JP4347459B2 - Vibrating mechanism of stirring blade in powder feeder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a powder supply device that uniformly supplies a small amount of powder, and in particular, a rotary supply body having a powder filling groove formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and the powder of the rotary supply body Powder supply roll having a powder press-fitting roll for press-fitting powder into a filling groove, and an agitating blade for stirring the powder and uniformly supplying the powder between the rotary supply body and the powder press-fitting roll The device presses the powder into the powder filling groove of the rotating supply body, and the powder press-fitted into the powder filling groove is evenly supplied from the powder supply pipe to the next process by airflow. The present invention relates to a vibration mechanism for a stirring blade suitable for dropping powder adhering to the stirring blade.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, as disclosed in JP-A-5-238544, a fine spacer like a spacer supply device used in a spacer spraying device that sprays spacers made of fine spherical powder on the surface of a liquid crystal substrate. 2. Description of the Related Art A powder supply device that supplies spherical powder evenly in small amounts is known. A spacer supply device as a powder supply device includes a rotary supply body having a powder filling groove formed on an outer peripheral surface, and a fine spherical powder (spacer in the powder supply groove of the rotary supply body. ), A stirring blade that stirs the powder stored in the container and uniformly supplies the powder between the rotating supply body and the powder pressing roller, and the stirring blade Agitating blade vibration mechanism that drops the powder adhering to the impact, and a powder whose one end is close to the position facing the groove of the rotating supply body and whose other end communicates with the outside A body supply pipe, and an air flow source for sending the powder press-fitted into the powder filling groove of the rotating supply body from the powder supply pipe, and the powder is traced from the powder supply pipe by the air flow. It is configured to be supplied to the next process evenly.
[0003]
In this spacer spraying device, the stirring blades as described above are used to prevent the occurrence of bridging by stirring the powder and to always supply the powder uniformly between the rotating supply body and the powder press-fitting roll. However, since the powder gradually adheres to the stirring blade due to static electricity generated by stirring the powder, the powder attached to the stirring blade is dropped at any time by giving an impact to the stirring blade. An excitation mechanism is provided for this purpose.
[0004]
Here, the spacer of the liquid crystal panel is a spherical bead having a diameter of about several μm to 10 μm, and the price of 1 g is a very expensive powder of 3000 yen to 5000 yen. However, it is necessary to eliminate waste, and it is not allowed to leave the powder adhering to the stirring blade as it is, and the adhesion progresses and a large amount of powder adheres to the stirring blade. If it becomes peeled off, there is a problem in uniformly supplying the powder between the rotating supply body and the powder press-fitting roll, so it is essential to drop the powder adhering to the stirring blade. It was.
[0005]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a mechanism for preventing adhesion of powder to a stirring blade according to the prior art. In the prior art shown in FIG. 9, a ratchet gear-shaped anti-adhesion cam 61 is provided on a rotating shaft 60 that rotatably supports a stirring blade (not shown), and the anti-adhesion cam 61 is rotated by the rotation of the anti-adhesion cam 61. A vibration mechanism is provided to bend the powder adhering to the stirring blade by an impact when the leaf spring 62 is bent and the leaf spring 62 falls from the peak to the valley of the ratchet gear-like adhesion prevention cam 61. It was done. Here, 63 is a drive gear for rotationally driving the rotary shaft 60, and 64 is a leaf spring mounting member for mounting and fixing the leaf spring 62.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art, the leaf spring 62 is rubbed against the outer peripheral surface of the adhesion preventing cam 61 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 60, so that the outer peripheral surface of the adhesion preventing cam 61 and the leaf spring 52 are worn. Fine dust is generated. Also, if grease or the like is applied to reduce wear, this grease mist is generated and floated, which also becomes dust. Liquid crystal panel spacers need to be dispersed and dispersed as uniformly as possible on the surface of the liquid crystal panel, and it is absolutely possible that irregularly shaped small pieces are mixed in due to the ingress of dust or the spacers adhere to each other. Since it must be avoided, the generation of dust as described above and the incorporation of this dust into the powder is a serious problem.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems in the prior art and prevent dust and the like from being mixed into the supplied powder. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vibration mechanism for a stirring blade in the powder supply apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to realize a powder supply apparatus that can be used in a clean room.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the vibration mechanism of the stirring blade in the powder supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a rotary supply body having a powder filling groove formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the powder of the rotary supply body. A powder press-fitting roll for press-fitting powder into a filling groove, and agitation for stirring the stored powder and for uniformly supplying the powder between the rotating supply body and the powder press-fitting roll A blade, an agitating mechanism of the stirring blade for dropping the powder adhering to the stirring blade, and one end portion close to a position facing the powder filling groove of the rotating supply body, and an opening arrangement is provided. A powder supply pipe having the other end communicating with the outside, and an air flow source for sending the powder press-fitted into the powder filling groove of the rotary supply body from the powder supply pipe, In the powder supply apparatus that supplies the powder uniformly from the powder supply pipe in small amounts, the stirring blade is vibrated. A storage container comprising a circumferential groove, a barrier disposed in a part of the circumferential groove, and a lid member that seals the circumferential groove; and a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the stirring blade. And a movable impact generator enclosed in the circumferential groove of the storage container.
[0009]
The vibration supply mechanism of the stirring blade in the powder supply apparatus according to the present invention generates a very small amount of dust, so that the powder supply apparatus is used in a space such as a clean room where the amount of suspended dust in the air is controlled. Can be suitably used.
As such a powder supply device, for example, a spacer supply device in a spacer spraying device of a liquid crystal panel, or an external lubricant supply used in a tableting machine used when producing tablets used for pharmaceutical products etc. An apparatus etc. can be mentioned.
Moreover, it is preferable that the impact generation body enclosed with the said storage container is a steel ball loosely fitted in the circumferential groove of the said storage container.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a vibration mechanism of a stirring blade (hereinafter simply referred to as a stirring mechanism of a stirring blade) in a powder supply apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.
[0011]
1 is a cross-sectional view showing a vibration mechanism of a stirring blade according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a powder supply apparatus to which the vibrating mechanism of the stirring blade according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. -C sectional view, FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing details of the groove of the rotating supply body shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the actual shape of the stirring blade.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the powder supply apparatus to which the vibration mechanism of the stirring blade according to the present invention is applied is a powder storage container fixed to the front surface (left side in FIG. 5) of the supply apparatus main body 1. A transparent cover 3 formed of transparent glass or plastic so that the remaining amount of powder stored in the casing 2 can be visually recognized. In a housing 2 sandwiched between the supply device body 1 and the transparent cover 3, as shown in FIG. 6, a powder filling groove (hereinafter simply referred to as a groove) 4a is formed on the outer peripheral surface. The rotary supply body 4 formed with the above, the powder press-fitting roll 5 for press-fitting fine spherical powder into the groove 4a of the rotary supply body 4, and the powder stored in the housing 2 are stirred. Agitating blade (agitator) 6 etc. for uniformly supplying the powder between the rotating supply body 4 and the powder press-fitting roll 5 It is located.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotation supply body 4 is arranged slightly to the right at the center height of the housing 2. In the lower left of the rotation supply body 4, fine particles such as powder, particularly spacers, are provided. A powder press-fitting roll 5 for press-fitting a spherical powder into the groove 4a of the rotary supply body 4 is disposed. The rotating supply body 4 and the powder press-fitting roll 5 are arranged at positions where their outer peripheries are slightly separated. By rotating in synchronization, the powder stored above the powder press-fitting roll 5 is removed. The function of press-fitting into the groove 4a of the rotation supply body 4 to such an extent that it does not fall off is realized.
[0014]
As shown in detail in FIG. 7, the outer peripheral portion of the rotation supply body 4 has a shape in which two outer fitting members 4 c are fitted on both sides of the central member 4 b from the outside, and is formed in the central portion. The gap between the outer fitting members 4c is a groove 4a. A stepped portion narrower than the width of the housing 2 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the outer fitting member 4c, and rotates with the powder press-fitting roll 5 when the powder press-fitting roll 5 presses the powder. It is a powder escape portion sandwiched between the outer periphery of the supply body 4.
[0015]
The powder press-fitting roll 5 is disposed at the lower left of the rotary supply body 4 at a position slightly away from the outer periphery of the rotary supply body 4 so as not to crush the powder sandwiched therebetween. And the powder which flowed into the groove | channel 4a of the rotation supply body 4 is pressed on the outer periphery of the powder press-fitting roll 5, is temporarily solidified in the groove 4a, and does not fall out of the groove 4a by rotation of the rotation supply body 4 or the like. Press fit. Depending on the type and shape of the powder, the pressed powder is easily solidified, or the bottom and side walls of the groove 4a are roughened or wavy to prevent the solidified powder from falling off the groove 4a. It is also effective to do. Further, the width of the powder press-fitting roll 5 is set to be the same as or slightly smaller than the groove 4a of the rotary supply body 4 so that only the powder in the groove 4a of the rotary supply body 4 is pressed by the powder press-fitting roll 5. You can also
[0016]
In the present embodiment, the stirring blade (agitator) 6 has a shape in which rod-shaped blades 6a and 6b protrude in four directions as shown in FIG. It prevents the formation of a bridge on the body and always supplies the powder uniformly between the rotary supply body 4 and the powder press-fitting roll 5. Here, the long blade 6a of the stirring blade 6 has a protrusion that stirs the powder storage portion and stirs the escape portion on the side surface of the rotating supply body 4. In the short blade 6b, It is configured to stir only the body storage portion.
[0017]
The rotary supply body 4, the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6 are each supported by a bearing mechanism penetrating the supply apparatus main body 1, and are rotatably supported by a rotating shaft disposed through the supply apparatus main body 1. Has been. Since these bearing mechanisms have substantially the same structure although the diameters of the shafts are different, only the bearing mechanism that supports the rotating supply body 4 will be described here, and the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6 will be described. A description of the bearing mechanism is omitted.
[0018]
As an example of the rotation shaft and the bearing mechanism, a support structure for the rotation supply body 4 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 5, the rotation supply body 4 is connected and fixed to the rotation shaft 11 by a key 10. The rotating shaft 11 is supported by two ball bearings 13 disposed in a hollow bearing housing 12 disposed through the supply device body 1, and is rotatably provided through the supply device body 1. ing. The other end of the rotating shaft 11 passing through the supply device body 1 is provided on the rotating shaft of each of the gear 15 and the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6 provided in the motor 14 with a speed reducer as a drive source. A gear 17 connected to the gear train 16 is fixed.
[0019]
In this way, the rotary supply body 4, the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6 are each supported by a rotary shaft which is rotatably provided through the supply device body 1, and is mutually supported by a gear train 16. The motors 14 are connected to each other and are rotated synchronously by a motor 14 with a speed reducer that is a single drive source.
[0020]
At the position of the gear 19 on the rotating shaft 18 of the stirring blade 6, the vibration mechanism 30 or 40 for the stirring blade according to the present invention is provided, which applies impact to the stirring blade 6 and drops the adhered powder. As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 to 4, the stirring blade vibration mechanism 30 or 40 is provided at the right end of the rotating shaft 18 that rotatably supports the stirring blade 6 together with the gear 19.
[0021]
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a disc-shaped storage container 31 fixed integrally with a gear 19 is stirred. It is fixed to the rotating shaft 18 of the blade 6. The storage container 31 is provided with a circumferential groove 32 concentrically with the storage container 31 over the entire circumference, and in this circumferential groove 32, a steel that is an impact generator having a diameter slightly smaller than the dimension of the circumferential groove. A sphere 34 is movably fitted in the circumferential groove. A stopper pin 33 serving as a barrier for the steel ball 34 is disposed in the circumferential groove 32. The stopper pin 33 serves as a barrier when the freely movable steel ball 34 fitted in the circumferential groove 32 moves in the circumferential groove 32, and the steel ball 34 is enclosed in the circumferential groove 32. Then, the lid member 35 that seals the circumferential groove 32 is fixed with a screw 36.
[0022]
3 and FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a stirring blade vibration mechanism 40, and is integrated with the gear 19 as in the first embodiment. A fixed disk-shaped storage container 41 is fixed to the rotating shaft 18 of the stirring blade 6. The storage container 41 is provided with a circumferential groove 42 concentric with the storage container 41 over the entire circumference, and an intermediate wall 43 serving as a barrier for the steel ball 44 is disposed in the circumferential groove 42. In the circumferential groove 42, a steel ball 44 having a diameter slightly smaller than the dimension of the circumferential groove is movably fitted, and the intermediate wall 43 is fitted in the circumferential groove 42 and freely movable. 44 becomes a barrier when moving in the circumferential groove 42. The lid member 45 that encloses the steel ball 44 in the circumferential groove 42 and seals the circumferential groove 42 is pressed into the storage container 41 and prevented from being detached by the rotating shaft 18 of the stirring blade 6. .
[0023]
These agitating blade excitation mechanisms 30 and 40 are each composed of circumferential grooves 32 and 42 provided in the storage containers 31 and 41, and barriers 33 and 43 disposed in a part of the circumferential grooves 32 and 42. In this circumferential groove 32, 42, spheres (steel balls) 34, 44 having a diameter slightly smaller than the dimension of the circumferential groove 32, 42 are movably fitted, and the circumferential groove 32 is formed by the lid members 35, 45. 42, the steel balls 34 and 44 in the circumferential grooves 32 and 42 are rotated when the agitating blade vibration mechanisms 30 and 40 rotate as the rotating shaft 18 of the stirring blade 6 rotates. Accordingly, it moves in the circumferential grooves 32 and 42. Then, after rotating by a predetermined angle, the direction changes according to gravity and falls, and collides with the barriers 33 and 43 to stop. The impact force when the steel balls 34 and 44 collide with the barriers 33 and 43 is transmitted to the stirring blade 6 via the rotating shaft 18 and acts as an impact force for dropping the powder adhering to the stirring blade 6.
[0024]
Here, in both the first and second embodiments, barriers 33 and 43 are provided at two opposing positions in the circumferential grooves 32 and 42, and the circumferential grooves 32 and 42 separated by the barriers 33 and 43 are respectively provided. However, the barriers 33 and 43 are not limited to two places, but are provided at three places or four places, and the circumferential grooves 32 and 43 are provided. 42 may be separated into three or four places. Further, as shown in the drawing, the steel balls 34 and 44 are not limited to being enclosed in each of the circumferential grooves 32 and 42 separated by the barriers 33 and 43, but are enclosed one by one. You may comprise as follows.
[0025]
Also, the steel balls 34 and 44 are not limited to steel balls, and use ceramic balls or steel balls with a plastic coating on the surface of the steel balls so as to give an appropriate impact force to the stirring blade 6. Alternatively, tungsten spheres having a large specific gravity can be used. Further, the size of the steel balls 34 and 44 need not be limited to those shown in the drawing. The desired object can be achieved by using a large-diameter steel ball when increasing the impact force applied to the stirring blade 6 and using a large number of small-diameter steel balls when repeatedly applying a small impact force many times. Furthermore, the shape is not limited to a perfect sphere, and a cylindrical shape with chamfered corners or a shape close to an ellipsoid can be used.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 6, the casing 2 is provided with a spacer 20 in order to eliminate an extra space in which powder is stored as dead stock at the lower part of the rotary supply body 4, the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6. It has been. The spacer 20 is formed in a shape cut into an arc along the outer periphery of the rotary supply body 4, the powder press-fitting roll 5 and the stirring blade 6, and at the position of the rotary supply body 4, Plate-like spacer plates 21 corresponding to the escape portions are arranged on both side surfaces to prevent the powder from being stored as dead stock in the escape portions of the rotating supply body 4. Further, at the position of the stirring blade 6, both sides are formed into a large arc corresponding to the long blade 6 a and the central portion is formed into a small arc so as to correspond to the long blade 6 a and the short blade 6 b of the stirring blade 6. Is formed.
[0027]
A scraper 22 for removing powder adhering to the outer periphery of the rotary supply body 4 is provided above the rotary supply body 4. This scraper 22 removes the powder adhering to the outer periphery of the rotary supply body 4, and is preferably a soft rubber or plastic. Only the powder press-fitted into the groove 4a remains in the rotary supply body 4 from which the outer peripheral powder has been removed by the scraper 22.
[0028]
The powder press-fitted into the groove 4 a of the rotary supply body 4 is sent to the outside by a powder supply pipe 23 provided with the opening 23 a close to the position facing the groove 4 a of the rotary supply body 4. The That is, when air is fed into the sealed rotary supply body 4 from the air inlet 24 and the pressure of the rotary supply body 4 is relatively increased, only the other end 23b of the powder supply pipe 23 is exposed to the outside. Since they communicate with each other, an air flow is generated due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside, and the gas in the rotating supply body 4 flows out through the powder supply pipe 23. The powder supply tube 23 is disposed close to the position where the opening 23a is opposed to the groove 4a of the rotating supply body 4, so that the powder supply tube 23 is rotated by the air flow sucked into the powder supply tube 23 from the opening 23a. The powder press-fitted into the groove 4 a of the supply body 4 is peeled off and sucked into the powder supply pipe 23, and sent out from the other end 23 b of the powder supply pipe 23.
[0029]
The powder press-fitted into the groove 4a of the rotary supply body 4 does not peel off and fall off from the groove 4a in the rotation of the rotary supply body 4 after being press-fitted by the powder press-fitting roll 5. The suction into the powder supply pipe 23 by the air flow sucked into the 23 is to control the width of the groove 4a and the depth of the groove according to the material, particle size, shape, etc. of the powder, or as described above, This can be achieved by making the bottom surface or side wall of the groove 4a rough or forming a wave shape. The amount of powder delivered from the powder supply pipe 23 per unit time can be controlled by the cross-sectional area of the groove 4 a and the rotation speed of the rotary supply body 4.
[0030]
The air flow source for generating the air flow is performed by feeding dry air from the air inlet 24 shown in FIG. Here, the gas fed from the air inlet 24 is not limited to dry air, and an inert gas such as nitrogen gas can be used as necessary. Alternatively, the other end 23 b of the powder supply pipe 23 can be decompressed to give an internal / external pressure difference so that the powder can be sucked out of the powder supply pipe 23.
[0031]
In this way, when the amount of the powder in the housing 2 is reduced by being sent from the powder supply pipe 23 to the outside, the amount of the powder in the housing 2 can be visually recognized through the transparent cover 3. It is supplied from the powder inlet 25 and replenished.
[0032]
As mentioned above, although the vibration mechanism of the stirring blade in the powder supply apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, you can make changes.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, unlike the prior art, there is no member that wears due to sliding friction, and generation of dust is prevented. Further, even if wear occurs due to long-term use, members (steel balls 34 and 44 and barriers 33 and 43) that are most likely to cause wear are circumferential grooves of the storage containers 31 and 41. 32 and 42 are completely enclosed, so that the generated dust is not scattered outside and is kept clean. Therefore, the vibration mechanism of the stirring blade according to the present invention can be applied to an apparatus used in a space where the amount of suspended dust in the air is controlled, such as in a clean room.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a vibration mechanism of a stirring blade according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a vibration mechanism of a stirring blade according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a powder supply apparatus to which a vibration mechanism of a stirring blade according to the present invention is applied.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a powder filling groove of a rotating supply body.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of the shape of a stirring blade.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an adhesion preventing cam according to the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply apparatus body 2 Case 3 Transparent cover 4 Rotating supply body 4a Groove 4b Center member 4c Outer fitting member 5 Powder press-fitting roll 6 Stirring blade 6a Long blade 6b Short blade 10 Key 11 Rotating shaft 12 Bearing housing 13 Ball Bearing 14 Motors with reduction gears 15, 17, 19 Gear 16 Gear train 18 Rotating shaft 20 Spacer 21 Spacer plate 22 Scraper 23 Powder supply pipe 24 Air inlet 25 Powder inlet 30, 40 Stirring blade vibration mechanism 31, 41 Storage container 32, 42 Circumferential groove 33 Stopper pin (barrier)
34, 44 Steel balls 35, 45 Lid member 43 Intermediate wall (barrier)

Claims (3)

A rotary supply body having a powder filling groove formed on an outer peripheral surface, a powder press-fitting roll for pressing powder into the powder filling groove of the rotary supply body, and the stored powder. A stirring blade that stirs and uniformly supplies the powder between the rotating supply body and the powder press-fitting roll, and a vibration mechanism of the stirring blade that drops the powder adhered by impacting the stirring blade And a powder supply pipe having one end portion close to a position facing the powder filling groove of the rotating supply body and the other end communicating with the outside, and the powder of the rotating supply body An air flow source for sending the powder press-fitted into the filling groove from the powder supply pipe, and in the powder supply apparatus for supplying the powder uniformly from the powder supply pipe little by little,
The vibration mechanism of the stirring blade is provided on a rotating shaft that rotatably supports the stirring blade, a peripheral groove, a barrier disposed in a part of the peripheral groove, and a lid member that seals the peripheral groove; A vibrating mechanism for a stirring blade in a powder supply apparatus, comprising: a storage container comprising: a movable container; and a movable impact generator enclosed in the circumferential groove of the storage container. 2. The stirring blade in the powder supply device according to claim 1, wherein the powder supply device is a spacer supply device in a spacer spraying device of a liquid crystal panel, and the powder is a fine spherical spacer. Excitation mechanism. 3. The stirring blade in the powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the impact generating body enclosed in the storage container is a steel ball loosely fitted in a circumferential groove of the storage container. Excitation mechanism.

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