JP2021155047A - Powder discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a powder discharge device for allowing various kinds of powder to discharge.SOLUTION: A powder discharge device 2 has a butterfly valve 4 having a valve element 12 for opening/closing a discharge port 28 of a powder storage container 26, driving means 6 arranged freely movably between an advanced position connected to the butterfly valve 4 so as to allow for rotation of the valve element 12 and a retreated position not connected to the butterfly valve 4, and moving means 8 moving the driving means 6 between the advanced position and the retreated position. When connected to the butterfly valve 4, the driving means 6 opens the discharge port 28 by rotating the valve element 12 by only a first opening θ1 from a closed position of closing the discharge port 28, and oscillatingly reciprocates the valve element 12 at a second opening θ2 smaller than the first opening θ1 or at an opening between a third opening θ3 larger than the first opening θ1 and the first opening θ1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a powder discharge device that discharges powder from a powder storage container.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a vibration butterfly valve as a powder discharge device. This vibrating butterfly valve vibrates a casing, a valve body that is rotatably mounted on the casing to open and close the discharge port of the powder storage container, an actuator that positions the valve body at a closed position and an arbitrary open position, and a valve body. It is equipped with a vibrator to make it.

Then, according to this vibration butterfly valve, the valve body is positioned at an arbitrary opening degree (for example, 10 to 15 degrees) by an actuator, and the valve body positioned at an arbitrary opening degree is vibrated by a vibrator to contain powder. Powder can be discharged from the container. That is, in the vibration butterfly valve, even if the opening degree is relatively small, the valve body is vibrated by the vibrator to stimulate the powder in the powder storage container to promote the discharge of the powder, and the valve body and the casing. The powder can be quantitatively discharged from the slight gap between the powder and the powder.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-50007

However, in the vibration butterfly valve described in Patent Document 1, depending on the properties of the powder, agglomeration or consolidation of the powder may occur due to the vibration of the valve body, and the powder from the powder container may be compacted. Discharge may be difficult.

An object of the present invention made in view of the above facts is to provide a powder discharge device capable of discharging a wide variety of powders.

The present invention provides the following powder discharge device in order to solve the above problems. That is, it is a powder discharge device that discharges powder from a powder storage container, and includes a butterfly valve including a valve body for opening and closing the discharge port of the powder storage container, and the valve body connected to the butterfly valve. A drive means that is freely arranged between a rotatable forward position and a retreat position that is not connected to the butterfly valve, and a retreat means that advances and retreats the drive means between the forward position and the retreat position. When the butterfly valve and the driving means are connected, the driving means rotates the valve body by a first opening degree from a closing position for closing the discharge port to open the discharge port. A powder that reciprocates the valve body between a second opening degree smaller than the first opening degree or a third opening degree larger than the first opening degree and the first opening degree. The present invention provides a discharge device.

Preferably, the drive means is connected to the tip of the first drive shaft via an actuator for rotating the valve body, a first drive shaft extending from the actuator, and a first spring coupling. The butterfly valve includes a second drive shaft and a drive side coupling connected to the tip of the second drive shaft via a second spring coupling, and the butterfly valve is a rotation extending from the peripheral edge of the valve body. A shaft and a driven side coupling connected to the rotating shaft are included, and when the driving means is positioned at the forward position, the driving side coupling and the driven side coupling are connected. The drive-side coupling has a locating pin extending in the axial direction and a plurality of drive-side coupling pieces arranged around the locating pin at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the driven-side coupling has the locating pin. It is desirable to have a main portion formed with a positioning hole into which the drive side is inserted, and a plurality of driven side fitting pieces that mesh with the plurality of driving side fitting pieces.

It is preferable that the tip end side portion of the locate pin is formed in a conical shape in which the diameter gradually decreases toward the tip end. It is convenient that a synthetic resin guide bush having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface is arranged in the positioning hole of the main portion of the driven side coupling. It is preferable that the inner peripheral surface of the synthetic resin guide bush is provided with a truncated cone-shaped portion in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface gradually decreases from one end in the axial direction toward the other end in the axial direction. A synthetic resin sleeve is attached to either one of the driving side coupling and the driven side coupling, and the synthetic resin sleeve is connected to the driving side coupling and the driven side coupling. At that time, it is desirable to have a plurality of auxiliary merging pieces located between the plurality of driving side merging pieces and the plurality of driven side merging pieces in the circumferential direction.

The driving means preferably includes holding means for holding the tip position of the driving side coupling at a predetermined position. The actuator is an electric actuator, and it is convenient that the driving means includes a closing means for positioning the valve body at the closing position when the supply of current to the actuator is stopped due to a power failure or the like. The valve body is preferably made of a material that elastically deforms when reciprocally swung by the driving means. It is desirable that one or more discharge promotion pieces extending upward are attached to the upper surface of the valve body.

In the powder discharge device of the present invention, the valve body of the butterfly valve is reciprocally swung between the first opening degree and the second opening degree smaller than the first opening degree, or the first opening degree. By reciprocating and swinging the valve body between the first opening and the third opening larger than the first opening, an impact is applied to the powder in the powder containing container from the valve body, and the powder is aggregated and compacted. Since the discharge of powder from the powder storage container is promoted while suppressing the occurrence of such substances, it is possible to discharge a wide variety of powders.

Further, the powder discharge device of the present invention includes a drive means that is freely arranged between a forward position that is connected to the butterfly valve and can rotate the valve body and a backward position that is not connected to the butterfly valve, and a forward position and a backward position. Since the driving means is provided with an advancing / retreating means for advancing / retreating the driving means to and from the position, the driving means does not need to be attached to the powder storage container, and the driving means can be arranged at an arbitrary powder discharging position. Therefore, according to the powder discharge device of the present invention, wiring and piping of the drive means can be performed at an arbitrary powder discharge position, so that it can be easily applied even when the powder storage container is mobile.

The front view of the powder discharge apparatus configured according to this invention. (A) A plan view of the butterfly valve shown in FIG. 1, and (b) a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. (A) A plan view of the powder discharge device in a state where the drive means is located in the retracted position, and (b) a plan view of the powder discharge device in a state where the drive means is located in the forward position. BB line arrow view of FIG. 1. (A) A perspective view of the drive-side coupling and the driven-side coupling shown in FIG. 1, and (b) a cross-sectional perspective view of the drive-side coupling and the driven-side coupling shown in FIG. (A) A perspective view of the drive-side coupling shown in FIG. 5, (b) a perspective view of the driven-side coupling shown in FIG. 5, and (c) a perspective view of the synthetic resin sleeve shown in FIG. (A) A partial cross-sectional view of the driving side coupling and the driven side coupling in a state where the tip of the locate pin is located in the circular opening of the synthetic resin sleeve. Partial cross-sectional view of the drive-side coupling and the driven-side coupling in the advanced state, and a partial cross-sectional view of the drive-side coupling and the driven-side coupling in the state where the drive means is further advanced than the positions (c) and (b). FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a driving side coupling and a driven side coupling in a state where the driving means is further advanced from the positions of (d) and (c). (A) A cross-sectional view of the butterfly valve shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the valve body reciprocates between the first opening and the second opening, (b) the first opening and the third. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the butterfly valve shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the valve body reciprocates and swings with respect to the opening degree of. (A) A plan view when a discharge promoting piece is attached to the butterfly valve shown in FIG. 1, a sectional view taken along line CC in (b) and (a), and a sectional view taken along line DD in (c) and (a). (A) A cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9 (b) when another discharge promoting piece is attached to the butterfly valve shown in FIG. 1, and a sectional view taken along line EE in (b) and (a).

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the powder discharge device configured according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The powder discharge device, which is indicated by reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1, includes a butterfly valve 4, a driving means 6 for driving the butterfly valve 4, and an advancing / retreating means 8 for advancing / retreating the driving means 6.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the butterfly valve 4 includes a cylindrical casing 10 and a disk-shaped valve body 12 rotatably mounted on the casing 10. The casing 10 can be formed of an appropriate metal material such as a steel material. The valve body 12 can be formed of an appropriate metal material such as a steel material or an appropriate synthetic rubber material such as urethane rubber.

A pair of metal rotating shafts 14 extending radially outward from positions facing each other are attached to the peripheral edge of the valve body 12, and the valve body 12 is rotatably attached to the casing 10 via each rotating shaft 14. Has been done. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the driven side coupling 16 is connected to one of the rotating shafts 14 via the connector 15, but the driven side coupling 16 is directly connected to the one rotating shaft 14. It may be connected. The driven side coupling 16 will be described later together with the driving side coupling 54 connected to the driven side coupling 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, a seat member 18 that can be formed of an appropriate synthetic rubber (for example, silicon rubber, EPDM rubber, NBR rubber) or the like is mounted on the casing 10 of the butterfly valve 4 of the illustrated embodiment. The seat member 18 has a cylindrical portion 20 extending in the vertical direction along the inner peripheral surface of the casing 10, an upper annular portion 22 extending radially outward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 20, and a radial outer side from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 20. It has an extending lower annular portion 24.

The upper end of the butterfly valve 4 is connected to the circular discharge port 28 of the powder storage container 26 via an appropriate fastening member such as a bolt or a clamp, and the cylindrical chute 30 is connected to the lower end of the butterfly valve 4. There is. The powder container 26 of the illustrated embodiment is a mobile container that is conveyed by an appropriate conveying means (not shown) such as a belt conveyor. As shown in FIG. 1, the powder storage container 26 has a cylindrical or square tubular upper side wall 32 extending in the vertical direction, and a pyramidal or pyramidal shape whose diameter gradually decreases downward from the lower end of the upper side wall 32. Includes a lower side wall 34 and a plurality of support members 36 extending downward from the outer surface of the lower side wall 34. The discharge port 28 is formed at the lower end of the lower side wall 34, and is opened and closed by the rotation of the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4.

When the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 is positioned at a substantially horizontal closed position (position shown in FIG. 2B), the peripheral edge of the valve body 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 20 of the seat member 18 are in close contact with each other. Then, the discharge port 28 of the powder storage container 26 is closed by the valve body 12 to block the discharge of the powder from the discharge port 28. Further, when the valve body 12 is rotated from the closed position, the butterfly valve 4 opens the discharge port 28 to allow the powder to be discharged from the discharge port 28. The upper annular portion 22 of the seat member 18 prevents powder from leaking to the outside from between the upper end of the butterfly valve 4 and the lower end of the powder storage container 26, and the lower annular portion 24 of the seat member 18 is , Prevents powder from leaking to the outside from between the lower end of the butterfly valve 4 and the upper end of the chute 30.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the driving means 6 is connected to the butterfly valve 4 and the valve body 12 is not connected to the rotary forward position (position shown in FIG. 3B) and the butterfly valve 4. It is arranged so as to be able to advance and retreat from the retracted position (the position shown in FIG. 3A).

The driving means 6 includes a rectangular movable plate 38 provided so as to be movable back and forth in the X-axis direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. A pair of sliders 40 extending in the X-axis direction are fixed to the lower surface of the movable plate 38 at intervals in the Y-axis direction (the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. 3 and orthogonal to the X-axis direction). .. Each slider 40 is fixed at a distance in the Y-axis direction and slidably connected to a guide rail 42 extending in the X-axis direction. The plane defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is substantially horizontal. Further, the Z-axis direction indicated by the arrow Z in FIG. 1 is a vertical direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the drive means 6 includes an actuator 44 for rotating the valve body 12 and a first drive shaft 46 extending from the actuator 44 to one side in the X-axis direction (left side in FIGS. 1 and 3). And the second drive shaft 50 connected to the tip of the first drive shaft 46 (the left end in FIGS. 1 and 3) via the first spring coupling 48, and the second spring coupling 52. Includes a drive-side coupling 54 connected to the tip (left end in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the second drive shaft 50 via.

The actuator 44 is fixed to the upper surface of the movable plate 38. The actuator 44 may be an electric actuator, for example, a known servomotor or a direct drive motor that directly transmits rotation to a rotating body (first drive shaft 46 in the illustrated embodiment) without using a reduction mechanism. Can be used.

The first and second drive shafts 46 and 50, the first and second spring couplings 48 and 52 and the drive side coupling 54, each of which can be formed from an appropriate metal material, extend in the X-axis direction, respectively. .. The first drive shaft 46 of the illustrated embodiment extends from the actuator 44 to the other side in the X-axis direction (right side in FIGS. 1 and 3), and on one side in the X-axis direction and the other side in the X-axis direction of the actuator 44. It is supported by a pair of bearing members 56 fixed to the upper surface of the movable plate 38.

The first and second spring couplings 48 and 52 have a pair of cylindrical hubs 58 arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction and a coil spring 60 arranged between the pair of hubs 58. The first spring coupling 48 allows the second drive shaft 50 to be tilted (deviation angle) up to a predetermined angle with respect to the first drive shaft 46 by elastically deforming the coil spring 60. The second spring coupling 52 allows the drive-side coupling 54 to tilt up to a predetermined angle with respect to the second drive shaft 50 by elastically deforming the coil spring 60. The declinations allowed by the first and second spring couplings 48 and 52 may be the same angle or different angles.

As shown in FIG. 1, the driving means 6 preferably includes a holding means 62 that holds the tip position of the driving side coupling 54 at a predetermined position. The holding means 62 of the illustrated embodiment includes a bracket 64 extending from the movable plate 38 to one side in the X-axis direction, an actuator 66 arranged on the upper surface of the tip of the bracket 64, and a second spring mounted on the upper end portion of the actuator 66. It has a rectangular support plate 68 arranged below the coupling 52.

The actuator 66 raises and lowers the support plate 68 between the ascending position (position shown in FIG. 1) that supports the second spring coupling 52 and the descending position that releases the support of the second spring coupling 52. It may consist of a cylinder, an electric cylinder, or the like. The support plate 68 may be made of metal, but is preferably made of synthetic resin from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of metal dust due to contact with the second spring coupling 52 made of metal.

The holding means 62 positions the support plate 68 in the raised position by the actuator 66 and supports the second spring coupling 52 to hold the tip position of the drive side coupling 54 in a predetermined position. Further, the holding means 62 releases the support of the second spring coupling 52 by the support plate 68 by positioning the support plate 68 in the lowered position by the actuator 66. The support plate 68 may be arranged below the drive-side coupling 54 so that the support plate 68 supports the drive-side coupling 54 in the raised position.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is convenient that the driving means 6 includes a closing means 70 that positions the valve body 12 in the closing position when the supply of the current to the actuator 44 is stopped due to a power failure or the like. .. The closing means 70 of the illustrated embodiment includes a metal lever 72 extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first drive shaft 46, and air that pushes the lever 72 to rotate the first drive shaft 46 in the event of a power failure or the like. It includes a cylinder 74, a compressed air source 76 (see FIG. 4) that supplies compressed air to the air cylinder 74, and an electromagnetic valve 78 (see FIG. 4) arranged between the air cylinder 74 and the compressed air source 76.

The air cylinder 74 is supported by a bracket 80 provided on the upper surface of the movable plate 38, and is arranged along the Y-axis direction. An annular member 74b is rotatably attached to the tip of the rod 74a of the air cylinder 74. The annular member 74b may be made of metal, but is preferably made of synthetic resin from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of metal dust due to contact with the metal lever 72.

By constantly supplying an electric current to the solenoid 78a of the solenoid valve 78, the compressed air source 76 is compressed to the air cylinder 74 so that the rod 74a of the air cylinder 74 is located at the retracted position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4). Is being supplied. When the supply of current to the actuator 44 is stopped due to a power failure or the like, the supply of current to the solenoid 78a is also stopped.

When the supply of current to the actuator 44 and the solenoid 78a is stopped while the butterfly valve 4 and the driving means 6 are connected, the port of the solenoid valve 78 is switched by the spring 78b, and the rod 74a of the air cylinder 74 The compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source 76 to the air cylinder 74 so that the air is located at the forward position (the position shown by the two-point chain line in FIG. 4). As a result, the rod 74a of the air cylinder 74 pushes the lever 72 to rotate the first drive shaft 46, so that the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 is positioned at the closed position.

The driven side coupling 16 of the butterfly valve 4 will be described together with the driving side coupling 54 of the driving means 6 with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The drive-side coupling 54, which can be formed from an appropriate metal material such as a steel material, has a circular plate 82 and an X-axis direction from the center of one side of the plate 82 (axial directions of the first and second drive shafts 46 and 50). A columnar locating pin 84 extending to one side and a plurality of (three in the illustrated embodiment) drive sides arranged around the locating pin 84 at intervals in the circumferential direction of the first and second drive shafts 46 and 50. It has a coalescing piece 86 and a columnar connecting portion 88 extending from the central portion of the other surface of the plate 82 to the other side in the X-axis direction.

It is preferable that the distal end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is formed in a conical shape in which the diameter gradually decreases toward the distal end. The plurality of drive-side combined pieces 86 extend from one side of the plate 82 to one side in the X-axis direction, and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 6A, the tip end side portion 86a of the drive side combined piece 86 is chamfered. The hub 58 of the second spring coupling 52 is connected to the connecting portion 88.

The driven side coupling 16 which can be formed from an appropriate metal material such as a steel material is a plurality of driven side couplings 16 which mesh with a plurality of driving side coupling pieces 86 and a cylindrical main portion 90 in which a positioning hole 90a into which a locate pin 84 is inserted is formed. It has (three in the illustrated embodiment) driven side merging pieces 92. An annular flange 94 extending radially outward is attached to both axially end portions of the main portion 90 of the illustrated embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6B, the plurality of driven side combining pieces 92 project from one side of one flange 94 in the axial direction of the main portion 90, and are spaced at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the main portion 90. It is arranged around the positioning hole 90a.

As shown in FIG. 5B, it is convenient that a synthetic resin guide bush 96 having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface is arranged in the positioning hole 90a of the main portion 90 of the driven side coupling 16. The inner peripheral surface of the guide bush 96 has a diameter of the inner peripheral surface from one side end in the axial direction (right end in FIG. 5 (b)) to the other end in the axial direction (left side in FIG. 5 (b)). It is preferable that the truncated cone-shaped portion 96a that becomes smaller and smaller is provided.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is desirable that the driven coupling 16 is equipped with a synthetic resin sleeve 98. The sleeve 98 includes a cylindrical portion 100 having a circular opening 100a formed therein, and a plurality of auxiliary merging pieces 102 (six in the illustrated embodiment) protruding radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 100. Has.

The axial one-sided end 100b of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 100 is chamfered, and the axial one-sided end 102a of the auxiliary merging piece 102 is also chamfered. As can be understood by referring to FIG. 6 (c), one side of the auxiliary merging piece 102 is chamfered so that the chamfers of the auxiliary merging pieces 102 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction face each other. .. The sleeve 98 may be attached to the drive side coupling 54.

When the drive means 6 is positioned in the forward position, the locate pin 84 is inserted into the guide bush 96 through the circular opening 100a of the sleeve 98, and the plurality of drive side merging pieces 86 and the plurality of driven side merging pieces 92 are formed. The drive side coupling 54 of the drive means 6 and the driven side coupling 16 of the butterfly valve 4 are connected to each other by engaging with each other via the auxiliary fitting piece 102 of the sleeve 98.

When the drive-side coupling 54 and the driven-side coupling 16 are connected, the auxiliary coupling piece of the sleeve 98 is placed between the plurality of driving-side coupling pieces 86 and the plurality of driven-side coupling pieces 92 in the circumferential direction. 102 is located. Further, when the drive side coupling 54 and the driven side coupling 16 are connected, the drive means 6 rotates the valve body 12 to open the discharge port 28 and reciprocates the valve body 12.

The advancing / retreating means 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The advancing / retreating means 8 includes an actuator 104 that moves the movable plate 38 along the X-axis direction. Although the actuator 104 of the illustrated embodiment is connected to the slider 40 via the connecting member 106, it may be connected to the movable plate 38. The actuator 104 may be composed of an air cylinder having an intermediate stop function, an electric cylinder, or the like. Then, the advancing / retreating means 8 advances / retreats the driving means 6 between the advancing position (the position shown in FIG. 3B) and the retreating position (the position shown in FIG. 3A).

A method of discharging powder from the powder storage container 26 by using the powder discharge device 2 as described above will be described.

When discharging the powder from the powder storage container 26, as shown in FIG. 1, first, the powder storage container 26 containing the powder was moved by a transport means and installed at a predetermined powder discharge position. The powder storage container 26 is placed on the gantry 108. When the powder storage container 26 is placed on the gantry 108, the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 is positioned at the closed position, and the driving means 6 is positioned at the retracted position.

Further, when the powder storage container 26 is placed on the gantry 108, the support plate 68 of the holding means 62 is positioned in the ascending position, the second spring coupling 52 is supported by the support plate 68, and the drive side coupling is performed. The tip position of 54 is held at a predetermined position. As a result, when the powder storage container 26 is placed on the gantry 108, the deviation amount t between the axial center L1 of the driving side coupling 54 and the axial center L2 of the driven side coupling 16 is kept within a predetermined range (see FIG. 3). ). Although FIG. 3 shows an example in which the axial center L1 and the axial center L2 are displaced in the Y-axis direction by the amount of deviation t, the axial center L1 and the axial center L2 are displaced in the Z-axis direction. It may be deviated in both the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d), after the powder storage container 26 is placed on the gantry 108, the driving means 6 is advanced by the advancing / retreating means 8 toward the advancing position. When the drive means 6 is advanced and the tip end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is inserted into the circular opening 100a of the sleeve 98 (for example, when the tip end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 7A), the drive means 6 moves forward and backward. The operation of the means 8 is temporarily stopped. Next, the support plate 68 is lowered by the actuator 66 of the holding means 62, and the support of the second spring coupling 52 by the support plate 68 is released.

After the tip end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is inserted into the guide bush 96 (for example, after the tip end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 7B), the advancing / retreating means 8 is operated. It may be stopped once and the support of the second spring coupling 52 by the support plate 68 may be released.

After releasing the support of the second spring coupling 52 by the support plate 68, the driving means 6 is advanced toward the advancing position by the advancing / retreating means 8. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7 (c) and 7 (d), the locate pin 84 is inserted into the guide bush 96, and the plurality of drive-side coupling pieces 86 and the plurality of driven-side coupling pieces 92 are sleeve 98. The drive side coupling 54 and the driven side coupling 16 are connected by engaging with each other via the auxiliary fitting piece 102 of the above.

As will be understood by referring to FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d), in the illustrated embodiment, the distal end side portion 84a of the locate pin 84 is formed in a conical shape, and the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 100 of the sleeve 98 is formed. A chamfer is applied to one end 100b in the axial direction of the surface, and a truncated cone-shaped portion 96a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the guide bush 96. Therefore, when the driving means 6 advances toward the advancing position, the sleeve 98 The locate pin 84 is smoothly inserted into the circular opening 100a and the guide bush 96 of the above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tip end side portion 86a of the drive side matching piece 86 is chamfered, and the axial one side end portion 102a of the auxiliary matching piece 102 of the sleeve 98 is also chamfered. When the driving means 6 advances toward the advancing position, the driving side chamfer piece 86 and the auxiliary chamfer piece 102 of the sleeve 98 smoothly mesh with each other.

Further, since the driving means 6 of the illustrated embodiment includes the first and second spring couplings 48 and 52 arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction, the driving means 6 is located at the retracted position. In this state, even if the axial center L1 of the driving side coupling 54 and the axial center L2 of the driven side coupling 16 are not aligned, the driving side coupling 54 and the driven side coupling 16 can be connected. ..

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, the deviation between the axial center L1 and the axial center L2 is absorbed by the first and second spring couplings 48 and 52, so that the drive side coupling piece 86 and the sleeve 98 are assisted. It is not necessary to absorb the deviation between the axial center L1 and the axial center L2 by increasing the gap in the circumferential direction with the unit 102. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the gap between the drive-side combined piece 86 and the auxiliary combined piece 102 in the circumferential direction can be reduced, so that the actuator 44 rotates clockwise at a minute angle (for example, about 3 to 5 degrees). When the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 is reciprocally swung by alternately repeating the rotation of the valve 4 and the counterclockwise rotation of a minute angle, the rotation of the actuator 44 is precisely transmitted to the rotation shaft 14 of the butterfly valve 4. At the same time, it is possible to reduce the noise generated by the contact between the drive-side combined piece 86 and the auxiliary combined piece 102.

After connecting the drive-side coupling 54 and the driven-side coupling 16, the valve body 12 is moved by the actuator 44 of the drive means 6 by the first opening degree from the closing position that closes the discharge port 28 of the powder storage container 26. Rotate to open the discharge port 28.

After opening the discharge port 28, the valve body 12 is actuated between the second opening degree smaller than the first opening degree or the third opening degree larger than the first opening degree and the first opening degree. It swings back and forth by 44. When the valve body 12 is reciprocally swung, as shown in FIG. 8A, after rotating the valve body 12 from the closed position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to the first opening degree θ1, the valve body 12 is changed to the first opening degree θ1. The valve body 12 is reciprocally swung with and from the second opening degree θ2 (θ2 <θ1). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, after rotating the valve body 12 from the closed position to the first opening degree θ1, the first opening degree θ1 and the third opening degree θ3 (θ3> θ1) The valve body 12 may be reciprocated between the two.

By swinging the valve body 12 back and forth, an impact is applied from the valve body 12 to the powder near the discharge port 28 of the powder storage container 26, and the powder storage container suppresses the occurrence of powder aggregation and compaction. It is possible to promote the discharge of powder from 26 and suppress flushing. Therefore, in the powder discharge device 2 of the illustrated embodiment, a wide range of powder can be discharged, and quantitative powder can be discharged without stagnation of powder discharge.

When the valve body 12 is reciprocally swung, the swing range of the valve body 12 may be changed stepwise. For example, first reciprocate the valve body 12 between 10 degrees and 15 degrees, then reciprocate the valve body 12 between 5 degrees and 10 degrees, and then reciprocate between 0 degrees and 5 degrees. The valve body 12 may be reciprocated between the two, and the swing range of the valve body 12 may be changed in three steps. As a result, when a predetermined weight of powder is discharged from the powder storage container 26 to an appropriate container such as a measuring container (not shown), the discharge weight accuracy can be improved while shortening the discharge time. can. The stepwise change of the swing range of the valve body 12 may not be three steps as described above, may be two steps or four steps or more, and the swing range may not be five degrees and is arbitrarily set. obtain.

When the valve body 12 is made of a material (for example, urethane rubber) that elastically deforms when reciprocally swung by the actuator 44, the valve body 12 is elastically deformed (rotated) in addition to the reciprocating swing of the valve body 12. The impact can also be applied to the powder by the bending of the valve body 12 centered on the shaft 14, and the discharge of the powder can be further promoted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the synthetic resin guide bush 96 is arranged in the positioning hole 90a of the main portion 90 of the driven side coupling 16, and the synthetic resin sleeve 98 is attached to the driven side coupling 16. Therefore, when the valve body 12 is reciprocally swung, the generation of metal dust due to the rubbing between the metal member of the driving side coupling 54 and the metal member of the driven side coupling 16 is suppressed.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, since the driving means 6 includes the closing means 70, when the supply of current to the actuator 44 and the solenoid 78a is stopped due to a power failure or the like in a state where the valve body 12 is open. The lever 72 is pushed by the air cylinder 74 of the closing means 70 to rotate the first drive shaft 46, and the valve body 12 is positioned at the closing position. Therefore, in the event of a power failure or the like, the valve body 12 is not maintained in the open state, and the situation in which the powder continues to be discharged from the powder storage container 26 is prevented.

After discharging a predetermined weight of powder from the discharge port 28 of the powder storage container 26, the valve body 12 is rotated by the actuator 44 to be positioned at the closed position, and the discharge port 28 is closed. Next, the driving means 6 is retracted toward the retreating position by the advancing / retreating means 8. Then, the locate pin 84 is pulled out from the circular opening 100a of the guide bush 96 and the sleeve 98, and the drive side coupling piece 86 is separated from the auxiliary coupling piece 102 of the sleeve 98, and the drive side coupling 54 and the driven side coupling 16 are separated. The connection with is released.

When the connection between the driving side coupling 54 and the driven side coupling 16 is released, the operation of the advancing / retreating means 8 is temporarily stopped. Next, the actuator 66 of the holding means 62 positions the support plate 68 in the ascending position, the support plate 68 supports the second spring coupling 52, and the tip position of the drive-side coupling 54 is held in a predetermined position. Next, the driving means 6 is positioned in the retreating position by the advancing / retreating means 8. Then, the powder storage container 26 is moved from the gantry 108 by the transport means.

As described above, in the powder discharge device 2 of the illustrated embodiment, the valve of the butterfly valve 4 is located between the first opening degree θ1 and the second opening degree θ2 smaller than the first opening degree θ1. The powder container by reciprocating the body 12 or reciprocating the valve body 12 between the first opening degree θ1 and the third opening degree θ3 larger than the first opening degree θ1. By applying an impact from the valve body 12 to the powder in the vicinity of the discharge port 28 of the 26, it is possible to promote the discharge of the powder from the powder storage container 26 while suppressing the occurrence of agglomeration and consolidation of the powder, and flushing. Can be suppressed. Therefore, in the powder discharge device 2 of the illustrated embodiment, a wide range of powder can be discharged, and quantitative powder can be discharged without stagnation of powder discharge.

Further, in the powder discharge device 2 of the illustrated embodiment, the drive is freely arranged between the forward position where the valve body 12 is connected to the butterfly valve 4 and can rotate and the backward position where the valve body 12 is not connected to the butterfly valve 4. Since the means 6 and the advancing / retreating means 8 for advancing / retreating the driving means 6 between the advancing position and the retreating position are provided, the driving means 6 does not need to be mounted on the powder storage container 26, and any powder can be used. The drive means 6 may be arranged at the discharge position. Therefore, according to the powder discharge device 2 of the illustrated embodiment, wiring and piping of the drive means 6 can be performed at an arbitrary powder discharge position, so that even when the powder storage container 26 is mobile, it can be easily performed. Can be applied.

In addition, one or more discharge promotion pieces extending upward may be attached to the upper surface of the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 described above, and the case where the discharge promotion piece is attached to the upper surface of the valve body 12 is shown in the figure. This will be described with reference to 9 and FIG.

On the upper surface of the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 shown in FIG. 9, three discharge promoting pieces 110a, 110b, 110c extending above the valve body 12 with a radial interval between the rotating shafts 14 are attached. Has been done. The lengths of the discharge promotion pieces 110a and 110c on both sides are shorter than the length of the discharge promotion pieces 110b in the center, so that the tips of the discharge promotion pieces 110a, 110b and 110c do not protrude from the locus of the peripheral edge of the valve body 12. There is. Further, on the upper surface of the valve body 12 of the butterfly valve 4 shown in FIG. 10, a pair of discharge promoting pieces 112 extending radially outward (rotating shaft 14 side) from the radial center of the valve body 12 upward. Is attached.

In the butterfly valve 4 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the valve body 12 rotates or reciprocates, the powder located above the valve body 12 is agitated by the discharge promoting pieces 110a, 110b, 110c, 112. Therefore, the discharge of powder from the powder storage container 26 can be further promoted. As the shape of the discharge promoting pieces 110a, 110b, 110c, 112, any shape such as a columnar shape, a prismatic shape, and a plate shape can be adopted.

2: Powder discharge device 4: Butterfly valve 6: Drive means 8: Advance / retreat means 12: Valve body 14: Rotating shaft 16: Driven side coupling 26: Powder storage container 28: Discharge port 44: Actuator 46: First Drive shaft 48: First spring coupling 50: Second drive shaft 52: Second spring coupling 54: Drive side coupling 62: Holding means 70: Closing means 84: Locating pin 84a: Locating pin tip side portion 86 : Drive side container 90: Main part 90a: Positioning hole 92: Driven side container 96: Synthetic resin guide bush 96a: Guide bush cone-shaped part 98: Synthetic resin sleeve 110a, 110b, 110c, 112 : Discharge promotion piece θ1: First opening θ2: Second opening θ3: Third opening

Claims (11)

A powder discharge device that discharges powder from a powder storage container.
A butterfly valve including a valve body for opening and closing the discharge port of the powder storage container,
A drive means that is freely arranged to move forward and backward between a forward position that is connected to the butterfly valve and can rotate the valve body and a backward position that is not connected to the butterfly valve.
An advancing / retreating means for advancing / retreating the driving means between the advancing position and the retreating position is provided.
When the butterfly valve and the drive means are connected, the drive means rotates the valve body by a first opening degree from a closing position that closes the discharge port to open the discharge port, and at the same time, the first. A powder discharge device that reciprocates the valve body between a second opening degree smaller than the opening degree 1 or a third opening degree larger than the first opening degree and the first opening degree. .. The drive means is connected to the tip of the first drive shaft via an actuator for rotating the valve body, a first drive shaft extending from the actuator, and a first spring coupling. A drive shaft and a drive side coupling connected to the tip of the second drive shaft via a second spring coupling.
The butterfly valve includes a rotating shaft extending from the peripheral edge of the valve body and a driven side coupling connected to the rotating shaft.
The powder discharge device according to claim 1, wherein when the drive means is positioned at the forward position, the drive side coupling and the driven side coupling are connected. The drive-side coupling has a locating pin extending in the axial direction and a plurality of drive-side coupling pieces arranged around the locating pin at intervals in the circumferential direction.
The driven side coupling according to claim 2, wherein the driven side coupling has a main portion formed with a positioning hole into which the locating pin is inserted, and a plurality of driven side mating pieces that mesh with the plurality of driving side mating pieces. Powder discharge device. The powder discharge device according to claim 3, wherein the tip end side portion of the locate pin is formed in a conical shape whose diameter gradually decreases toward the tip end. The powder discharge device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a synthetic resin guide bush having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface is arranged in the positioning hole of the main portion of the driven side coupling. According to claim 5, the inner peripheral surface of the synthetic resin guide bush is provided with a truncated cone-shaped portion in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface gradually decreases from one end in the axial direction toward the other end in the axial direction. The powder discharge device described. A synthetic resin sleeve is attached to either the driving side coupling or the driven side coupling.
The synthetic resin sleeve is positioned between the plurality of drive-side combined pieces and the plurality of driven-side combined pieces in the circumferential direction when the drive-side coupling and the driven-side coupling are connected to each other. The powder discharge device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary pieces. The powder discharging device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the driving means includes a holding means for holding the tip position of the driving side coupling at a predetermined position. The actuator is an electric actuator.
The powder discharging device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the driving means includes a closing means for positioning the valve body at the closing position when the supply of electric current to the actuator is stopped due to a power failure or the like. .. The powder discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the valve body is made of a material that elastically deforms when reciprocally swung by the driving means. The powder discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein one or more discharge promotion pieces extending upward are attached to the upper surface of the valve body.

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