JP5926117B2 - Powder feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder supply apparatus that quantitatively supplies a hardly dischargeable powder.

  Conventionally, as a supply device for quantitatively supplying powder, a screw feeder (for example, patents) that keeps the discharge amount from a discharge unit by conveying the powder put into the hopper in one direction using a screw Reference 1), a vibration feeder that vibrates the base plate that guides the flow of powder and keeps the amount of powder falling from the tip of the base plate constant (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and rotation of the rotary table In addition, a circle feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 3) or the like that feeds powder from the gap between the inner cylinder and the rotary table to the powder passage and keeps the discharge amount from the discharge port constant is used.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-76875 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-5148 JP 2001-29774 A

  However, when the above-mentioned screw feeder, vibration feeder, circle feeder, etc. are used to supply difficult-to-discharge powder with strong adhesion, cohesion, adhesion, or caking, The powder solidified due to vibration, rotation of the rotary table, etc., and the powder could not be supplied quantitatively continuously for a long time.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a powder supply apparatus capable of quantitatively continuously supplying a difficult-to-discharge powder without applying an external force as much as possible for a long time.

Powder supplying device of the present invention has a housing section for housing a flame emission of the powder, the powder discharge unit is provided over the entire circumference of the one end of the housing portion, an inner wall bottom of the accommodating portion Comprises a hopper installed so as to incline downward toward the powder discharge part, and a drive part for rotating the hopper around an axis passing through the center of the accommodating part .

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the accommodating portion is gradually expanded in diameter on the powder discharge portion side.

The powder supplying device of the present invention includes a lid for closing the opening portion of one end of the housing portion, the powder discharge unit, between the one end portion and the lid portion of the housing portion Further, it is constituted by a gap formed over the entire circumference of one end portion of the accommodating portion .

The powder supplying device of the present invention, the hopper has a closing portion which closes one end of the housing portion, the powder discharge portion, the closing portion or the closed portion the receiving portion in the vicinity It is characterized by comprising a plurality of holes formed on the entire circumference of the side wall of the.

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the accommodating portion has a cylindrical shape with a constant inner diameter .

The powder supply apparatus of the present invention further includes a lid portion that closes an opening at one end portion of the accommodating portion, and the powder discharge portion is provided between the one end portion of the accommodating portion and the lid portion. Further, it is constituted by a gap formed over the entire circumference of one end portion of the accommodating portion .

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention has a storage portion for storing the hard-to-discharge powder, a powder discharge portion is provided in the central portion of the storage portion over the entire circumference, and an inner wall bottom portion of the storage portion is A hopper installed so as to incline downward from both end portions of the housing portion toward the powder discharge portion; and a drive unit that rotates the hopper around an axis passing through the center of the housing portion. Features.

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the accommodating portion gradually increases in diameter from both end portions toward the powder discharge portion .

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the powder discharge section is constituted by a gap formed over the entire circumference in the central portion of the storage section .

Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of this invention is equipped with the partition member which isolate | separates the said accommodating part in the said clearance gap formed in the center part of the said accommodating part .

In addition, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention includes a scraping member that scrapes the powder out of the gap constituting the powder discharge unit .

In addition, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention includes at least one of a rotation speed adjustment unit that adjusts the rotation speed of the hopper and an interval adjustment unit that adjusts the size of the gap .
The powder supply device of the present invention may be configured to detect at least one of the rotation speed adjustment unit and the interval adjustment unit based on a detection unit that detects the amount of powder in the storage unit and a detection result by the detection unit. And a control unit for controlling.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to supply quantitatively continuously for a long time without applying external force as much as possible to the hardly dischargeable powder.

It is a perspective view of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scraping member of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scraping member of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the scraping member of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a powder supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the powder supply apparatus according to the first embodiment. The powder supply apparatus 2 includes a hopper 4 that accommodates difficult-to-discharge powder in the accommodating portion. Here, the hard-to-discharge powder is a powder that easily changes its properties when an external force is applied due to compaction or the like, and is easy to solidify. For example, powders such as metals, metal oxides, and organic compounds, and wet powders. Etc.

  The hopper 4 has an opening at one end, and is provided with a cylindrical storage portion that gradually increases in diameter toward the opening, and a lid portion 6 that closes the opening. The hopper 4 is installed so that the axis passing through the approximate center of the accommodating portion is horizontal, that is, the inner wall bottom of the accommodating portion is inclined downward toward the opening. The lid portion 6 is fixed at a position where a predetermined gap 10 is formed between the lid portion 6 and the end portion of the hopper 4 at a position facing the opening of the hopper 4 in the fixing portion 8. Here, the gap 10 formed between the end portion of the hopper 4 and the lid portion 6 constitutes a powder discharge portion of the hopper 4. In addition, the lid 6 is provided with a charging port 12 having a funnel shape for charging powder into the accommodating portion and a capacitance proximity sensor 14 for detecting the presence or absence of powder in the accommodating portion.

  The other end of the hopper 4 is connected to a motor 18 controlled by the control unit 16. Accordingly, when the motor 18 rotates, the hopper 4 rotates around an axis passing through the approximate center of the accommodating portion. The control unit 16 and the motor 18 are installed on the measuring unit 20, and the measuring unit 20 is installed on the installation table 22. Here, the weighing unit 20 measures the weight of the powder in the hopper 4, the control unit 16, the motor 18, and the hopper 4. Thereby, the weight of the discharged powder can be calculated.

  An ejector 24 is disposed below the gap 10 constituting the powder discharge portion of the hopper 4, and the powder sucked by the ejector 24 is supplied to the supply apparatus via a pipeline by compressed air.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the powder supply apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment. The powder supply apparatus 2 includes a control unit 16 that comprehensively controls the operation of each unit. A sensor 14, a motor 18, a weighing unit 20, and a notification unit 26 are connected to the control unit 16.

  Next, powder supply processing in the powder supply apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. First, powder is introduced into the accommodating portion of the hopper 4 from the inlet 12. Next, the motor 18 is driven under the control of the control unit 16 to rotate the hopper 4. As a result, a predetermined amount of powder falls from the gap 10 constituting the powder discharge portion of the hopper 4 and is sucked by the ejector 24. In this case, since the hopper 4 is rotating, it is possible to discharge the powder stably from the hopper 4 without causing arching or ratholes in the powder in the accommodating portion of the hopper 4, and the powder is supplied to the apparatus to be supplied. Can be supplied quantitatively and stably.

  Here, when the powder is discharged from the hopper 4, the weight measured by the measuring unit 20 decreases by the amount of the discharged powder. Therefore, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the powder is discharged quantitatively by monitoring the amount of decrease in weight per unit time.

  When the reduction amount per unit time is a predetermined amount, the control unit 16 continues to discharge the powder while maintaining the current state. On the other hand, when the reduction amount per unit time is less than the predetermined amount, the control unit 16 notifies that the powder is not properly supplied from the hopper 4 by the notification unit 26 such as a buzzer or a lamp. Alternatively, control for increasing the driving speed of the motor 18 and increasing the rotation speed of the hopper 4 is executed. Thereby, the discharge amount of the powder from the hopper 4 is increased, and the weight reduction amount per unit time is adjusted to a predetermined amount. When the fixed portion 8 or the like is provided with an interval adjusting portion that adjusts the size of the gap 10 formed between the end portion of the hopper 4 and the lid portion 6, the control portion 16 rotates the rotation speed of the hopper 4. Instead of increasing the distance, the gap adjusting section may be controlled to widen the gap 10 to increase the discharge amount of the powder from the hopper 4. Further, the control unit 16 may increase both the amount of discharged powder by performing both the control for widening the gap 10 and the control for increasing the rotational speed of the hopper 6.

  In addition, when the weight reduction amount per unit time being monitored exceeds a predetermined amount, the control unit 16 does not appropriately supply the powder from the hopper 4 by the notification unit 26 such as a buzzer or a lamp. A notice to that effect is given. Or / and / or control for lowering the rotational speed of the hopper 4 and / or control for narrowing the gap 10 to reduce the amount of discharged powder so that the amount of weight reduction per unit time becomes a predetermined amount. adjust.

  Further, the control unit 16 detects the powder breakage by detecting whether or not the powder is present in the hopper 4 by the sensor 14. When the powder breakage is detected, the notification unit 26 such as a buzzer or a lamp notifies the powder breakage.

  According to the powder supply apparatus 2 according to this embodiment, it is possible to supply the powder quantitatively continuously for a long time without applying an external force as much as possible to the hardly dischargeable powder. Further, by adjusting the rotational speed of the hopper 4 or adjusting the size of the gap 10, the powder supply amount is adjusted while the powder is supplied. Can be continuously supplied for a long time.

  Next, a powder supply apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The powder supply device according to the second embodiment includes a hopper 40 having a shape different from that of the hopper 4 of the powder supply device 2 according to the first embodiment. The configuration of other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, a detailed description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are given to the same configurations as those of the first embodiment. It explains using.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hopper of the powder supply apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment. The hopper 40 opposes the opening of the housing member 41 having the same shape as the hopper 4 according to the first embodiment and the opening of the housing member 42, and the gap 100 is provided between the housing member 41 and the housing member 42. It is fixed by the fixing tool 43 so as to form. The hopper 40 is installed so that the axis passing through the approximate center of the housing members 41, 42 is horizontal, that is, the bottom of the inner wall of the housing portion formed by the housing members 41, 42 is inclined downward toward the gap 100. Has been. That is, the hopper 40 is installed such that the bottom of the inner wall of the housing portion is inclined downward from both ends of the housing portion formed by the housing members 41 and 42 toward the gap 100 constituting the powder discharge portion.

  The end of the accommodating member 41 of the hopper 40 is connected to the motor 18 controlled by the control unit 16, and the end of the accommodating member 42 is supported by the bearing 44. Accordingly, when the motor 18 rotates, the hopper 40 rotates around an axis passing through the approximate center of the housing portion.

  Next, powder supply processing in the powder supply apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. First, the fixing tool 43 of the hopper 40 is removed, the powder is put into a storage portion formed by the storage members 41 and 42 of the hopper 40, and the storage members 41 and 42 are fixed by the fixing tool 43. Next, the motor 18 is driven under the control of the control unit 16 to rotate the hopper 40. As a result, a predetermined amount of powder falls from the gap 100 constituting the powder discharge portion of the hopper 40 and is sucked by the ejector 24. In this case, since the hopper 40 is rotating, it is possible to discharge the powder stably from the hopper 40 without causing arching or ratholes in the powder in the hopper 40, and the powder is quantified to the apparatus to be supplied. Can be supplied stably. Moreover, since the quantity of the powder which can be accommodated in the hopper 40 can be increased by using the hopper 40, the frequency | count of the injection | throwing-in of the powder to the hopper 40 can be decreased.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the partition member 45 which isolate | separates an accommodating part into the clearance gap 100 between the accommodating member 41 and the accommodating member 42 of the hopper 40 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is provided, and the fixing tool 43 Thus, the partition member 45 and the housing members 41 and 42 may be fixed. As a result, a gap 100 a is formed between the housing member 41 and the partition member 45, and a gap 100 b is formed between the housing member 42 and the partition member 45. Here, the size of the gap 100a and the size of the gap 100b may be the same or different. In this case, different powders can be stored in the storage portion formed by the storage member 41 and the storage portion formed by the storage member 42. Accordingly, two powders can be simultaneously supplied to the apparatus to be supplied, and the supply amounts of the two powders to the apparatus to be supplied can be changed by adjusting the size of the gap 100a and the size of the gap 100b. can do.

  Next, a powder supply apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The powder supply apparatus according to the third embodiment includes a hopper 50 having a shape different from that of the hopper 4 of the powder supply apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment. The configuration of other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, a detailed description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are given to the same configurations as those of the first embodiment. It explains using.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape of the hopper of the powder supply apparatus 2 according to the third embodiment. The hopper 50 has a cylindrical shape whose inner diameter is constant from the upper part to the lower part and includes an accommodating member 52 having an opening at one end and a lid 54 that closes the opening. Further, the hopper 50 is installed so that the axis passing through the approximate center of the accommodating portion has a predetermined angle θ with respect to the horizontal plane so that the bottom of the inner wall of the accommodating portion is inclined downward toward the opening. The lid portion 54 is fixed to the housing member 52 by a fixture 56 at a position facing the opening of the housing member 52 and at a position where a predetermined gap 102 is formed between the lid portion 54 and the end of the housing member 52. Here, the gap 102 formed between the end portion of the accommodating member 52 and the lid portion 54 constitutes a powder discharge portion of the hopper 50. Further, the other end of the housing member 52 is connected to the motor 18 via a connection portion 58.

  Next, powder supply processing in the powder supply apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described. First, the hopper 50 is removed from the motor 18 by removing the connecting portion 58. Then, the fixture 56 is removed, the powder is put into the accommodating portion of the hopper 50, and the lid portion 54 is fixed to the accommodating member 52 by the fixture 56. Next, the hopper 50 is connected to the motor 18 by the connecting portion 58. Next, the motor 18 is driven under the control of the control unit 16 to rotate the hopper 50. As a result, a predetermined amount of powder falls from the gap 102 constituting the powder discharge portion of the hopper 50 and is sucked by the ejector 24. In this case, since the hopper 50 is rotating, it is possible to discharge the powder stably from the hopper 50 without causing arching or ratholes in the powder in the accommodating portion of the hopper 50, and the powder to the supplied device. Can be supplied quantitatively and stably.

  In the third embodiment, the lid portion 54 is fixed to the housing member 52 by the fixture 56. However, as shown in FIG. The lid portion 54 may be fixed to the housing member 52 so as to form a gap 102 between the housing member 52 and the lid portion 54.

  In the first embodiment described above, the powder discharge portion of the hopper 4 is configured by the gap 10 formed between the end portion of the hopper 4 and the lid portion 6. 7 is used as a closing portion that closes the opening of the hopper 4 without forming a gap between the opening 6 and the lid 6, and a plurality of holes 70 are formed on the side wall of the end of the hopper 4 as shown in FIG. 7. The plurality of holes 70 may be formed and used as a powder discharge portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of holes 70 may be formed in the lid portion 6 provided at the end of the hopper 4, and the plurality of holes 70 may be used as the powder discharge portion.

  In the first embodiment described above, a plurality of blades 72 may be provided on the inner wall surface of the accommodating portion of the hopper 4 as shown in FIG. The shape of the blade 72 may be a linear shape or a spiral shape as shown in FIG.

  In the first embodiment described above, a scraping member 74 that scrapes the powder out of the gap 10 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be provided. Here, FIG. 10 is a view of the scraping member 74 seen from the side, and FIG. 11 is a view seen from the front. In this case, the tip of the scraping blade constituting the scraping member 74 is inserted into the gap 10. Then, the rotational force of the motor 76 is transmitted to the scraping member 74 via the gear 78, whereby the scraping member 74 scrapes out the powder from the gap 10. Here, the shape of the scraping member 74 can be appropriately selected from the shapes shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C as well as the shapes shown in FIGS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the powder dropped from the hopper 4 is discharged by the ejector 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the powder dropped from the hopper is discharged using a discharge device different from the ejector 24. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Powder supply apparatus, 4 ... Hopper, 6 ... Cover part, 10 ... Crevice, 12 ... Input port, 14 ... Sensor, 16 ... Control part, 18 ... Motor, 20 ... Metering part, 24 ... Ejector, 26 ... Notification Part

Claims (13)

Has a storage portion for storing flame discharge of the powder, the powder discharge unit is provided over the entire circumference of the one end of the housing portion, an inner wall bottom of the accommodating portion toward the powder discharge unit A hopper installed to incline downward;
A drive unit for rotating the hopper around an axis passing through the center of the housing unit ;
A powder supply apparatus comprising: The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the container portion has a diameter gradually increasing on the powder discharge portion side. A lid that closes the opening at one end of the housing;
The powder discharge unit, wherein, wherein said between one end of the housing portion and the lid portion, it is constituted by a gap formed over the entire circumference of the one end of the housing portion Item 3. A powder supply apparatus according to Item 1 or 2. The hopper has a closing portion that closes one end of the accommodating portion ,
3. The powder supply according to claim 1, wherein the powder discharge part is configured by a plurality of holes formed in the entire circumference of the side wall of the housing part near the closed part or the closed part. apparatus. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container has a cylindrical shape having a constant inner diameter. A lid that closes the opening at one end of the housing;
The powder discharge part is configured by a gap formed between the one end of the storage part and the lid part over the entire circumference of the one end of the storage part. Item 6. The powder supply apparatus according to Item 5. A housing portion for housing the difficult-to-discharge powder, a powder discharging portion is provided in a central portion of the housing portion, and an inner wall bottom portion of the housing portion extends from both ends of the housing portion to the powder. A hopper installed to incline downward toward the discharge section;
A drive unit for rotating the hopper around an axis passing through the center of the housing unit;
A powder supply apparatus comprising: The powder supply device according to claim 7, wherein the accommodating portion gradually increases in diameter from both end portions toward the powder discharge portion. 9. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the powder discharge unit is configured by a gap formed over the entire circumference in a central portion of the storage unit. The powder supply apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a partition member that separates the storage portion into right and left in the gap formed in a central portion of the storage portion. The powder supply apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 6, and 9, further comprising a scraping member that scrapes the powder from the gap constituting the powder discharge unit. 10. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of a rotation speed adjustment unit that adjusts a rotation speed of the hopper and an interval adjustment unit that adjusts the size of the gap. Powder supply equipment. A detection unit for detecting the amount of powder in the storage unit;
A control unit that controls at least one of the rotation speed adjustment unit and the interval adjustment unit based on a detection result by the detection unit;
The powder supply apparatus according to claim 12 , comprising:

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