JP2013146700A - Kneader and operation method for kneader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a kneader capable of improving kneading properties of a material to be kneaded, and an operation method for a kneader.SOLUTION: A kneader includes: a kneading tank 1 having a kneading space 1s with a cross section of a cocoon-like shape inside; a pair of rotors 2 provided in the kneading space 1s in parallel, and rotating around each rotation axis A; a rotation driving means D rotationally driving the pair of the rotors 2; a pressure cover 4 including a part facing a central part between the rotation axes A of the pair of rotors 2 in the kneading tank 1; and a pressurizing means K for pressurizing the pressure cover 4 to the inside direction of the kneading tank 1, wherein a material M to be kneaded containing a dispersion medium and dispersoid is kneaded in the kneading space 1s. The kneeder further includes: a kneading state detecting means S for detecting the kneading state of the material M to be kneaded, kneaded by the pair of rotors 2; and a control means 6 for controlling the operation of the pressurizing means K depending on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detecting means S, and changing the pressurizing force pressurizing the material M to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s by the pressure cover 4.

Description

  The present invention includes a kneading tank having a bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape inside, a pair of rotors mounted in parallel in the kneading space and rotating around respective rotation axes, and a rotational drive that rotationally drives the pair of rotors And a pressurizing lid including a portion facing a central portion between the rotation axes of the pair of rotors in the kneading tank, and a pressurizing means for pressurizing the pressurizing lid toward the inner side of the kneading tank. The present invention relates to a kneader for kneading a material to be kneaded including a dispersoid in a kneading space and a method for operating the kneader.

  Such a kneader rotates a pair of rotors in a state where a material to be kneaded contained in a kneading space of a kneading tank is pressed from above to below (ie, corresponding to the inward side) by a pressure lid. Thus, the material to be kneaded is kneaded.

  In such a kneader, conventionally, the material to be kneaded in the kneading space is pressed with a constant pressure over the entire period of the kneading operation for kneading the material to be kneaded contained in the kneading space of the kneading tank. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-110691 A

  By the way, for the material to be kneaded, for example, at the initial stage of the kneading operation, mixing is performed to disperse the dispersoid in the dispersion medium in the material to be kneaded. There are materials that are preferably kneaded in order and materials that can be kneaded from the beginning of the kneading operation.

However, in a conventional kneader, when the material to be kneaded is pressed with a pressure lid with a constant pressing force over the entire period of the kneading operation, the material to be kneaded cannot be properly kneaded as described below. It was.
For example, in the case of a material to be kneaded that is preferably mixed and kneaded in order, if the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to be constant and low, the material to be kneaded is mixed with the pressure lid in the kneading space by stirring with a pair of rotors Following the reciprocating movement in the direction along the pressing direction (the pressing direction is a direction from the upper side to the lower side, it may be referred to as the vertical direction hereinafter), the pressure lid reciprocates in the vertical direction. It becomes easy. As a result, the material to be kneaded can be favorably turned back and forth in the kneading space, so that mixing of the materials to be kneaded can be promoted. However, since the pressing force for pressing the material to be kneaded by the pressure lid is small, when it is necessary to knead the material to be kneaded, the shearing force cannot be applied to the material to be kneaded well. The kneaded material cannot be sufficiently kneaded.
On the other hand, when the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to be constant and high, the shearing force can be favorably applied to the material to be kneaded, so that the kneading of the material to be kneaded can be promoted. However, since the pressing force pressing the material to be kneaded by the pressure lid is large, even if the material to be kneaded is stirred in the kneading space, it is difficult to push back the pressure lid by the material to be kneaded. Therefore, the material to be kneaded is hardly turned over and the materials to be kneaded cannot be sufficiently mixed.

  In the case of a material to be kneaded that can be kneaded from the beginning of the kneading operation, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is constant, so that the material to be kneaded by the pressure lid depends on the degree of progress of the kneading state. The pressing force for pressing the material cannot be set appropriately.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this situation, The objective is to provide the operation method of the kneader and kneader which can improve the kneading | mixing performance of the material to be kneaded.

In order to achieve the above object, a kneading machine according to the present invention includes a kneading tank having a kneading space having a bowl-shaped cross-section inside, and a pair of wheels that are mounted in parallel in the kneading space and rotate around respective rotation axes. A rotor, rotation driving means for rotating the pair of rotors, a pressure lid including a portion of the kneading tank facing a central portion between the rotation axes of the pair of rotors, and kneading the pressure lid A kneading machine comprising a pressurizing means for pressurizing the inner side of the tank, and kneading the material to be kneaded including the dispersion medium and the dispersoid in the kneading space,
Kneading state detecting means for detecting the kneading state of the material to be kneaded kneaded by the pair of rotors;
Control means is provided for controlling the operation of the pressurizing means based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detecting means and changing the pressure applied to pressurize the material to be kneaded in the kneading space by the pressure lid. It is in the point.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the kneading state of the material to be kneaded is detected by the kneading state detection means, and the pressure applied by the pressure lid is changed based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detection means.
That is, the volume, viscosity, temperature, etc. of the material to be kneaded vary with the degree of progress of the kneading operation (the degree of progress of the kneading process including mixing and kneading of the dispersion medium and dispersoid in the material to be kneaded). . Therefore, by detecting the volume, viscosity, temperature, etc. of these materials to be kneaded and information according to their fluctuations as the kneading state, it is possible to determine the state of progress of the kneading operation of the materials to be kneaded. I understand.
Since the pressure applied by the pressure lid is changed to an appropriate pressure depending on the kneading state detected as described above, the materials to be kneaded can be appropriately mixed and kneaded.
Therefore, for example, when mixing to disperse the dispersion medium and dispersoid in the material to be kneaded substantially is performed, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set low so that the dispersion medium and dispersoid in the material to be kneaded are more homogeneous. When kneading to disperse is performed, the pressure applied by the pressure lid can be appropriately changed according to the degree of progress of the kneading operation, such as setting the pressure applied by the pressure lid high. It is possible to provide a kneader capable of improving dispersibility by appropriately performing the above and the like and improving kneading performance.

A further characteristic configuration of the kneading machine according to the present invention is that, as the material to be kneaded, a load with respect to the rotation driving means shows at least a first maximum value, a minimum value, and a second maximum value sequentially with time. The material to be kneaded exhibiting
The control means detects the timing when the load becomes the first maximum value, the minimum value, and the second maximum value based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means, and the load is the first maximum value. In the mixing section from the time when the maximum value is reached to the time when the minimum value is reached, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to a predetermined low pressure, and the load is reduced after the load reaches the minimum value. In the kneading section up to the point when the maximum value is reached, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to a high pressure larger than the low pressure, and the operation of the pressure means is controlled.

That is, if the volume or viscosity of the material to be kneaded varies with the degree of progress of the kneading operation, the load on the rotation drive means varies according to the variation, so that the load varies the volume or viscosity of the material to be kneaded. It can become information according to.
In the material to be kneaded, there is a material to be kneaded in which the load applied to the rotation driving means exhibits a change with time indicating at least the first maximum value, the minimum value, and the second maximum value with time. Incidentally, specific examples of such a material to be kneaded include, for example, rubber such as natural rubber and SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) as a dispersion medium, and powder such as carbon black and silica as a dispersoid. The materials to be kneaded are mentioned. When such a kneaded material is kneaded, the section from the time when the load reaches the first maximum value to the time when the load reaches the minimum value is a mixing section where the material to be kneaded is mainly mixed, and the load is minimal. The section from when the value is reached to when the second maximum value is reached is a kneading section where the material to be kneaded is mainly kneaded.

When the material to be kneaded exhibiting such a change in load with time is kneaded, the load is set to the first maximum value, the minimum value, and the second maximum value by the control means based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means. Is detected, and a time zone that becomes a mixing zone and a time zone that becomes a kneading zone are set.
In the mixing section in the initial stage of the kneading process, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to a predetermined low pressure, and in the subsequent kneading section, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is higher than the low pressure. Set to. Incidentally, the low pressure force, for example, allows the material to be kneaded to reciprocate in the up and down direction in the kneading space with stirring in the kneading space, so that the pressure lid can easily reciprocate in the up and down direction. It is possible to apply pressure. The high pressurizing force is, for example, a pressurizing force that makes it difficult for the pressure lid to be pushed back by the material to be kneaded even if the material to be kneaded is stirred in the kneading space.
Therefore, in the mixing section, the material to be kneaded easily reciprocates in the vertical direction in the kneading space, so that the material to be kneaded is turned over satisfactorily and the dispersion medium and dispersoid in the material to be kneaded are generally dispersed. Mixing can be performed appropriately, and the mixing efficiency can be improved.
Further, in the kneading section, since the shearing force can be favorably applied to the material to be kneaded, the kneading to disperse the dispersion medium and the dispersoid in the material to be kneaded more uniformly is performed appropriately. The kneading efficiency can be improved. That is, a large shearing force can be developed between the inner wall surface of the kneading space and the rotating rotor, and the surface in contact with the material to be kneaded in the pressure lid (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a pressure surface) A large shearing force can be generated even between the rotating rotor and the shearing force can be effectively expressed in a wide range in the kneading space.
In short, it is possible to accurately improve the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded, including the improvement of dispersibility in the kneading treatment and the shortening of the kneading treatment time due to the improvement of the kneading treatment efficiency.

  A further characteristic configuration of the kneading machine according to the present invention is that the control means controls the operation of the pressurizing means, and after the load has reached the second maximum value, the pressurizing lid is applied. The point is to reduce the pressure.

That is, when the kneading of the material to be kneaded proceeds considerably in the kneading section from the time when the load of the rotation driving means becomes the minimum value to the time when the load reaches the second maximum value, the viscosity of the material to be kneaded decreases, Along with this, the load on the rotation driving means decreases.
Therefore, after the load of the rotation driving means reaches the second maximum value, the pressure lid is pushed back by the material to be kneaded while reducing the power consumption by reducing the pressure applied by the pressure lid. The difficult state can be maintained, the shearing force can be favorably applied to the material to be kneaded, and the kneading of the material to be kneaded can be further advanced.
Therefore, it is possible to accurately improve the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded while reducing energy consumption.

A further characteristic configuration of the kneading machine according to the present invention is that the kneaded material exhibits a time-dependent change that decreases after the load applied to the rotation driving means increases with time and exhibits a maximum value as the material to be kneaded. The material is the target of processing,
The control means detects the timing when the load reaches the maximum value based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means, and the pressure lid is in a section until the time when the load reaches the maximum value. Is set to a predetermined high pressure, and after the load reaches the maximum value, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to be smaller than the high pressure. The point is to control the operation.

  That is, the material to be kneaded includes a material to be kneaded that exhibits a aging change that decreases after the load of the rotation driving unit increases with time and exhibits a maximum value. Incidentally, specific examples of such a material to be kneaded include, for example, a rubber compound and a resin such as PE (polyethylene) as a dispersion medium, and a powder such as carbon black and silica as a dispersoid. A material to be kneaded with a high content of powder as a dispersoid can be mentioned.

When kneading a material to be kneaded exhibiting such a change in load over time, it is possible to knead from the initial stage of the kneading operation, and when the kneading of the material to be kneaded proceeds considerably, the viscosity of the material to be kneaded is increased. As a result, the load on the rotational drive means decreases.
Therefore, the control means detects the timing at which the load reaches the maximum value based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means.
After the start of the kneading operation, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to a predetermined high pressure until the load reaches the maximum value, and kneading is performed appropriately and the kneading efficiency is improved. Let Incidentally, the high pressurizing force is, for example, a pressurizing force that makes it difficult for the pressure lid to be pushed back by the material to be kneaded even if the material to be kneaded is stirred in the kneading space.
After the load reaches the maximum value, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to be smaller than the high pressure, thereby reducing energy consumption, but the pressure lid is not easily pushed back by the material to be kneaded. Thus, the kneading of the material to be kneaded can be further advanced by applying a good shearing force to the material to be kneaded.
Therefore, it is possible to accurately improve the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded while reducing energy consumption.

A further characteristic configuration of the kneader according to the present invention is such that a side pressure lid is adjacent to a side in the arrangement direction of the pair of rotation axes with respect to a central pressure lid as the pressure lid. Provided in a separate state from the central pressure lid,
The pressurizing means is configured to be capable of separately adjusting the pressurizing force by the central pressurizing lid and the pressurizing force by the side pressurizing lid on the material to be kneaded in the kneading space,
The control means controls the operation of the pressurizing means by setting the pressurizing force by the lateral pressurizing lid to be equal to or higher than the maximum pressurizing force in the pressurizing force changing range by the central pressurizing lid.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the central pressurization in which the pressurization force by the central pressurization lid is changed based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detection means, and the pressurization force by the side pressurization lid is changed as such. It is set to be equal to or higher than the maximum pressing force in the changing range of pressing force by the lid.
In other words, since the pressure applied by the side pressure lid is set large, even if the material to be kneaded is stirred in the kneading space, the side pressure lid is difficult to be pushed back by the kneading material. The pressure applied by the central pressure lid is increased while increasing the shear force that appears between the rotor and the rotating rotor, and the shear force also appears between the pressing surface of the side pressure lid and the rotating rotor. Is adjusted to a pressure according to the kneading state.
As a result, while mixing the material to be kneaded, the lateral pressure lid can apply a shearing force to the material to be kneaded to promote subdivision of the material to be kneaded. Can be promoted.
In addition, while the material to be kneaded is kneaded, both the pressurizing force by the side pressurization lid and the pressurization force by the central pressurization lid are both set large, so both the lateral pressurization lid and the central pressurization lid, A shearing force can be made to act favorably on the material to be kneaded, and the material to be kneaded can be sufficiently kneaded.

By the way, generally, the kneading tank is provided with an opening for feeding the material to be kneaded into the kneading space, and in order to facilitate the feeding of the material to be kneaded from the opening to the kneading space, It is necessary to increase the area.
Even if the opening area of the opening is increased in this way, as in this feature configuration, the central pressure lid and the side pressure lid are provided adjacent to each other so that the opening can be closed, and the pressure applied by each can be increased. By setting as described above, the shearing force acting on the material to be kneaded can be increased even while the material to be kneaded is being mixed.
Incidentally, when the pressure lid is composed of a single member, for example, during mixing of the material to be kneaded, the pressure applied by the single pressure lid is set to a low pressure so that the material to be kneaded is However, with a single pressure lid, it is difficult to apply a shearing force to the material to be kneaded, and it is difficult to promote mixing of the material to be kneaded.
Therefore, by adopting this characteristic configuration, it is possible to appropriately mix and knead the material to be kneaded while enlarging the opening for charging the material to be kneaded so that the material to be kneaded can be easily fed. Therefore, the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded can be improved accurately.

A further characteristic configuration of the kneading machine according to the present invention is such that the lateral pressure lid is provided on one side of the central pressure lid in the direction in which the pair of rotating shafts are arranged.
The opening that can be closed by the central pressure lid and the side pressure lid in the kneading tank has an opening width in the direction in which the pair of rotation shafts are arranged wider than the interval between the pair of rotation shafts. And it is formed in a state close to the rotation axis on the side where the side pressure lid exists in the direction,
The kneading tank is located around a rocking axis located at a position near the rotation axis on the side where the side pressure lid is present in the kneading tank from an operating posture in which the opening is directed vertically upward. Thus, the side pressure lid is provided so as to be swingable in a discharging posture in which the side on which the side pressure lid exists is downward.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the material to be kneaded in the kneading space is agitated by the pair of rotors while being pressed by the central pressure lid and the side pressure lid in an operation posture with the opening portion directed vertically upward. Thus, a kneading operation is performed.
When the kneading operation is completed and the kneaded material to be kneaded is discharged from the kneading space through the opening, the kneading tank is brought close to the rotation axis on the side where the side pressure lid in the kneading tank exists. Around the swing axis located at the place where the side pressure lid is located, the side where the side pressure lid is present is swung downward. Then, in the discharge posture, the end portion closer to the side of the kneading tank among the two end portions of the opening portion in the arrangement direction of the pair of rotation axes is in the lower order, and the opening portion is horizontally or obliquely downward. Therefore, the opening can be positioned as low as possible, and the material to be kneaded in the kneading space can be easily discharged from the opening.
Accordingly, it is possible to accurately improve the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded while facilitating the charging of the material to be kneaded into the kneading space through the opening and the discharge of the material to be kneaded from the kneading space.

In order to achieve the above object, the kneader operating method according to the present invention includes a kneading tank having a bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape inside, and a kneading space provided in parallel in the kneading space and rotating around respective rotation axes. A pair of rotors that rotate, a rotation drive unit that rotationally drives the pair of rotors, a pressure lid that includes a portion facing a central portion between the rotation axes of the pair of rotors in the kneading tank, and the pressure lid A kneading machine operating method for kneading a material to be kneaded in the kneading space, comprising a pressurizing means for pressurizing the inner side of the kneading tank, and comprising a dispersion medium and a dispersoid. ,
Based on the state of kneading of the material to be kneaded by the pair of rotors, the operation of the pressurizing means is controlled to change the pressure applied to pressurize the material to be kneaded in the kneading space by the pressure lid. In the point.

According to the above characteristic configuration, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is changed based on the kneading state of the material to be kneaded.
That is, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is changed to an appropriate pressure according to the kneading state of the material to be kneaded, so that the material to be kneaded can be mixed and kneaded appropriately.
Therefore, the pressure applied by the pressure lid can be changed appropriately according to the degree of progress of the kneading operation, so that the material to be kneaded can be appropriately mixed and kneaded to improve dispersibility and improve kneading performance. A method of operating the machine can be provided.

The figure which shows the whole schematic structure of the kneading machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Longitudinal sectional view of the kneading tank showing the operating state during the mixing section of the kneading operation Longitudinal sectional view of the kneading tank showing the operating state in the kneading section of the kneading operation Cross-sectional plan view of kneading tank The figure which shows the whole schematic structure of the kneading machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Longitudinal sectional view of the kneading tank showing the operating state during the mixing section of the kneading operation Longitudinal sectional view of the kneading tank showing the operating state in the kneading section of the kneading operation The figure which shows the operation | movement state of the kneading tank in the whole schematic structure of the kneading machine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and the mixing area of kneading | mixing operation. Longitudinal sectional view of the kneading tank showing the operating state in the kneading section of the kneading operation The figure which shows the time-dependent change of load electric power concerning the electric motor The figure which shows the time-dependent change of load electric power concerning the electric motor

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment will be described based on FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the kneader according to the first embodiment includes a kneading tank 1 having a kneaded cross-sectional shape kneading space 1 s inside, and a kneading space 1 s arranged in parallel and around each rotation axis A. The pressure lid 4 includes a pair of rotors 2 that rotate at a rotational speed, rotational drive means D that rotationally drives the pair of rotors 2, and a portion of the kneading tank 1 that faces a central portion between the rotational axes A of the pair of rotors 2. And a pressurizing means K for pressurizing the pressurizing lid 4 to the inner side of the kneading tank 1, a frame 5 for supporting the pressurizing means K, and a control means 6 for controlling the operation of the kneader. The material to be kneaded M including the medium and the dispersoid is kneaded in the kneading space 1s.

Next, explanation will be given for each part of the kneader.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the kneading tank 1 has an inner wall surface 1f having a bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape in which a pair of circles with the same radius are partially overlapped between a pair of side walls 1V arranged to face each other. The peripheral wall 1W is arranged, and the pair of side walls 1V and the peripheral wall 1W are configured so that an axis A (rotation shaft of a pair of rotors 2 to be described later) passes through the center of each circle forming an inner wall surface 1f having a bowl-shaped cross section. A kneading space 1 s having a bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape in a direction view (corresponding to the center A) (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as a rotation axis direction view) is formed.
Each rotor 2 includes a rotor shaft 2a and a twisted rotor blade 2w integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 2a, and a pair of rotors 2 rotate the rotor shaft 2a. The shaft center A is concentric with the center of each circle forming the kneading space 1 s having a bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape, and is pivotally supported by the pair of side walls 1 </ b> V of the kneading tank 1 in a posture parallel to each other.

And the one side part of the direction Y orthogonal to the surface containing a pair of rotation axis A is wider than the space | interval of the said pair of rotation axis A in the surrounding wall 1W of the kneading tank 1 in the rotation axis direction view. Opened over a range, the kneading tank 1 is provided with an opening 3. As will be described later, the kneading tank 1 is arranged so that the pressing direction of the material to be kneaded M by the pressure lid 4 is downward in the vertical direction, and the pressing direction is a plane including a pair of rotational axes A. Therefore, in the following, the direction Y perpendicular to the plane including the pair of rotation axes A may be described as the vertical direction (vertical direction in this embodiment) Y.
The opening 3 is provided in the kneading tank 1 so that the center in the direction in which the pair of rotation axes A are aligned coincides with the center between the pair of rotation axes A. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 3 is configured such that the cross section (cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction Y) has a rectangular shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rotational driving means D includes an electric motor 7 and a gear mechanism (not shown) that transmits the rotational driving force of the electric motor 7 to the pair of rotors 2 to rotate in opposite directions. Configured. Further, the gear mechanism is provided with a transmission unit that can change and adjust the rotation speed of each of the pair of rotors 2 by changing the gear ratio. The transmission unit can change and adjust the rotation speeds of the pair of rotors 2 respectively. By doing so, the pair of rotors 2 can be rotated at different rotational speeds. In this embodiment, the pair of rotors 2 are configured to rotate at the same rotational speed.

The kneading tank 1 configured as described above is supported by a base frame (not shown) in an operating posture with the opening 3 facing upward in the vertical direction.
Although not shown in the drawings, the kneading tank 1 is around a swing axis that is concentric with one of the rotation axes A of the pair of rotors 2 (in this first embodiment, the rotation axis A on the right side of FIG. 1). Is swingably supported. In addition, a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) for swinging the kneading tank 1 around the swing axis is provided on the side of the kneading tank 1 where the side opposite to the side where the swing axis is present moves upward. Yes. As shown in FIG. 1, the hydraulic cylinder causes the kneading tank 1 to operate in an operating posture with the opening 3 facing upward in the vertical direction and a discharging posture with the opening 3 facing obliquely downward (two points in FIG. 1). The position can be changed freely.

2 and 3, the pressure lid 4 is provided so as to close the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1, and as described above, the rotation axis A of the pair of rotors 2 in the kneading tank 1 is provided. It is comprised so that the part which faces the center part between may be included.
And in this 1st Embodiment, the pressurization cover 4 is comprised with the single member which can block the opening part 3 of the kneading tank 1, and can move the inside of the opening part 3 to the up-down direction Y. ing.
In addition, when viewed in the direction of the rotational axis, a surface 4 f (hereinafter referred to as a pressure surface) facing the kneading space 1 s of the kneading tank 1 in the pressure lid 4 is generally continuous with the inner wall surface 1 f having a bowl-shaped cross section. It is formed in a curved surface having an arc shape, and is formed in a so-called seagull shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pressurizing means K includes a pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 attached to the frame 5 in a posture in which the rod faces downward so that the pressurizing lid 4 moves up and down along the vertical direction Y. A hydraulic control valve 9 that controls the operation of the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8, a pump 11 that pressurizes and supplies hydraulic oil to the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 through the hydraulic oil passage 10, and an operation from the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 through the hydraulic oil passage 10. A tank 12 or the like to which oil is returned is provided. By controlling the operation of the hydraulic control valve 9, it is possible to switch between expansion and contraction of the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8, and to change and adjust the pressurizing force for pressurizing the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s by the pressurizing lid 4. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressurizing lid 4 is connected to the tip of the rod of the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8, and the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 is controlled by controlling the operation of the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 with the kneading tank 1 positioned in the operating posture. The pressure lid 4 is configured to be reciprocally movable along the vertical direction Y between a lower limit position in the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1 and an upper retracted position outside the opening 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lower limit position of the pressure lid 4 is such that the pressure surface 4 f of the pressure lid 4 is continuous with the inner wall surface 1 f of the bowl-shaped cross section of the kneading tank 1 when viewed in the rotational axis direction. Is set to a position.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1, by controlling the operation of the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8, the pressurization lid 4 in the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1 positioned in the operating posture is moved to the upper retraction position outside the opening 3. If it raises, the opening part 3 of the kneading tank 1 will be open | released, and the to-be-kneaded material M to be processed can be thrown into the kneading | mixing space 1s from the opening part 3. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, kneading state detecting means S for detecting the kneading state of the material to be kneaded kneaded by the pair of rotors 2 is provided.
Then, the control means 6 controls the operation of the pressurizing means K based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detecting means S and pressurizes the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1 s by the pressure lid 4. (Hereinafter, it may be abbreviated as a pressure applied by the pressure lid 4).
In the first embodiment, a load power detection unit 13 that detects a load (specifically, load power) applied to the electric motor 7 of the rotation driving means D is provided.

In the first embodiment, as the material to be kneaded, the load applied to the electric motor 7 is at least a first maximum value W _MAX1 , a minimum value W _MIN , a second value as time passes, as shown in FIG. A material to be kneaded that exhibits a change with the lapse of time showing the local maximum value W _MAX2 is a processing target. A specific example of such a material to be kneaded M includes, for example, a natural rubber viscous material as a dispersion medium, and a powder material such as carbon black or silica as a dispersoid.

  That is, the load power applied to the electric motor 7 fluctuates according to the degree of progress of the kneaded state of the material to be kneaded M, and the fluctuation corresponds to the elapsed time from the start of the kneading operation. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the kneading state detecting means S is constituted by the time measuring means 14 for detecting the elapsed time from the start of the kneading operation as the kneading state. The time measuring means 14 is provided in the control means 6.

Based on the elapsed time (corresponding to the detection information of the kneading state detecting means S) measured by the time measuring means 14 from the time when the control means 6 is started, the load power applied to the electric motor 7 is the first. first maximum value W _MAX1, detects the minimum value W _MIN and the second maximum value W _MAX2 timing consisting respectively, the load power of the electric motor 7 becomes the first maximum value W _MAX1 since time after minimum value W _MIN In the mixing section up to this point (the section indicated by Z1 in FIG. 10), the pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 is set to a predetermined low pressure P1, and the load power of the electric motor 7 becomes the minimum value W _MIN . In the kneading section (the section indicated by Z2 in FIG. 10) until the second maximum value W _MAX2 is reached later, the pressurizing force by the pressure lid 4 is set to a high pressurizing force P2 larger than the low pressurizing force P1. And configured to control the operation of the pressurizing means K. To have. That is, a section from the start of the kneading operation for kneading the material M to be kneaded in the kneading tank 1 until the load power of the electric motor 7 exhibits the first maximum value W _MAX1 (the section indicated by Z0 in FIG. 10). Then, the load power gradually increases, and then gradually decreases after the first maximum value W _MAX1 has elapsed to become the minimum value W _MIN , but in the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1, the pressure lid 4 The applied pressure is set to the low applied pressure P1.

Next, the control operation of the control means 6 in the kneading operation for kneading the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s will be described.
Although not shown, the operation panel of the kneading machine includes an operation start switch for starting the kneading operation, a posture switching switch for switching the posture of the kneading tank 1 between the driving posture and the discharging posture, and the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1. An opening opening switch for opening is provided.
In addition, as the operating condition of the hydraulic control valve 9 for setting the moving direction of the pressurizing lid 4 downward and adjusting the pressurizing force by the pressurizing lid 4 to the low pressurizing force P1, an operating condition for low pressurizing force is set in advance. Is stored in the control means 6.
Further, as the operating condition of the hydraulic control valve 9 for setting the moving direction of the pressurizing lid 4 downward and adjusting the pressurizing force by the pressurizing lid 4 to the high pressurizing force P2, an operating condition for high pressurizing force is set in advance. Is stored in the control means 6.

  Incidentally, the low pressurizing force P1 follows the fact that the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the rotation of the pair of rotors 2 and the upper surface of the material to be kneaded moves up and down. It is set to a pressure that allows it to move. Further, the high pressure P2 is caused by the force that pushes the pressure lid 4 upward by the material to be kneaded as the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s is stirred by the rotation of the pair of rotors 2. However, the pressure lid 4 is set to a pressure at which it is difficult for the pressure lid 4 to be lifted upward and the shearing force can be applied satisfactorily. However, the high pressure P2 is preferably set to a pressure that allows the pressure lid 4 to be lifted upward when the force that pushes the pressure lid 4 upward by the material to be kneaded becomes abnormally large. Incidentally, the high pressure P2 is set to 0.2 MPa or more, for example.

A test operation is performed in advance, and the load power detection unit 13 detects the load power applied to the electric motor 7 to set a typical change in load power with time as shown in FIG.
That is, after the start of the kneading operation, the elapsed time until the load power reaches the first maximum value W _MAX1 is set as the first maximum value appearance elapsed time, and the elapsed time until the load power reaches the minimum value W _MIN The time is set as the minimum value appearance elapsed time, and the elapsed time until the load power reaches the second maximum value W _MAX2 is set as the second maximum value appearance elapsed time.

  When starting the kneading operation, with the kneading tank 1 in the operating posture, the opening opening switch is turned on to open the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1, and the kneading space 1s of the kneading tank 1 is covered. The kneaded material M is charged. Then, when the operation start switch is turned on, the kneading operation is started. The dispersion medium constituting the material to be kneaded is first put into the kneading space 1s and stirred, and after a predetermined time has passed, the dispersoid constituting the material to be kneaded is put into the kneading space 1s. In other words, the kneading operation is started after the dispersoid is introduced.

That is, when the opening opening switch is turned on, the control means 6 controls the hydraulic control valve 9 so as to operate the pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8 so that the pressurizing lid 4 is positioned at the retracted position.
Then, when the operation start switch is turned on, the control means 6 sets the operating condition of the hydraulic control valve 9 to the operating condition for low pressurizing force, and controls the electric motor 7 to rotate at a predetermined set rotational speed, thereby kneading. Start driving.
The control means 6 adjusts the rotational speed of the electric motor 7 to a constant set rotational speed during the kneading operation.
That is, when the kneading operation is started, the opening 3 of the kneading tank 1 is closed by the pressure lid 4, and the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1 s is pressed by the pressure lid 4. Stirred by the rotor 2.

Based on the elapsed time from the start time of the kneading operation measured by the time measuring means 14, the control means 6 determines that the load power applied to the electric motor 7 is the first time when the first maximum value appearance elapsed time has elapsed. It is detected that it is the timing when the maximum value W _MAX1 is reached, the time when the minimum value appearance elapsed time has elapsed is detected as the timing when the load power applied to the electric motor 7 becomes the minimum value W _MIN , and the second The point in time when the maximum value appearance elapsed time has passed is detected as the timing when the load power applied to the electric motor 7 becomes the second maximum value W _MAX2 .
Further, the control means 6 sets a time zone from the time when the first maximum value appearance elapsed time has elapsed until the minimum value appearance elapsed time elapses to the mixing zone Z1, and the minimum value appearance elapsed time. After the elapse of time, the time zone until the second maximum value appearance elapsed time elapses is set in the kneading zone Z2.

And after the start of the kneading operation, the control means 6 maintains the operating condition of the hydraulic control valve 9 at the low pressurizing operating condition in the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1.
That is, in the section Z0 and the mixing section Z1, the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed by the pressure lid 4 with the low pressure P1.
Subsequently, the control means 6 switches the operating condition of the hydraulic control valve 9 from the low pressurizing operating condition to the high pressurizing operating condition when the mixing section Z1 is completed. The operating condition of the control valve 9 is maintained at the operating condition for high pressurizing force.
That is, in the kneading section Z2, the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed by the pressure lid 4 at the high pressure P2.

  Subsequently, when the preset end kneading section time elapses from the time when the kneading section Z2 ends, the control means 6 turns on the electric motor when the end kneading section (section indicated by Z3 in FIG. 10) ends. The kneading operation is stopped by stopping the motor 7 and controlling the hydraulic control valve 9 to position the pressure lid 4 at the retracted position.

In the mixing zone Z1, the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed by the pressure lid 4 at a low pressure P1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the pressure lid 4 can be moved up and down following the change in the height of the upper surface of the material M to be kneaded in the vertical direction Y by stirring. The kneading material M can be turned over repeatedly and satisfactorily, so that the material to be kneaded M can be properly mixed and the mixing efficiency can be improved.
On the other hand, in the kneading section Z2, the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed by the pressure lid 4 at a high pressure P2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, even when the material to be kneaded M is stirred in the kneading space 1s, the pressure lid 4 is hardly pushed back by the material to be kneaded and is positioned at the substantially lower limit position. A shearing force can be satisfactorily applied to the material to be kneaded, the material to be kneaded M can be appropriately kneaded, and the kneading efficiency can be improved.
Accordingly, the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded M can be accurately improved, including shortening of the kneading time due to the improvement of the kneading efficiency.
When the kneading operation is completed, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the posture of the kneading tank 1 is switched from the operating posture to the discharging posture in which the opening 3 is obliquely downward. Can be easily discharged from the kneading space 1 s through the opening 3.

  Hereinafter, each of the second and third embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, each embodiment mainly describes another embodiment of the pressure lid 4 and the pressure means K, and mainly pressurization. The configuration other than the lid 4 and the pressurizing means K is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, in order to avoid redundant description, the same constituent elements as those in the first embodiment and the constituent elements having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Mainly, the pressure lid 4 and the pressure means K are omitted. Will be described.

[Second Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, with respect to the central pressure lid 4 </ b> C as the pressure lid 4, the side is adjacent to the side in the direction in which the pair of rotation axes A are arranged. The pressure lid 4S is provided in a state separated from the central pressure lid 4C, and the pressurizing means K applies pressure by the central pressure lid 4C to the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s and pressure by the side pressure lid 4S. The pressure can be adjusted separately.

In the second embodiment, the side pressure lid 4S is arranged on one side of the central pressure lid 4C in the direction in which the pair of rotational axes A are arranged (in this second embodiment, in FIGS. 6 and 7). On the right).
The opening width of the opening 3 in the direction in which the pair of rotation axes A are arranged is wider than the distance between the pair of rotation axes A, as in the first embodiment, but in the second embodiment, a pair of rotations is performed. In the state where the side pressure lid 4S is present in the direction in which the axis A is aligned, the rotation axis A (in this second embodiment, the rotation axis A on the right side in FIGS. 6 and 7) An opening 3 is provided in the kneading tank 1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressure surface 4Cf facing the kneading space 1s in the central pressure lid 4C is configured in the shape of a seam similar to the pressure surface 4f of the pressure lid 4 in the first embodiment. . Further, the pressurizing surface 4Sf facing the kneading space 1s in the side pressurizing lid 4S has a bowl shape of the kneading tank 1 as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis when the side pressurizing lid 4S is positioned at a lower limit position described later. It is formed in a curved surface shape continuous with the inner wall surface 1f having a cross-sectional shape.
And it is comprised so that the opening part 3 of the kneading tank 1 may be obstruct | occluded by 4 C of central pressure lids and the side pressure lid 4S which adjoin.

Although not shown, the kneading tank 1 is supported so as to be swingable around the same swinging axis as in the first embodiment, and the kneading tank 1 is supported around the swinging axis as in the first embodiment. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for rocking. Then, with this hydraulic cylinder, as shown in FIG. 5, the kneading tank 1 has an operation posture in which the opening 3 is directed upward in the vertical direction, and the side where the side pressure lid 4S is present in the opening 3 is downward. The configuration is such that the posture can be freely changed to a discharge posture (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) in which the opening 3 is directed obliquely downward.
In other words, the kneading tank 1 is located at a position near the rotation axis A on the side where the side pressure lid 4S is present in the kneading tank 1 from the operating posture in which the opening 3 is directed upward in the vertical direction. Around the center, the side pressure lid 4S is provided so as to be swingable in a discharge posture in which the side where the side pressure lid 4S exists is downward.

The pressurizing means K will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The pressurizing means K is provided with a central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and a central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C corresponding to the central pressurizing lid 4C. Corresponding to the side pressurizing lid 4S, a side pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S and a side pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S are provided.
Further, hydraulic fluid is supplied from one pump 11 to the central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and the lateral pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S via the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C and the lateral pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S, respectively. And supplied from one central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and one side pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S to one tank 12 via the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C and the side pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S. The hydraulic oil passage 10 is piped so that the hydraulic oil is returned.

The central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and the lateral pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S are mounted side by side on the frame 5 with their rods facing downward, and the central pressurizing lid 4C is connected to the tip of the rod of the central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C. The side pressurizing lid 4S is connected to the tip of the rod of the side pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S.
Then, the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S are kneaded by controlling the operation of the central pressure hydraulic cylinder 8C and the side pressure hydraulic cylinder 8S with the kneading tank 1 positioned in the operating posture. Between the lower limit position in the opening part 3 of the tank 1 and the upper retreating position outside the opening part 3, it is configured so as to be freely reciprocated along the vertical direction Y.

The lower limit position of the side pressure lid 4S is a state in which the pressure surface 4Sf of the side pressure lid 4S is continuous with the inner wall surface 1f having a bowl-shaped cross section of the kneading tank 1 (see FIG. 7). (The state shown) is set to a position.
Further, the lower limit position of the central pressure cover 4C is the pressure surface 4Sf of the side pressure cover 4S and the kneading tank 1 where the pressure surface 4Cf of the central pressure cover 4C is located at the lower limit position when viewed in the rotational axis direction. It is set at a position where it becomes a state (state shown in FIG. 7) that is continuous with the inner wall surface 1f of the bowl-shaped cross section.

Next, the control operation of the control means 6 in the kneading operation will be described.
In the second embodiment, the control means 6 reduces the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C to the low pressure P1 in the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1, similarly to the pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 in the first embodiment. In the kneading zone Z2, a high pressure P2 is set and the operation of the pressurizing means K is controlled.
And in this 2nd Embodiment, the control means 6 sets the pressurization force by the side pressurization lid 4S more than the maximum pressurization in the change range of the pressurization force by the center pressurization lid 4C, and pressurization means K It is comprised so that the action | operation of may be controlled. By the way, in the second embodiment, as a specific example of the applied pressure exceeding the maximum applied pressure in the applied pressure change range by the central pressure lid 4C, the same high pressure as the applied pressure by the central pressure lid 4C in the kneading zone Z2 is used. The pressure is set to P2.

Further, in the second embodiment, after the control means 6 controls the pressurizing means K and the load power of the electric motor 7 reaches the second maximum value W _MAX2 (that is, measured by the time measuring means 14). In the final kneading section Z3 from the time when the elapsed time from the start of the kneading operation reaches the second maximum appearance elapsed time), the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C is less than that in the kneading section Z2. It is configured to let you.
Then, as the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C in the final kneading zone Z3, a final pressure P3 smaller than the high pressure P2 is set in advance, and the moving direction of the central pressure lid 4C is set downward and the central pressure is increased. As the operating condition of the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C for adjusting the pressurizing force by the pressure lid 4C to the final pressurizing pressure P3, the final operating condition is set in advance. In the final kneading zone Z3, the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C may be set to the same high pressure P2 as that of the kneading zone Z2.

Incidentally, the magnitude relationship among the low pressure P1, the high pressure P2, and the final pressure P3 is P1 ≦ P3 <P2.
The low pressure P1 follows the fact that the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s is agitated by the rotation of the pair of rotors 2 and the upper surface of the material to be kneaded moves up and down, and the central pressure lid 4C moves up and down. Set to a pressure that allows The high pressure P2 is applied to the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S by the material to be kneaded as the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s is stirred by the rotation of the pair of rotors 2. Even when a force that pushes upward is applied, the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S are set to pressures that are difficult to lift upward.

The control means 6 sets the mixing zone Z1 and the kneading zone Z2 based on the elapsed time from the start time of the kneading operation measured by the time measuring means 14 as in the first embodiment.
When the operation start switch is turned on, the control means 6 changes the operating condition of the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C to the low pressurizing operating condition, and sets the operating condition of the lateral pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S to the high pressurizing operation. Then, the kneading operation is started by controlling the electric motor 7 to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed.
After starting the kneading operation, the control means 6 maintains the operating condition of the lateral pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S at the high pressurizing operating condition in the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1, and the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C. Is maintained at the low pressurizing operating condition.
Subsequently, the control means 6 operates the central pressurization hydraulic control valve 9C while maintaining the operation condition of the lateral pressurization hydraulic control valve 9S at the high pressurization operation condition when the mixing section Z1 is completed. The condition is switched from the low pressurizing operating condition to the high pressurizing operating condition. Thereafter, in the kneading zone Z2, the operating conditions of the side pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S and the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C are both high. Maintain operating conditions for pressure.
Subsequently, from the time when the kneading section Z2 ends, the control means 6 maintains the operating condition of the lateral pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S at the high pressurizing operating condition, and maintains the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C. When the final kneading section time elapses and the final kneading section Z3 ends, the electric motor 7 is stopped and the central pressure lid 4C is switched from the high pressurizing operating condition to the final operating condition. The central pressurization hydraulic control valve 9C and the lateral pressurization hydraulic control valve 9S are controlled to stop the kneading operation so that the side pressurization lid 4S is positioned at the retracted position.

In the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1, the material M to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s is pressed with a low pressure P1 by the central pressure lid 4C, and the side adjacent to one side of the central pressure lid 4C. Agitation is performed by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed at the high pressure P2 by the one-side pressure lid 4S. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the side pressure lid 4 </ b> S is difficult to move up and down, and the side pressure lid 4 </ b> S applies a shearing force to the material to be kneaded by the side pressure lid 4 </ b> S, and agitated material by stirring. Since the center pressure lid 4C can be moved up and down following the change in the height of the upper surface of M in the up-and-down direction Y, the material to be kneaded M is repeatedly turned back and repeatedly, Mixing of the material to be kneaded M can be performed appropriately.
On the other hand, in the kneading zone Z2, the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1s is stirred by the pair of rotors 2 while being pressed at a high pressure P2 by the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S. Is done. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, even if the material to be kneaded is stirred in the kneading space 1s, the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S are difficult to move up and down and are positioned at the substantially lower limit position. Therefore, the shearing force can be applied to the material to be kneaded favorably, and the material to be kneaded M can be appropriately kneaded.
Further, in the final kneading section Z3, the pair of rotors 2 are pressed by the final pressure P3 by the central pressure lid 4C and pressed by the high pressure P2 by the side pressure lid 4S. Stir.
And even if the pressurizing force by the central pressurizing lid 4C reaches the final pressurizing force P3 lower than the high pressurizing pressure P2, the central pressurizing lid 4C maintains a state in which it is difficult to move up and down and Since the shearing force can be applied satisfactorily and the kneading of the material to be kneaded M can be further advanced, the energy consumption can be reduced.

Therefore, during the kneading operation, the mixing zone Z1, the kneading zone Z2, and the final kneading zone Z3 are each accurately recognized, and the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S is respectively determined. Therefore, the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded M can be accurately improved, including shortening the kneading time by improving the kneading efficiency.
When the kneading operation is completed, the posture of the kneading tank 1 is switched from the operating posture to the discharging posture. In the discharging posture, the opening 3 is inclined downward in such a manner that the end closer to the side of the kneading tank 1 is lower in the both ends of the opening 3 in the arrangement direction of the pair of rotation axes A. Therefore, the opening 3 can be positioned as low as possible, and the material to be kneaded M in the kneading space 1 s can be easily discharged from the opening 3.

[Third Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the third embodiment, the opening 3 has an opening width in the arrangement direction of the pair of rotation axes A of the pair of rotation axes A, as in the first embodiment. The center of the pair of rotation axes A in the direction in which the pair of rotation axes A are aligned is formed so as to coincide with the center between the pair of rotation axes A.
As in the second embodiment, the lateral pressure lid 4S is located adjacent to the lateral side in the alignment direction of the pair of rotation axes A with respect to the pressure lid 4 as the central pressure lid 4C. Although provided separately from the pressure lid 4C, in this third embodiment, the side pressure lid 4S is distributed to both sides of the central pressure lid 4C in the direction in which the pair of rotational axes A are aligned. A pair is provided.
The pressure surface 4Cf facing the kneading space 1s in the central pressure lid 4C is configured in the shape of a seam similar to the pressure surface 4f of the pressure lid 4 in the first embodiment. Further, the pressure surface 4Sf facing the kneading space 1s of each of the pair of side pressure lids 4S has the kneading tank 1 in the rotational axis direction view when the side pressure lid 4S is located at a lower limit position described later. It is comprised by the curved surface shape which follows the inner wall surface 1f of the bowl-shaped cross-sectional shape.
And it is comprised so that the opening part 3 of the kneading tank 1 may be obstruct | occluded by 4 C of adjacent center pressurization lids, and a pair of side pressurization lids 4S.

The pressurizing means K will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The pressurizing means K includes one central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and one central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C corresponding to the central pressurizing lid 4C. One side pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8S and one side pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S are provided for each of the pair of side pressurizing lids 4S.
Also, the central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and the pair of side pressurizing hydraulic cylinders 8S are respectively supplied from one pump 11 via the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C and the pair of side pressurizing hydraulic control valves 9S. The hydraulic oil is supplied to the central pressurizing hydraulic cylinder 8C and the pair of side pressurizing hydraulic cylinders 8S from the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9C and the pair of side pressurizing hydraulic control valves 9S, respectively. The hydraulic oil passage 10 is piped so that the hydraulic oil is returned to the single tank 12.

The lower limit position of each of the pair of side pressure lids 4S is a state in which the pressure surface 4Sf of the side pressure lid 4S is continuous with the inner wall surface 1f of the bowl-shaped cross section of the kneading tank 1 (see FIG. The position shown in FIG. 9 is set.
Further, the lower limit position of the central pressure lid 4C is continuous with the pressure surfaces 4Sf of each of the pair of side pressure lids 4S in which the pressure surface 4Cf of the central pressure lid 4C is located at the lower limit position when viewed in the rotational axis direction. It is set to a position where it will be in a state (state shown in FIG. 9).

The control operation of the control means 6 is the same as that of the above-described second embodiment except that a pair of side pressurizing hydraulic control valves 9S to be controlled is provided, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
Also in the kneading machine of the third embodiment, the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S are secondly implemented in the zone Z0, the mixing zone Z1, the kneading zone Z2, and the final kneading zone Z3. Since it acts in the same manner as the embodiment, the description of the action by the central pressure lid 4C and the side pressure lid 4S, the progress of mixing and kneading of the material to be kneaded M and the accompanying kneading will be omitted.
In addition, since the pair of side pressure lids 4S is provided, the shear force is more effectively applied to the material to be kneaded by the pair of side pressure lids 4S in the zone Z0 and the mixing zone Z1. Therefore, the mixing efficiency can be further improved and the kneading time can be further shortened.

[Another embodiment]
(A) In the first embodiment, a low pressure P1 that is a pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 set in the mixing zone Z1, and a high pressure that is a pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 set in the kneading zone Z2. Although the pressure P2 is set to a constant value, for example, a value corresponding to the elapsed time may be set so that the elapsed time measured by the time measuring unit 14 becomes longer.
In each of the second and third embodiments, a low pressure P1 that is a pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C set in the mixing zone Z1, and a pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C that is set in the kneading zone Z2. The high pressure P2 and the high pressure P2 that is the pressure applied by the side pressure lid 4S set in the mixing zone Z1 and the kneading zone Z2 are set to constant values. It is good also as a value according to elapsed time so that it may become so high that the elapsed time measured becomes long.
In each of the second and third embodiments, the final pressure P3, which is the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C set in the final kneading section Z3, is set to a constant value. It is good also as a value according to elapsed time so that it may become so low that the elapsed time measured in this way becomes long.

(B) As a means for detecting the load applied to the electric motor 7, in each of the first to third embodiments, the load power detection unit 13 that detects the power consumption of the electric motor 7 as the load applied to the electric motor 7 is used. However, for example, torque detecting means for detecting the torque of the electric motor 7 as a load applied to the electric motor 7 may be used.
In each of the first to third embodiments, the load power detection unit 13 may be omitted. In this case, a typical change in load power with time of the kneaded material M to be processed is set in advance using a kneader for test operation provided with the load power detection unit 13.

(C) The specific configuration of the kneading state detecting means S for detecting the kneading state of the material to be kneaded kneaded by the pair of rotors 2 is limited to the time measuring means 14 exemplified in the first to third embodiments. It is not a thing.
For example, the time-dependent change in the temperature of the material to be kneaded as mixing, kneading and the like are sequentially performed is measured in advance. The kneading state detection means S is constituted by a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the material to be kneaded M as the kneading state, and the pressure lid 4 and the central pressure lid 4C are based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. You may comprise so that the pressurization force by may be changed.
Further, during the kneading operation, a change with time in the viscosity of the material to be kneaded as mixing, kneading, and the like are sequentially performed is measured in advance. Then, the kneading state detecting means S is constituted by a viscometer that detects the viscosity of the material M to be kneaded as the kneading state, and based on the viscosity detected by the viscometer, the pressure lid 4 and the central pressure lid 4C. You may comprise so that the pressurization force by may be changed.

Moreover, you may use the load electric power detection part 13 provided in each 1st-3rd embodiment as the kneading | mixing state detection means S. FIG. In this case, based on the load power detected by the load power detecting unit 13, first maximum value W _MAX1, configured to detect the minimum value W _MIN, the second maximum value W _MAX2.
For example, during the kneading operation, the moving average value of the load power detected by the load power detection unit 13 is obtained every predetermined sampling time, the moving average value of the load power is managed in time series, and further sampling is performed. A differential value of the time series data of the moving average value of the load power is obtained for each time, and based on the differential value, the first maximum value W _MAX1 , the minimum value W _MIN , The second maximum value W _MAX2 is obtained sequentially.
However, in order to prevent false detection due to fluctuations in the detection value of the load power, the differential value of the time series data of the moving average value changes from positive to negative under the condition that the load power is equal to or greater than the set load power for maximum value detection. when the turn has, configured to determining that reached the first maximum value W _MAX1 and the second maximum value W _MAX2. In addition, when the load power is less than the set load power for detecting the minimum value, which is lower than the set load power for detecting the maximum value, the differential value of the time series data of the moving average value changes from negative to positive, the minimum value It is configured to determine that W _MIN has been reached.

(D) The pressure surfaces of the pressure lid 4 and the central pressure lid 4C are not limited to the shape of the seagull as exemplified in the first to third embodiments. For example, the shape provided with the part which protrudes in an inverted isosceles triangle shape toward the center between a pair of rotation axis A in the rotation axis direction view may be sufficient. Alternatively, it may be a uniform plane along the horizontal direction.

(E) As the pressurizing cylinder constituting the pressurizing means K, a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder can be used in addition to the hydraulic cylinders exemplified in the first to third embodiments.

(F) The pressing direction of the material to be kneaded M by the pressure lid 4 is not limited to the downward direction in the vertical direction, and may be downwardly inclined slightly with respect to the vertical direction.

(G) In each of the second and third embodiments, the final kneading section Z3 is configured to reduce the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C as compared to that in the kneading section Z2. Also in the zone Z3, the pressure applied by the central pressure lid 4C may be set to the same high pressure P2 as in the zone Z2.

(H) The material to be kneaded that can be kneaded by the kneader according to the present invention is the material to be kneaded exemplified in each of the first to third embodiments, that is, the load applied to the electric motor 7 is at least as the time passes. The present invention is not limited to the one that exhibits a time-dependent change that sequentially indicates a maximum value, a minimum value, and a second maximum value.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a material to be kneaded that changes with time after the load applied to the electric motor 7 increases with time and exhibits a maximum value W _MAX may be used as a processing target.
In this case, in order to configure the control means 6, the electric motor 7 is applied based on the elapsed time (corresponding to the detection information of the kneading state detection means S) measured from the time of the kneading operation measured by the time measuring means 14. The load is configured to detect the timing when the maximum value W _MAX is reached. Further, in the kneading section (section indicated by Z2 in FIG. 11) from the start of the kneading operation to the time when the load of the electric motor 7 reaches the maximum value W _MAX , the pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 is set to a predetermined high level. In the final kneading section (the section indicated by Z3 in FIG. 11) until the final kneading section time elapses after the load of the electric motor 7 reaches the maximum value W _MAX after the load P2 is set. The pressure applied by the lid 4 is set to the final pressure P3 smaller than the high pressure P2, and the operation of the pressurizing means K is controlled. When the final kneading section Z3 ends, the kneading operation is stopped as in the first embodiment.
If the side pressure lid 4S is provided adjacent to the central pressure lid 4C as the pressure lid 4 as in the second and third embodiments, the central pressure is applied. The pressure applied by the lid 4C is set to the pressure applied by the pressure lid 4 in the other embodiment, and the pressure applied by the side pressure lid 4S is set in the same manner as in the second and third embodiments. To do.

In addition to the material to be kneaded exemplified in each of the first to third embodiments and the material to be kneaded exemplified in the other embodiment, various materials can be processed.
For example, examples of the dispersion medium contained in the material to be kneaded include thermoplastic elastomers, thermosetting elastomers, resins, plastics and the like in addition to rubber.
In addition to the powders such as carbon black and silica, the dispersoids contained in the material to be kneaded M include clay, talc, mica, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, zinc oxide, natural fibers, Artificial fiber, metal powder, ceramic powder, etc. are mentioned.

(I) In each of the first to third embodiments described above and another embodiment of (H) above, when the final kneading section time has elapsed, the final kneading section Z3 ends and the kneading operation is stopped. However, the method for determining the timing of stopping the kneading operation is not limited to the method based on such elapsed time.
For example, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the material to be kneaded M may be provided, and the kneading operation may be stopped when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature. Alternatively, the kneading operation may be stopped when either the end kneading section time elapses or the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches the set temperature.

(J) Based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detecting means S, the operation of the pressurizing means K is controlled in order to change the pressure applied to the material to be kneaded in the kneading space 1s by the pressure lid 4. In addition, in each of the first to third embodiments and the other embodiment (H) described above, the operation of the pressurizing unit K is automatically controlled by the control unit 6, but the pressurization is performed by human operation. The operation of the means K may be controlled.
For example, the operator, based on the elapsed time after the start of kneading operation, load power first maximum value W _MAX1 according to the electric motor 7, the minimum value W _MIN, the second maximum value W _MAX2, the maximum value W _MAX The pressurizing means K (specifically, the hydraulic control valve 9, the central pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9 C, the lateral pressurization means, so as to change the pressurizing force by the pressurizing lid 4 according to the respective timings) The operation of the pressurizing hydraulic control valve 9S) can also be controlled. Further, for example, when the operator controls the operation of the pressurizing means K, the control may be performed based on the low pressurizing operating conditions and the high pressurizing operating conditions stored in the control means 6 in advance. Further, the control may be performed based on the operating condition for low pressurizing force and the operating condition for high pressurizing force set as appropriate by the operator.

  As described above, a kneader capable of improving the kneading performance of the material to be kneaded and a method of operating the kneader can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Kneading tank 1s Kneading space 2 Rotor 3 Opening part 4 Pressure lid 4C Center pressure lid 4S Side pressure lid 6 Control means 13 Load electric power detection part (kneading load detection means)
A Axis of rotation D Rotation drive means K Pressurization means M Material to be kneaded S Kneading state detection means

Claims (7)

A kneading tank having a kneading space having a bowl-shaped cross-section inside, a pair of rotors mounted in parallel in the kneading space and rotating around respective rotation axes, and a rotation driving means for rotating the pair of rotors; A pressure lid including a portion facing a central portion between the rotation axes of the pair of rotors in the kneading tank, and a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the pressure lid toward the inner side of the kneading tank, A kneader for kneading a material to be kneaded containing a dispersion medium and a dispersoid in the kneading space,
Kneading state detecting means for detecting the kneading state of the material to be kneaded kneaded by the pair of rotors;
Control means is provided for controlling the operation of the pressurizing means based on the kneading state detected by the kneading state detecting means and changing the pressure applied to pressurize the material to be kneaded in the kneading space by the pressure lid. Kneading machine. As the material to be kneaded, the load to be applied to the rotation driving means is a material to be kneaded that exhibits a temporal change that sequentially shows at least a first maximum value, a minimum value, and a second maximum value with the lapse of time,
The control means detects the timing when the load becomes the first maximum value, the minimum value, and the second maximum value based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means, and the load is the first maximum value. In the mixing section from the time when the maximum value is reached to the time when the minimum value is reached, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to a predetermined low pressure, and the load is reduced after the load reaches the minimum value. The kneading section until the point when the maximum value is reached is set to a high pressurizing force that is larger than the low pressurizing force to control the operation of the pressurizing means. The kneading machine described.   The kneading machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the pressurizing unit to reduce the pressure applied by the pressurizing lid after the load reaches the second maximum value. As the material to be kneaded, the load applied to the rotation driving means increases with the passage of time and shows a maximum value, and then the material to be kneaded that shows a change with time that decreases is treated.
The control means detects the timing when the load reaches the maximum value based on the detection information of the kneading state detection means, and the pressure lid is in a section until the time when the load reaches the maximum value. Is set to a predetermined high pressure, and after the load reaches the maximum value, the pressure applied by the pressure lid is set to be smaller than the high pressure. The kneading machine according to claim 1 which controls operation. For the central pressure lid as the pressure lid, adjacent to the side in the direction of alignment of the pair of rotation axes, a lateral pressure lid is provided in a separated state from the central pressure lid,
The pressurizing means is configured to be capable of separately adjusting the pressurizing force by the central pressurizing lid and the pressurizing force by the side pressurizing lid on the material to be kneaded in the kneading space,
The said control means sets the pressurization force by the said side pressurization lid more than the maximum pressurization in the change range of the pressurization force by the said central pressurization lid, and controls the action | operation of the said pressurization means. 5. The kneader according to any one of 4 above. The lateral pressure lid is provided on one side of the central pressure lid in the direction in which the pair of rotation axes are arranged;
The opening that can be closed by the central pressure lid and the side pressure lid in the kneading tank has an opening width in the direction in which the pair of rotation shafts are arranged wider than the interval between the pair of rotation shafts. And it is formed in a state close to the rotation axis on the side where the side pressure lid exists in the direction,
The kneading tank is located around a rocking axis located at a position near the rotation axis on the side where the side pressure lid is present in the kneading tank from an operating posture in which the opening is directed vertically upward. The kneading machine according to claim 5, wherein the kneading machine is provided so as to be swingable in a discharge posture in which the side on which the side pressure lid is present is downward. A kneading tank having a kneading space having a bowl-shaped cross-section inside, a pair of rotors mounted in parallel in the kneading space and rotating around respective rotation axes, and a rotation driving means for rotating the pair of rotors; A pressure lid including a portion facing a central portion between the rotation axes of the pair of rotors in the kneading tank, and a pressurizing unit that pressurizes the pressure lid toward the inner side of the kneading tank, An operation method of a kneader for kneading a material to be kneaded including a dispersion medium and a dispersoid in the kneading space,
Based on the state of kneading of the material to be kneaded by the pair of rotors, the operation of the pressurizing means is controlled to change the pressure applied to pressurize the material to be kneaded in the kneading space by the pressure lid. Operation method of kneading machine.

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