 14A lower apertures 15 first closing chuck 16 second closing chuck 20 powder supplying device 63A gas discharge hole 65 filter 70 plasma torch 100 granulator 220 ionizer (ion applying unit)
350 resin film made tube 410 granulation vessel
414 slit nozzle (gas ejection part)
417 recovery hole 418 discharge pipe
419 Upper communication port
420 upper room
421 cylindrical room
461 conveyor tube
463 powder intake
466 coils

Claims (19)

A gas supply cylinder extending in the vertical direction and capable of supplying gas from the lower end toward the upper end is disposed at the center of the granulation container, and the center, ceiling, side, bottom of the granulation container, Then, a circulating gas stream that circulates to the central part is generated, and the powder is placed on the circulating gas stream to circulate, and heat, ions, or mist-like adsorbents are added to the powder in the course of the circulating gas stream. In the granulating apparatus for producing a large-diameter granule that grows to a predetermined particle diameter or more by growing the adsorbent material layer on the surface of the powder by attaching the powder to each other,
A recovery hole formed through the bottom of the granulation vessel, through which the large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow by its own weight can pass;
A recovery container disposed below the granulation container, communicating with the granulation container through the recovery hole and closed in whole except the granule recovery hole;
A granulation apparatus comprising a granule outlet for taking out the large-diameter granule provided in the recovery container so as to be openable and closable and accommodated in the recovery container. A screen portion provided at the bottom of the granulation container and having a plurality of ejection holes opened toward the inside of the granulation container, and an internal flow path for supplying gas to the ejection holes;
A separation gas supply device for supplying gas to the internal flow path of the screen portion,
The ejected gas ejected from the ejection holes allows particles and powder having a particle size less than a predetermined particle size to be moved away from the recovery holes and directed to the circulating gas flow, while allowing the large diameter particles to approach the recovery holes. The granulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gas supply pressure from the fractionation gas supply apparatus to the internal flow path of the screen unit is set. On the bottom side of the side portion of the granulation container, a lower end taper portion having a lower end opening with a tapered shape is provided.
The bottom of the granulation container has a conical or pyramidal shape that tapers upward, the apex is abutted against the lower end opening of the gas supply cylinder, and the middle part of the slope is the lower end opening of the lower end tapered portion. A cone-shaped screen wall as the screen portion disposed in a state via an annular hole as the recovery hole is provided between the opening edge,
The granulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ejection holes are formed in the inclined surface of the conical screen wall. On the bottom side of the side portion of the granulation container, a rolling guide portion that is rounded so as to be tapered downward and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction becomes gentle as it goes downward is provided.
The bottom part of the granulation vessel is inclined toward the center part with the same or gentler slope as the lower end part of the rolling guide part, and as the screen part having the recovery hole in the center part. A dish-shaped screen wall is provided,
The granulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ejection holes are formed in the upper surface of the dish-shaped screen wall. While providing an auxiliary recovery container communicated with the recovery container through the granule outlet, provided with an auxiliary recovery outlet provided openable to the auxiliary recovery container,
The granular auxiliary outlet can be opened with the granular outlet closed, and the granular auxiliary outlet can be closed with the granular outlet open. The granulation apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4. The recovery container has a hopper structure that is tapered as it goes downward, and a cylindrical discharge pipe is provided at the lower end thereof.
A flexible tube as the auxiliary collection container is attached to the outside of the discharge pipe,
A first opening / closing which is provided at a relatively upper end position in the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube and can close the lower end opening of the discharge pipe as the granule outlet by crushing the flexible tube from the outside. Chuck,
The flexible tube is provided at a position relatively closer to the lower end in the longitudinal direction of the flexible tube, and the lower end opening of the flexible tube as the granular auxiliary outlet can be closed by crushing the flexible tube from the outside. The granulation apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a two-opening / closing chuck. The recovery container has a hopper structure that is tapered as it goes downward, and a cylindrical discharge pipe is provided at the lower end thereof.
By attaching the upper end portion of the cylindrical packing film member to the outside of the discharge pipe and crushing the cylindrical packing film member from the outside, the lower end opening of the discharge pipe as the granule outlet can be closed. At the same time, whenever a predetermined amount of the large-diameter particles are accumulated above the closed portion of the cylindrical packing film member, the cylindrical packing film member can be closed above the predetermined amount of the large-diameter particles. The granulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   8. The powder supply device capable of continuously supplying the powder from the outside of the granulation container in the middle of the circulation gas flow path in the granulation container. A granulating apparatus according to any one of the above. The ceiling portion of the granulation vessel has a concave structure when viewed from below, and the ceiling concave surface guides the circulating gas flow rising at the center of the granulation vessel to flow downward at the side of the granulation vessel With walls,
Provided at the center of the concave wall of the ceiling, protrudes in a state of being abutted with the upper end opening of the gas feeding cylinder, and circulates the circulating gas flow rising at the center of the granulation vessel radially along the concave wall of the ceiling The granulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a ceiling protrusion to be dispersed. The concave wall of the ceiling is formed with a plurality of ejection holes opened downward, and an internal flow path for supplying gas to the ejection holes,
The granulation apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a ceiling gas supply device for supplying gas to the internal flow path of the ceiling concave wall. The ceiling concave wall is disposed in an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the granulation container, and the upper chamber and the lower room of the ceiling concave wall of the granulation container are connected to the ceiling concave wall and the granulation container. Communicating through a gap provided between
The granulation apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a gas discharge hole communicating with the outside of the granulation container through a filter is provided in a room above the concave wall of the ceiling.   An ejection nozzle that extends upward from the bottom of the granulation container and has an upper end that is received with a gap in the lower end opening of the gas supply cylinder and that ejects compressed gas toward the gas supply cylinder The granulation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising:   The plasma torch for generating a plasma flame by supplying a plasma flame generating gas inside a plasma generating tube as the gas supply tube is provided at a central portion of the granulation vessel. The granulation apparatus according to any one of 1 to 12. A circulating gas stream that circulates inside the granulation vessel is generated, and powder is placed on the circulating gas stream to circulate, and heat, ions, or mist adsorption is applied to the powder in the course of the circulating gas stream. In the granulating apparatus for producing a large-diameter granule that grows to a predetermined particle diameter or more by growing the adsorbent substance layer on the surface of the powder by attaching the powder to each other by applying a substance,
A recovery hole formed through the bottom of the granulation vessel, through which the large-diameter particles separated from the circulating gas flow by its own weight can pass;
A recovery container disposed below the granulation container, communicating with the granulation container through the recovery hole and closed in whole except the granule recovery hole;
A granulation apparatus comprising a granule outlet for taking out the large-diameter granule provided in the recovery container so as to be openable and closable and accommodated in the recovery container. In the granulating container, a cylindrical room extending along a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and
An upper communication port formed in the upper portion of the cylindrical chamber and extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical chamber;
An upper chamber disposed above the cylindrical chamber and communicating with the interior of the cylindrical chamber via the upper communication port;
A gas discharge hole provided in the upper chamber and communicating with the outside of the granulation container through a filter;
A gas ejection section provided in the cylindrical room, for supplying a gas along a tangential direction of an inner curved surface of the cylindrical chamber, and generating a circulating gas flow circulating along the inner curved surface of the cylindrical chamber; The granulation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a hole is arranged at a lower end portion of the cylindrical chamber.   The granulation apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a powder supply device provided in the upper chamber and capable of continuously supplying powder into the cylindrical chamber through the upper communication port. . A gas ejection section for generating a circulating gas flow circulating inside the granulation vessel;
An ion imparting means for imparting ions to the powder circulating on the circulating gas flow,
A granulating apparatus characterized in that a large-diameter granule grown to a predetermined particle size or more is produced by electrically adhering the powders to which the ions are applied. A gas ejection section for generating a circulating gas flow circulating inside the granulation vessel;
A plasma generating apparatus that injects a plasma flame toward the powder circulating on the circulating gas flow, or generates a plasma flame in the middle of the circulating gas flow path,
The powders are adhered to each other by the heat of the plasma flame, or a coating layer is formed on the surface of the powder by the plasma flame to produce large-diameter particles grown to a predetermined particle size or more. Granulating equipment.   Plasma measuring apparatus for measuring plasma in the plasma flame, and plasma control for adjusting a supply amount or supply pressure of plasma flame generating gas to the plasma generating apparatus or a power for generating plasma so that the plasma state is constant The granulation apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an apparatus.

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