JP2014001070A - Powder supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder supply device, capable of improving the quantitativity in the powder supply for carrying powder raw material along a powder transport passage and supplying the same.SOLUTION: The powder supply device includes: a storage container for storing powder raw material; a powder transport passage having an inlet connected to the storage container and a discharge outlet for discharging the powder raw material; powder carrying means for carrying the powder raw material taken in the powder transport passage from the inlet along the powder transport passage, and discharging the same from the discharge outlet; and negative pressure generating means for applying the negative pressure to the interior of the powder transport passage through the discharge outlet of the powder transport passage. The bulk density of the powder raw material is made uniform by applying the negative pressure to the powder raw material through the discharge outlet to improve the quantitativity.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder supply apparatus that transports and supplies a powder raw material along a powder transport passage.

  Conventionally, various types of powder supply devices of this type are known. For example, in a conventional powder supply device, a screw material arranged in a barrel is driven to rotate, so that the powder raw material introduced into the barrel at the introduction portion is conveyed to the discharge portion along the barrel axis direction. Then, it has a configuration that is supplied to the outside of the barrel at the discharge portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The space between the introduction part and the discharge part in the barrel is a compression part. In this compression part, the flight distance of the screw is narrowed compared to other parts, so that the powder raw material to be conveyed is consolidated. Processing is performed.

  On the outer periphery of the barrel in the compression portion, a deaeration pressure-tight portion is provided that degasses the powder raw material and enhances the consolidation effect. The deaeration dense part includes a duct communicating with the compression part inside the barrel from the outer peripheral side of the barrel, and deaeration means for applying a negative pressure to the powder raw material passing through the compression part inside the barrel through the duct. In this way, by applying a negative pressure to the powder raw material that passes through the compression part inside the barrel from the barrel outer peripheral side, the gas contained in the powder raw material can be sucked and removed, and the consolidation effect Can be increased. Thereby, the quantitative property in the supply of the powder raw material can be enhanced by the powder supply device.

Japanese Patent No. 3386326

  In recent years, higher quantitativeness has been demanded in the supply of powder raw materials using such a powder supply apparatus. In addition, the target of powder raw materials handled by such powder supply devices is diversified, and it is possible to supply powder raw materials while ensuring quantitativeness and uniformity for powder raw materials with various characteristics. There is a need to do. Moreover, it is not limited to the powder supply apparatus having a configuration using a screw, and it is required to ensure quantitativeness and uniformity in powder supply apparatuses having various configurations.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a configuration in which a negative pressure is applied to the powder raw material from the outer peripheral side of the barrel is employed. Therefore, a negative pressure can be reliably applied to the powder raw material passing through the barrel outer peripheral side. However, since negative pressure is applied from the barrel outer peripheral side, sufficient negative pressure cannot be applied to the powder raw material on the barrel central side (that is, in the vicinity of the screw shaft), and a sufficient consolidation effect is obtained. It may not be possible. Therefore, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that sufficient quantitative property (that is, uniformity of bulk density) in supplying the powder raw material may not be obtained.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and to provide a powder supply device capable of enhancing quantitativeness in powder supply by supplying and supplying a powder raw material along a powder transport passage. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a powder supply apparatus that conveys and supplies a powder raw material, the storage container storing the powder raw material, the inlet connected to the storage container, and the powder raw material. A powder transport passage having a discharge port to be discharged, and a powder transport means for transporting the powder raw material taken into the powder transport passage from the introduction port along the powder transport passage and discharging from the discharge port And a negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure into the powder transport passage through the discharge port of the powder transport passage.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a resistance member that has an opening through which the powder raw material in the powder transport passage passes and that provides the resistance to the powder raw material in the conveying direction. A powder supply apparatus is provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the barrel for forming the powder transport passage in the internal space, and the powder transport means that is disposed in the internal space of the barrel and transports the powder raw material in the axial direction by being driven to rotate. The powder supply according to the second aspect, wherein the powder raw material filling space is provided in the barrel, adjacent to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the resistance member and free from the flight of the screw. Providing equipment.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of discharge blades are disposed at the discharge port of the barrel, are driven to rotate about the axis of the screw, and have a surface inclined with respect to the cross section in the axial direction of the screw. Is provided as a resistance member, and the plurality of discharge blades are inclined by rotation of the plurality of discharge blades while providing resistance to the powder raw material in the filling space conveyed in the axial direction of the screw. The powder supply apparatus according to the third aspect is provided, in which a thrust toward the discharge port is applied to the powder material to discharge the powder material from the discharge port of the barrel.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, at the lower part of the discharge port of the barrel, the discharge blade is disposed such that the front end portion in the rotation direction of the discharge vane is located in the barrel and the rear end portion in the rotation direction is located outside the barrel. The powder supply apparatus according to the fourth aspect, in which the blades are disposed across the outlet of the barrel.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when viewed from the axial direction of the screw, the plurality of discharge blades are arranged so that the edge of one discharge blade adjacent in the rotation direction overlaps the other discharge blade. The powder supply apparatus according to the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect is provided.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, any one of the second to sixth aspects is provided, wherein the resistance member is disposed so as to cover substantially all of the powder transport passage when projected in the transport direction. The powder supply apparatus described in 1. is provided.

  According to the present invention, the powder supply device is provided with negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure to the powder raw material in the powder transport passage through the discharge port of the powder transport passage. Therefore, the negative pressure can be applied uniformly to the powder raw material passing through the powder transport passage regardless of the outer peripheral side or the central side of the passage, and the gas in the powder raw material can be sucked and removed. Therefore, the uniformity of the bulk density of the supplied powder raw material can be improved, and the quantitativeness can be improved in the powder supply.

Sectional drawing of the powder supply apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention Side view of powder supply device of embodiment 1 Sectional drawing of the powder supply apparatus of Embodiment 1 Front view of the discharge vanes (view along arrow AA in FIG. 3) Side view of discharge blade Front view of the discharge blade of Modification 1 Side view of modified example 1 discharge vane Front view of discharge blade of modification 2 Side view of modified example 2 discharge vane Front view of discharge blade of modification 3 Side view of modified example 3 discharge vane Sectional drawing of the powder supply apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention Sectional drawing of the powder supply apparatus concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. Connection configuration diagram of transport pipe and discharge casing according to modification

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The configuration of the powder supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the apparatus configuration diagrams shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a cross-sectional view as seen from the front side of the powder supply apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the powder supply apparatus 1 includes a hopper 2, an agitator 3, an introduction casing 4, a screw 5, a barrel 6, and a discharge casing 7.

  In the powder supply apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, for example, a powder or granular material having a particle size distribution of 0.1 μm to several tens of μm is handled as a powder raw material. Such powder raw materials are used in various technical fields such as fine ceramics, metal materials, polymer materials, batteries / electronic materials, composite materials, pharmaceutical materials, food materials, etc., such as electronics, energy, medicine, and food. Inorganic and organic fine powders are targeted. Moreover, the powder raw material may be a case in which a plurality of types of powder raw materials (powder materials) are mixed.

  The hopper 2 is a device that supplies powder raw material to an introduction casing 4 that is communicated in the lower portion of the drawing, with the powder raw material being introduced through an opening that opens upward in the drawing. The hopper 2 is releasably connected to the introduction casing 4. For example, the hopper 2 can be separated from the introduction casing 4 during maintenance such as cleaning.

  As described above, the introduction casing 4 is disposed below the hopper 2 and communicated with the first zone of the powder raw material in the barrel 6 so that the powder raw material can be introduced. Has a function as a storage container for the powder raw material for continuously introducing. The detailed configuration of the barrel 6 will be described later.

  The agitator 3 is an apparatus for stirring the powder raw material so that partial aggregation such as a bridge does not occur in the powder raw material introduced into the introduction casing 4. Specifically, the agitator 3 is disposed in the introduction casing 4 and is driven to rotate around a horizontal rotation axis so as to agitate the powder raw material, and the agitator 3 is introduced. And an agitator driving device 32 that is arranged outside the casing 4 and rotates the plurality of stirring members 31 integrally. In addition, the lower surface of the stirring space 41 in the introduction casing 4 serves as a rotation locus of the stirring member 31 so that the powder raw material in the introduction casing 4 is efficiently stirred by the stirring member 31 that is rotationally driven. It is formed as a substantially circumferential surface along (see FIG. 2).

  In the introduction casing 4, a powder raw material introduction space having a substantially U-shaped cross section whose upper part communicates with the stirring space 41 is provided at a lower portion of the stirring space 41 in which the stirring member 31 of the agitator 3 is rotated. 61 is formed. In the first embodiment, a part that defines the introduction space 61 (hereinafter referred to as a barrel casing 62) is a part of the barrel 6. Further, a powder raw material transfer pipe 63 is connected to the end of the barrel casing 62 so as to communicate with the barrel casing 62. That is, in the first embodiment, the barrel 6 includes a barrel casing 62 that forms an introduction space 61 below the stirring space 41 of the introduction casing 4, and a cylindrical conveyance that extends in communication with the barrel casing 62. The tube 63 is constituted. In the first embodiment, a case where the barrel casing 62 is formed integrally with a part of the introduction casing 4 will be described as an example. However, instead of such a case, the introduction casing 4 And the barrel casing 62 may be formed as separate members.

  The barrel 6 is generally formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the barrel casing 62 is opened at the top so that the introduction space 61 and the stirring space 41 are communicated with each other. In the first embodiment, the substantially cylindrical internal space of the barrel 6 serves as a powder transport passage through which the powder raw material is transported. A screw 5 is disposed in the barrel 6. The screw 5 has a screw shaft 51 and a flight 52 formed on the peripheral surface of the screw shaft 51, and a desired clearance is ensured to the extent that the outer peripheral end of the flight 52 does not contact the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 6. In this state, the screw 5 is rotationally driven in the barrel 6 (that is, the barrel casing 62 and the transport pipe 63).

  The end 51a of the screw shaft 51 of the screw 5 is disposed so as to penetrate the side surface in the axial direction of the barrel casing 62. A screw drive device 57 that rotates the end 51 a of the screw shaft 51 is provided on the side surface of the barrel casing 62. The screw drive device 57 includes a drive motor 58 (see FIG. 2) and a gear box 59 that rotates the screw 5 by converting the drive force of the drive motor 58 into a predetermined rotation amount. In the first embodiment, the screw 5 and the screw driving device 57 are an example of a powder conveying unit that conveys the powder raw material through the powder conveying passage.

  The downstream end portion of the conveying pipe 63 in the barrel 6 (that is, the downstream end portion of the powder transport passage) is a discharge port 63a through which the powder raw material is discharged from the barrel 6, and this discharge port 63a is It communicates with the discharge casing 7.

  Below the discharge casing 7, a receiving tank 71, which is a container for receiving the powder raw material discharged into the discharge casing 7 through the discharge port 63 a of the transport pipe 63, is provided. A suction pipe 72 is connected to the upper side of the discharge casing 7, and the suction pipe 72 is connected to a negative pressure generator 73. The negative pressure generating device 73 is a device (negative pressure generating means) that generates a negative pressure that acts in the discharge casing 7 through the suction pipe 72, and has a function of generating a negative pressure, such as an ejector, a vacuum pump, or a blower. The apparatus which has is used. The negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator 73 acts on the powder raw material in the transport pipe 63 through the suction pipe 72 and further acts on the powder raw material in the transport pipe 63 through the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63. That pressure is set. A filter 74 is provided at the connection portion between the discharge casing 7 and the suction pipe 72 to prevent the powder raw material from entering the suction pipe 72. Further, the discharge casing 7 is provided with a pressure gauge 75 for detecting a negative pressure.

  Each component in the powder supply apparatus 1 is supported by a scale 8. The scale 8 has a function of measuring the weight of the powder raw material held in the powder supply device 1, and by measuring the weight reduced by the conveyance of the powder raw material, the powder supply device 1 The powder raw material is quantitatively supplied.

  Next, in the powder supply apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the relationship between the screw 5 and the barrel 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the barrel 6 is roughly divided into two zones in the conveying direction. Specifically, as the two zones, the first zone S1 into which the powder raw material is introduced and the powder raw material conveyed from the first zone S1 are compressed, and the powder raw material is moved out of the barrel 6. It is divided into a second zone S2 for discharging. Note that the second zone S2 can also be said to be a zone in which the powder raw material is generally transported in the transport pipe 63.

  The first zone S1 is mainly configured by the barrel casing 62 and the portion of the screw 5 surrounded by the barrel casing 62, but may be a case where a part of the transport pipe 63 is included. In the first zone S 1, the powder raw material stirred by the agitator 3 is introduced into the introduction space 61 formed between the barrel casing 62 and the screw 5 through the hopper 2 and the introduction casing 4. .

  The second zone S <b> 2 is mainly configured by a transport pipe 63 and a portion of the screw 5 surrounded by the transport pipe 63. In the second zone S2, the entire periphery of the screw 5 is surrounded by the transport pipe 63, and resistance is applied to the powder raw material to be transported as will be described later, thereby applying a compressing action to the powder raw material. Is done. By compressing the powder raw material in the second zone S2, it is possible to quantify and make uniform the powder raw material being conveyed.

  Further, the powder raw material is quantitatively transported toward the discharge port 63a in the transport pipe 63, and is discharged into the discharge casing 7 from the discharge port 63a. In the first embodiment, the pitch and angle of the flight 52 of the screw 5 (the angle formed by the axial direction and the flight 52) are the same in the first zone S1 and the second zone S2.

  In the second zone S2, a space in which the flight 52 of the screw 5 is not formed (that is, a space in which the flight 52 does not exist) 65 is disposed adjacent to the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63. In this space 65, the powder raw material conveyed by the rotational drive of the screw 5 is subjected to a compression action by applying a negative pressure as will be described later, and further applying resistance, so that the powder in the space 65 The bulk density of the body material can be made uniform. Therefore, this space 65 can be said to be a powder raw material filling space 65.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63 is provided with a plurality of discharge blades 81 for discharging the powder material in the discharge pipe 63 from the discharge port 63a. Here, the details of the discharge blade 81 are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. 4A is a view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 </ b> A, and 4 </ b> B, the discharge blade 81 is formed of a plate-like member, and is fixed to the end of the screw 5 on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the screw shaft 51. It extends more radially. Each discharge blade 81 is formed with an outer portion inclined with respect to the central portion in the radial direction, that is, each discharge blade 81 is inclined with respect to a cross section in the axial direction of the transport pipe 63. have. Specifically, each discharge blade 81 is rotationally driven integrally with the screw shaft 51 around the axis of the screw shaft 51 as a rotation center, and is conveyed to the surrounding powder raw material by being rotationally driven ( The outer portion is inclined in a direction to give thrust in the (discharge) direction.

  In the first embodiment, for example, eight discharge vanes 81 are provided at equal intervals. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the discharge blade 81 is located in the transport pipe 63 and the other part is located outside the transport pipe 63. More specifically, the rotational direction front end portion 81 a of each discharge blade 81 is positioned inside the transport pipe 63, and the rotational direction rear end portion 81 b is positioned outside the transport pipe 63. In FIG. 4A, the rotation direction of each discharge blade 81 is the counterclockwise direction shown in the figure.

  As described above, the plurality of discharge blades 81 are provided, and each discharge blade 81 has an inclined portion, so that the powder raw material in the space 65 is moved in the transport direction by the inclined portion of the discharge blade 81. The powder raw material can be discharged stably from the discharge port 63a.

  Further, since the discharge blade 81 is fixed to the screw shaft 51 and is rotationally driven by the screw shaft 51, a dedicated drive device for rotating the discharge blade 81 needs to be provided. There is no.

  Further, since a part of the discharge blade 81 is positioned outside the transport pipe 63, the powder raw material in the transport pipe 63 can be efficiently discharged.

  Moreover, the dispersion effect of a powder raw material can be heightened when the edge of the discharge blade 81 driven to rotate contacts the powder raw material.

  Moreover, each discharge blade 81 can give resistance to the powder raw material to be transported, and in particular, can obtain an effect of enhancing the compression action on the powder raw material transported into the space 65. By applying such resistance, the bulk density of the powder raw material in the space 65 can be made uniform, and the quantitativeness and uniformity of the powder supply in the powder supply apparatus 1 can be improved. As shown in FIG. 4A, an opening portion 82 that allows passage of the powder material is formed between the discharge blades 81 adjacent in the rotation direction. However, the powder raw material can be conveyed. In the first embodiment, each discharge blade well 81 is an example of a resistance member that gives resistance in the conveyance direction to the powder raw material.

  An operation of conveying and supplying the powder raw material in the powder supply apparatus 1 of the first embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

  First, when a powder raw material is introduced into the hopper 2, the charged powder raw material is introduced into the introduction casing 4. In the stirring space 41 of the introduction casing 4, the plurality of stirring members 31 are integrally rotated by the agitator driving device 32 to stir the powder raw material, and partial agglomeration such as a bridge is suppressed. The At the same time, the powder raw material is introduced into the first zone S 1 in the barrel 6.

  In the first zone S <b> 1, the screw 5 is disposed in the barrel casing 62, and the introduced powder material is introduced into the space between the flights 52 of the screw 5. The screw 5 is rotationally driven by a screw driving device 57, and the powder raw material introduced between the flights 52 is conveyed along the axial direction by the rotational driving of the screw 5 and heads toward the second zone S2.

  In the second zone S2, the powder raw material conveyed from the first zone S1 is conveyed along the axial direction by the rotational drive of the screw 5. In the second zone S2, a plurality of discharge blades 81 are provided at the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, so that the discharge blades 81 become a resistance and can compress the powder raw material being transported. . By compressing the powder raw material in this way, the bulk density of the powder raw material can be kept uniform in the space 65.

  Further, the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator 73 acts on the powder raw material in the space 65 through the discharge port 63 a of the transport pipe 63. By this negative pressure action, the gas contained in the powder raw material is sucked and removed, and the bulk density of the powder raw material can be kept more uniform. In particular, since a configuration in which a negative pressure is applied through the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63 is adopted, the powder raw material located on the outer peripheral side of the transport pipe 63 and the powder raw material located on the center side are uniform. It becomes possible to apply a negative pressure to. Therefore, the negative pressure action can be made uniform with respect to the powder raw material in the space 65, and the uniformity of the bulk density can be further improved.

  Further, the powder raw material is dispersed so as to be cut off by bringing the edge of the discharge blade 81 into contact with the powder raw material by rotational driving of the plurality of discharge blades 81 provided at the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63. Can do. At the same time, the outward thrust of the discharge port 63a is applied to the powder raw material at the inclined portion of each discharge blade 81. Since a part of the discharge blade 81 is located outside the discharge port 63a, the powder raw material is discharged from the discharge port 63a in a state of being uniformly dispersed by the action of the axial thrust and the radial centrifugal force. Is quantitatively discharged into the casing 7. Note that the weight of the powder raw material held by the powder supply apparatus 1 is measured by the balance 8, and the quantitative measurement of the powder supply is measured and confirmed by the balance 8.

  According to the powder supply apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator 73 is applied to the powder raw material through the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63. By this negative pressure action, the gas contained in the powder raw material is sucked and removed, and the bulk density of the powder raw material can be kept uniform. In addition, since a plurality of discharge blades 81 are provided at the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, resistance can be given to the powder raw material in the space 65, and compaction of the powder raw material can be stably performed. It can be carried out. Further, the powder raw material can be effectively discharged from the discharge port 63a while dispersing the powder raw material by applying an outward thrust to the powder material at the inclined portion of the discharge blade 81. Therefore, the quantitative property and uniformity of the powder raw material conveyed and supplied can be improved.

(Modification of discharge blade)
In the powder supply apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the case where the discharge blade 81 having the form shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is adopted as an example has been described. However, the form of the discharge blade is limited to such a form. Not. Several modified examples of the discharge blade will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Modification 1)
5A and 5B show a discharge blade 181 according to the first modification. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the form according to the first modification, the disk-shaped main body 180 formed around the rotation center and fixed to the screw shaft 51, and the radial shape from the outer periphery of the main body 180. And a plurality of (e.g., 8) discharge vanes 181 formed at regular intervals.

  Each discharge blade 181 is formed such that the inner peripheral width and the outer peripheral width are substantially the same. Each discharge blade 181 is similar to the discharge blade 81 in FIGS. 4A and 4B in that it has a surface that is inclined with respect to the cross section of the transport pipe 63 in the axial direction. Further, the front end portion 181 a in the rotation direction of each discharge blade 181 is positioned in the transport pipe 63, and the rear end portion 181 b in the rotation direction is positioned outside the transport pipe 63.

  The discharge blade 181 having such a configuration is rotationally driven with the rotation of the screw shaft 51, and thrusts the discharge port 63a outward with respect to the powder material on an inclined surface while applying resistance to the powder material. Can be given. In addition, a relatively large gap, that is, an opening portion 182 can be formed in the outer peripheral portion between the respective discharge blades 181, so that the dischargeability of the powder raw material can be improved.

(Modification 2)
Next, FIGS. 6A and 6B show a discharge blade 281 according to the second modification. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the embodiment according to the second modification, a disk-shaped main body 280 formed around the rotation center and fixed to the screw shaft 51, and a radial shape from the outer periphery of the main body 280. And a plurality of (e.g., eight) discharge vanes 281 formed at regular intervals.

  Each discharge blade 281 is formed in a generally fan shape having a width on the outer peripheral side larger than a width on the inner peripheral side. In addition, regarding the point where each discharge blade 281 is inclined and the point where the rotational direction front end portion 281a is positioned inside the transport pipe 63 and the rotational direction rear end portion 281b is positioned outside the transport pipe 63 This is the same as the first modification.

  In the discharge blade 281 having such a configuration, the opening portion 282 formed between the discharge blades 281 adjacent in the rotation direction is substantially constant from the center side of the transfer pipe 63 to the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the transfer pipe 63. It is formed with a width. Therefore, the negative pressure can be applied uniformly to the powder raw material in the transport pipe 63 through the respective opening portions 282, and the uniformity of the bulk density can be improved. Further, in the discharge blade 281, resistance can be effectively applied to the powder raw material not only at the center side portion (disk-shaped main body portion 280 (resistance application region)) but also at the outer peripheral side portion. In particular, resistance is effectively applied to the powder raw material conveyed in the conveying pipe 63 by the rotational drive of the screw 5 in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the conveying pipe 63 (that is, the outer peripheral side portion of the discharge blade 281). The compression effect on the powder raw material can be enhanced. Further, each discharge blade 281 can secure a large area in contact with the powder raw material at the outer peripheral side portion where the rotational speed is the fastest, so that a large thrust and centrifugal force can be applied to the powder raw material, Effectiveness and discharge can be enhanced.

(Modification 3)
Next, FIGS. 7A and 7B show a discharge blade 381 according to the third modification. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the embodiment according to the third modification, a disk-shaped main body 380 formed around the rotation center and fixed to the screw shaft 51, and a radial shape from the outer periphery of the main body 380 And a plurality of (for example, eight) discharge vanes 381 formed at regular intervals.

  Each discharge vane 381 is formed in a substantially T shape having a width on the outer peripheral side larger than a width on the inner peripheral side. In addition, regarding the point that each discharge blade 381 is inclined and the point that the rotation direction front end portion 381a is positioned inside the transport pipe 63 and the rotation direction rear end portion 381b is positioned outside the transport pipe 63. This is the same as the first and second modifications.

  In the discharge blade 381 having such a configuration, resistance can be effectively applied to the powder raw material not only at the central portion but also at the outer peripheral portion, and the compression effect on the powder raw material can be enhanced. At the same time, a large thrust and centrifugal force can be applied to the powder raw material, and the dispersion effect and the discharge performance can be enhanced.

  Further, the interval between the edges of adjacent discharge vanes 381 (that is, the opening portion 382) is set so that the outer peripheral side is smaller than the inner peripheral side. Therefore, while ensuring a space for the powder raw material to pass through at a portion on the inner peripheral side where the distance between the edges is relatively large, the portion at the outer peripheral side where the distance between the edges is relatively small is compared with the powder raw material. Resistance, thrust, and centrifugal force. Therefore, it is possible to improve the quantitativeness and uniformity in the powder supply while performing the compression action on the powder raw material. Further, each opening portion 282 is formed to be the largest at an intermediate position between the center of the transport pipe 63 and the inner peripheral surface. Thereby, a negative pressure can be effectively applied to the powder raw material in the transport pipe 63 through the respective opening portions 282, and the bulk density can be made uniform.

  In the discharge blades of the above-described modifications 1 to 3, a form in which the discharge blades are arranged so as not to overlap each other when viewed from the axial direction of the transport pipe 63 is employed. You may employ | adopt the form that it arrange | positions so that the edge of one discharge blade which adjoins may overlap with the other discharge blade. In such an overlapping form, the gap between the discharge blades when viewed from the axial direction (referred to as “first gap”) can be greatly reduced or no gap can be present. However, since each discharge blade has an inclined surface, when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction, the gap between the discharge blades (that is, between the edges in the axial direction of adjacent discharge blades). Distance: “second gap”).

  For example, the resistance given to the powder raw material can be increased by setting the first gap small, and it is necessary for discharging (passing) the powder raw material by setting the second gap large. A sufficient gap area can be secured and the dischargeability of the powder raw material can be improved. In this way, by adjusting the first gap and the second gap, the resistance, thrust, and centrifugal force applied to the powder raw material can be adjusted, and the quantitativeness and uniformity according to the required specifications Can be obtained. In particular, when each discharge blade is projected from the transport direction, the discharge blade is disposed so as to cover substantially all of the powder transport passage formed in the transport pipe 63 (that is, the first gap is substantially covered). Therefore, it is possible to effectively impart resistance to the powder raw material while applying a negative pressure to the powder raw material through the second gap. Therefore, the interaction between the negative pressure action and the resistance application can enhance the effect of uniformizing the bulk density of the powder raw material, and can improve the quantitativeness in powder conveyance.

  Thus, it is preferable to comprise the discharge blade which can exhibit a compression action and a dispersion | distribution action by the plate-shaped member which has a wide width dimension with respect to the thickness dimension. Further, the upstream surface in the transport direction of the discharge blade is formed as a surface orthogonal to the axial direction of the transport pipe 63, and the downstream surface in the transport direction is formed as a surface inclined with respect to the axial direction. Also good. In such a discharge vane, resistance can be effectively applied to the powder raw material on the orthogonal surface upstream in the conveying direction, and the powder raw material can be applied to the inclined surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction. On the other hand, thrust can be effectively applied.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, the structure of the powder supply apparatus 101 concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in the powder supply device of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 8, in the powder supply apparatus 101, the configuration of the screw and the barrel is mainly illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the powder supply apparatus 101 includes a first screw 151 disposed in the barrel casing 62 and a second screw 154 coupled to the first screw 151 and disposed in the transport pipe 63. A screw 105 is provided, and a barrel 6 in which the screw 105 is disposed. The first screw 151 has a screw shaft 152 and a flight 153 formed on the peripheral surface of the screw shaft 152, and the second screw 154 is formed on the peripheral surface of the screw shaft 155 and the screw shaft 155. Flight 156.

  The barrel 6 includes a barrel casing 62 and a transport pipe 63 that is communicated with and extends to the barrel casing 62. In the barrel 6, the 1st screw 151 is mainly arrange | positioned in the barrel casing 62, and this part becomes 1st zone S1. The second screw 154 is mainly disposed in the transport pipe 63, and this portion is the second zone S2. The transport pipe 63 is formed to have a constant diameter along the transport direction.

  In the first zone S1, as shown in FIG. 8, the angle of the flight 153 is set to be relatively small, and the pitch of the flight 153 is set wide so that the powder material is introduced more uniformly between the flights 153. To be.

  On the other hand, in the second zone S2, the angle of the flight 156 is set larger than the angle in the first zone S1, and the pitch of the flight 156 is set narrower than the pitch in the first zone S1. In the second zone S2, the angle and pitch of the flight 156 are set in this way, whereby the powder raw material conveyed along with the rotation of the screw 105 is compressed. By compressing the powder raw material in the second zone S2, the powder raw material between the flights 156 is consolidated, and the powder raw material being conveyed can be quantified and made uniform. Note that the space adjacent to the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63 is provided as a space 65 where there is no flight, and the discharge port 63a is provided with a plurality of discharge blades 81 as described above. This is the same as the first embodiment.

  In such a powder supply apparatus 101 of the second embodiment, the compression effect on the powder raw material can be enhanced in the second zone S2. Further, the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator 73 can be applied to the powder raw material in the space 65 through the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, and the bulk density can be improved together with the improvement of the compression effect. Uniformity can be achieved. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of discharge blades 81, the bulk density of the powder raw material conveyed into the space 65 can be made more uniform, and the quantitativeness and uniformity in powder supply can be improved. Can do.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, the structure of the powder supply apparatus 201 concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those in the powder supply device of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the powder supply apparatus 201 of this Embodiment 3, the coil screw 251 is provided as a screw. The coil screw 251 includes, for example, a coil flight 252 formed in a spiral shape having a square cross-sectional shape, and a rotational driving force transmission shaft 253 fixed to the end of the coil flight 252 on the upstream side in the powder material conveyance direction. I have. The rotational driving force transmission shaft 253 is connected to the screw driving device 57 to transmit the rotational driving force, and thereby the coil flight 252 is rotationally driven. In addition, although the case where the coil flight 252 has a square cross section is described as an example, other cross sectional shapes (for example, a circular cross section, etc.) may be employed. In the third embodiment, the coil screw 251 and the screw drive device 57 are an example of a powder conveying unit that conveys the powder raw material.

  The plurality of discharge blades 81 installed in the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63 is one end (downstream) of a discharge blade shaft 282 disposed on the spiral center of the coil flight 252 (that is, the central axis of the transport pipe 63). It is fixed to the side edge. The other end (upstream end) of the discharge blade shaft 282 is connected to the end of the rotational driving force transmission shaft 253, and the discharge blade shaft 282 is rotationally driven together with the rotational driving force transmission shaft 253. It is configured as follows. The shaft diameter of the discharge blade shaft 282 is smaller than the inner diameter of the coil flight 252.

  In the powder supply apparatus 201, the coil screw 251 is employed, so that the powder raw material having the characteristic that it easily adheres to the surface of a member such as a screw shaft due to the influence of humidity or the like is applied to the coil screw 251. Can be suppressed, and stable conveyance can be performed.

  On the other hand, in such a coil screw 251, the compression action by a screw itself becomes low compared with the screw shaft 5 etc. on the characteristic of the helical coil flight 252. FIG. However, by providing a plurality of discharge blades 81 at the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, it is possible to impart resistance to the powder raw material and enhance the compression action.

  As described above, the coil screw 251 that can suppress the adhesion of the powder raw material due to the influence of humidity or the like is employed, and the decrease in the compression action due to the characteristics of the coil screw 251 is compensated by the provision of resistance by the plurality of discharge blades 81 and the discharge By imparting thrust with the blades 81, it is possible to enhance the dispersion effect and dischargeability of the powder raw material, and to realize quantitative and uniform conveyance of the powder raw material. Furthermore, since a negative pressure is applied to the powder raw material through the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, it is possible to make the bulk density of the powder raw material uniform by adding resistance by the discharge blade 81. It is possible to realize quantitative and uniform conveyance of the powder raw material effectively.

  Further, since the discharge blade shaft 282 for rotating the discharge blade 81 is arranged inside the coil flight 252, it is possible to suppress the powder raw material from staying in the vicinity of the central axis of the transfer pipe 63, and the powder It is possible to improve the quantitativeness and uniformity in the conveyance of the raw material.

  In each of the above embodiments, if a plurality of discharge blades 81 are provided at the discharge port 63a of the transport pipe 63, a thrust is applied and distributed while a resistance is applied to the powder raw material and a compression action is applied. Therefore, the hopper 2, the agitator 3, the introduction casing 4, the barrel 6, the discharge casing 7, etc. can take forms other than those described above.

  Further, the screw 5 has been described by taking the configuration of a single thread as an example, but various specifications may be adopted for the number of threads. In addition, as described above, various types of screws such as a coil screw can be employed.

  Moreover, the powder supply apparatus 1 is provided with a measuring device for measuring the weight of the powder raw material in the apparatus, and the weight of the powder raw material in the apparatus is reduced by the powder raw material being transported and discharged outside the apparatus. It is good also as a powder supply apparatus which measures this and makes the amount of weight reduction quantitative.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the discharge blade is provided and the resistance is given to the powder raw material conveyed in the conveying pipe has been described as an example. However, the present invention is limited to such a case. Alternatively, a form in which no discharge blade is provided may be used. If the negative pressure is applied to the powder raw material from the discharge port of the conveying pipe, the gas removal effect due to the negative pressure action can be obtained, and the bulk density uniformity effect of the powder raw material can be obtained. it can. However, the powder raw material can be more effectively consolidated by applying resistance to the powder raw material in accordance with the negative pressure action.

  As the resistance member that gives resistance to the powder raw material, various forms of members can be employed in addition to the discharge vanes described as an example in the above-described embodiment. For example, a disk-shaped member having an outer diameter that substantially matches the inner diameter of the transfer pipe and one or more openings that allow passage of the powder raw material are formed as the resistance member. It may be adopted.

  The resistance member does not necessarily need to be driven to rotate. For example, a plurality of rod-like members that are fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the transport pipe and extend toward the center of the transport pipe may be employed as the resistance member. .

  A plurality of discharge blades (discharge blade group) may be arranged at different positions in the axial direction (conveyance direction) of the screw. In such a configuration, in the discharge blade group arranged at a different position in the axial direction of the screw, by setting the position of the discharge blade in the rotation direction so that the other discharge blade is located in one opening portion, It is possible to reduce the opening area when projected from the transport direction or to substantially eliminate the opening area (that is, to cover all the openings).

  Here, a modified example of the powder supply device of each of the above embodiments will be described.

  First, in the powder supply apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, a discharge port 63 a that is an end portion of a cylindrical transport pipe 63 that constitutes the barrel 6 is connected to a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical discharge casing 7 to communicate with each other. A monstrous configuration is adopted. In such a configuration, the discharge port 63 a is positioned on the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical discharge casing 7. Therefore, the configuration in which a part of the plurality of discharge blades 81 provided in the discharge port 63a is positioned in the transport pipe 63 and the other part is positioned outside the transport pipe 63 is realized at least in the lower part of the discharge port 63a. It only has to be done. Since a part of the discharge blade 81 is positioned outside the transport pipe 63 at least at the lower part of the discharge port 63a, the powder raw material can be discharged from the discharge port 63a while being dispersed by the action of thrust and centrifugal force.

  Here, FIG. 10 shows a connection configuration between the transport pipe 363 and the discharge casing 307 according to the modification. In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the positions of the discharge port 363 a that is the end of the transport pipe 363 and the central axis S of the discharge casing 307 can be adjusted. Specifically, a side tube 372 is provided on the side surface of the cylindrical discharge casing 307, and the discharge tube 363 is inserted into the side tube 372, and the insertion length thereof is adjusted, whereby the central axis of the discharge casing 307 is adjusted. The position of the discharge port 363a with respect to S can be adjusted. In this modified example, a configuration in which the coil screw 251 of the third embodiment is used as a screw is taken as an example.

  In such a configuration, since the position of the discharge port 363a with respect to the central axis of the discharge casing 307 can be adjusted, it is possible to improve the discharge performance by adjusting the discharge position of the powder raw material. Further, the discharge port 363 a of the transport pipe 363 can be formed in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the transport pipe 363. Therefore, each discharge blade 81 can be configured to be partially exposed to the outside of the transport pipe 363 regardless of its rotational position, and the powder material can be discharged well.

  Although a description has been given centering on the form in which a part of each discharge blade 81 is located outside the transport pipe 63 and the other part is located in the transport pipe 63, all the discharge blades 81 are all located in the transport pipe 63. Such a configuration may be adopted. Even if all the discharge blades 81 are disposed in the transport pipe 63, if they are disposed at a position close to the discharge port 63a, the discharge performance can be improved as compared with the case where the discharge blades are not provided.

  In the above description, the case where the powder supply device has a single-shaft configuration including one screw has been described as an example. However, a two-axis configuration including two screws may be adopted, and three or more shafts may be used. A configuration may be adopted.

  In each of the above embodiments, the powder supply device using a screw has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In the present invention, a negative pressure is applied to the powder transport passage through the discharge port of the powder transport passage with respect to an apparatus in which the powder raw material is transported by the powder transport means along the powder transport passage. The effect of can be obtained. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus having a configuration in which the bulk density of the powder raw material conveyed through the powder transport passage is changed without being limited to the configuration using the screw.

(Example)
Here, in the powder supply apparatus of the present invention, by applying a negative pressure to the powder raw material in the powder transport passage through the discharge port of the powder transport passage, the uniformity of the bulk density is increased, and the powder The result of having confirmed the effect of this invention that can improve the quantitative property in supply using the measurement using an Example is demonstrated.

  As an example of the powder supply apparatus of the present invention, using the powder supply apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 1 and the like) described above, the degree of variation in the supply amount of the powder raw material (that is, quantitativeness) Measurements were made. Sodium bicarbonate was used as a powder raw material.

  First, as a comparative example of the present embodiment, in a state where no negative pressure is generated by the negative pressure generating device 73, that is, in a state where the pressure gauge 75 of the discharge casing 7 is normal pressure (atmospheric pressure), The powder raw material was conveyed by the supply apparatus 1. In this conveyance, the weight (kg) of the powder raw material supplied to the receiving tank 71 through the discharge port 63a of the conveyance pipe 63 was measured for a predetermined time (2 minutes), and this measurement was performed three times in different time zones. .

  Next, as a present Example, a negative pressure is generated with the negative pressure generator 73, and the powder raw material is conveyed with the powder supply apparatus 1 in the state which made the pressure gauge 75 of the discharge casing 7 -50mmAq. Went. In this conveyance, the weight (kg) of the powder raw material supplied to the receiving tank 71 through the discharge port 63a of the conveyance pipe 63 was measured for a predetermined time (2 minutes), and this measurement was performed three times in different time zones. .

The measurement results of Examples and Comparative Examples were as follows.
(Comparative example)
Pressure of the pressure gauge 75: Atmospheric pressure Transport time: 2 minutes Powder supply amount: 3.570 kg (first time)
3.552kg (second time)
3.561kg (third time)
(Example)
Pressure of pressure gauge 75: −150 mmAq
Conveyance time: 2 minutes Powder supply amount: 3.781 kg (first time)
3.782 kg (second time)
3.781 kg (third time)

  Comparing the powder supply amount per predetermined time in the example and the comparative example, in the example in which the negative pressure was applied, the variation in the powder supply amount per predetermined time was clearly suppressed as compared with the comparative example. You can see that Also, it can be seen that the powder supply amount itself is increased in the example as compared with the comparative example.

  Although specific data is not shown, in this measurement, when the negative pressure is further increased, if a certain negative pressure is exceeded, the substantial sealing performance between the barrel 6 and the flight 52 of the screw shaft 51 ( (Airtightness) was lost, and quantitative supply could not be performed. Such a negative pressure limit varies depending on the size of the gap between the barrel 6 and the flight 52 of the screw shaft 51, the type of powder raw material, and the like. In addition, in the example using sodium bicarbonate, for example, it was confirmed that when a negative pressure exceeding −1500 mmAq is applied, loss of sealing performance occurs.

  It is to be noted that, by appropriately combining any of the above-described various embodiments, the effects possessed by them can be produced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder supply apparatus 2 Hopper 3 Agitator 4 Introducing casing 5 Screw 6 Barrel 7 Discharging casing 8 Common base 62 Barrel casing 63 Conveying pipe 71 Receiving tank 72 Suction piping 73 Negative pressure generating apparatus 74 Filter 81 Discharge vane 82 Opening part

Claims (7)

A powder supply apparatus for conveying and supplying a powder raw material,
A storage container for storing the powder raw material;
A powder transport passage having an inlet connected to the storage container and an outlet through which the powder raw material is discharged;
Powder conveying means for conveying the powder raw material taken from the introduction port into the powder transportation passage along the powder transportation passage and discharging it from the discharge port;
A powder supply apparatus comprising: negative pressure generating means for applying a negative pressure into the powder transport passage through the discharge port of the powder transport passage.   The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a resistance member that has an opening through which the powder raw material passes in the powder transport passage and that provides resistance to the conveyance direction with respect to the powder raw material is disposed. A barrel forming a powder transport passage in the internal space;
A screw that is disposed in the internal space of the barrel and is a powder conveying means for conveying the powder raw material in the axial direction by being driven to rotate;
The powder supply device according to claim 2, wherein a powder raw material filling space is provided in the barrel adjacent to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the resistance member and free of screw flight. A plurality of discharge vanes having a surface inclined with respect to a cross section in the axial direction of the screw are provided as resistance members, arranged at the discharge port of the barrel and driven to rotate about the axis of the screw.
The plurality of discharge blades provide resistance to the powder raw material in the filling space conveyed in the axial direction of the screw, while rotating the plurality of discharge blades to the powder raw material on an inclined surface. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the powder raw material is discharged from the discharge port of the barrel by applying a thrust outward of the discharge port.   In the lower part of the outlet of the barrel, the outlet blades are arranged across the outlet of the barrel so that the front end portion in the rotational direction of the outlet blade is located in the barrel and the rear end portion in the rotational direction is located outside the barrel. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein   The plurality of discharge blades are arranged so that an edge of one discharge blade adjacent to the rotation direction overlaps with the other discharge blade when viewed from the axial direction of the screw. Powder supply device.   The powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the resistance member is disposed so as to cover substantially all of the powder transport passage when projected in the transport direction.

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